The Office of the Senior Vice Chancellor for Legal Affairs and General Counsel (OGC) serves as the system-wide legal resource for The City University of New York (CUNY), providing legal counsel to the Board of Trustees, Chancellor, and CUNY’s 26 constituent colleges. Its services touch all operational areas of the University, and its campuses, and supports CUNY’s decision-makers in advancing the University’s educational mission by providing expert, timely and relevant legal advice, guidance and advocacy.  OGC does not represent university administrators, faculty, staff, students, or individuals in personal legal matters.

Reporting to the University Executive Counsels for Business Affairs Unit (BAU), the University Associate General Counsel will provide in-house legal analysis, advice and representation on a broad array of commercial, transactional, and policy matters, including contract drafting and negotiations, and compliance. 
 
Key duties and responsibilities include the following:

• Provide legal analysis and advice on complex commercial transactions, contracts, and agreements.
• Draft, review, and negotiate a variety of contracts, including those related to procurement, technology, real estate, intellectual property, and/or public-private partnerships.
• Public procurement (especially with New York State and New York City), including negotiation of documents with technical and complex specifications/scopes of work and legal terms, drafting competitive bids and Requests for Proposals (RFPs);
• Serve as a subject matter expert in interpreting regulations, local standards, codes, and applicable laws impacting CUNY.
• Collaborate with University leadership, business units, and external stakeholders to provide strategic legal counsel.

NOTES:

1. Until further notice, this position is eligible for a hybrid work schedule.
2. This position is excluded from union representation in the collective bargaining unit.

Minimum:

J.D. and five years’ related legal experience as a practicing attorney required. Current New York State Bar membership in good standing required, or admission in another jurisdiction with eligibility for admission to the NYS bar through reciprocity or passing of the NYS bar exam within one (1) year of hire date required.

Preferred:

• At least five years of experience as a practicing commercial attorney.
• Demonstrated experience interpreting laws and organizational regulations, policies, procedures, and guidelines in a complex regulatory environment.
• Legal expertise and significant experience in one or more of the following areas:
  • Complex IT-related agreements, including intellectual property, privacy, copyright and fair use, FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act), technology transfer, and licensing. 
  • Public procurement (especially with New York State and New York City), including negotiation of documents with technical and complex specifications/scopes of work and legal terms.
  • Commercial transactions with public and private entities, grant agreements, and inter-governmental agreements including:
    • Public-private partnerships. 
    • Gifts, trusts, and estates, particularly with higher education institutions. 
    • Federal, state, and local laws related to higher education institutions.
    • Research-related agreements, including collaborations, material transfer and non-disclosure.
    • Licensing agreements for use of facilities.
    • Data security and privacy.
    • The law and governance of tax-exempt entities.

The successful candidate will also demonstrate:

• Exceptional interpersonal communication, public presentation skills, writing, along with strong negotiation, mediation, conflict/dispute resolution, group facilitation and client counseling.
• Detail oriented and accurate with exceptional critical analysis, research and evaluation skills.
• Strong work ethic, character and personal integrity to work with the utmost professionalism, confidentiality and diplomacy.
• Proactive and flexible with ability to take initiative, exercise discretion and tact, use sound judgment to give advice, make decisions, and draw valid conclusions.
• Strong organizational skills with ability to establish plans, manage a large and varied workload of assignments with conflicting priorities, follow up and complete work by prescribed deadlines.
• Ability to produce results as an individual contributor and as a team member by working effectively, collaboratively, and cooperatively with diverse stakeholders, constituents, and clients of various levels.
• Proficiency using standard office programs (MS Office Suite, SharePoint, Dropbox), legal software (Westlaw, Lexis), and document management software (NetDocuments, Salesforce, etc.).
• Commitment to public service, service excellence, inclusion, equity and professional integrity to manage sensitive work, exercise sound judgment, with ability to thrive in a demanding, multi-faceted, and time-sensitive office.

The salary range is $132,987 - $141,858, commensurate with credentials, education, and experience.

CUNY's benefits contribute significantly to total compensation, supporting health and wellness, financial well-being, and professional development.  We offer a range of health plans, competitive retirement/pension benefits and savings plans, tuition waivers for CUNY graduate study and generous paid time off.  Our staff also benefits from the extensive academic, arts, and athletic programs on our campuses and the opportunity to participate in a lively, diverse academic community in one of the greatest cities in the world.

For full consideration, submit a cover letter and resume online via CUNY's web-based job system, addressing how your experience and credentials meet the responsibilities and qualifications outlined.

The direct link to the job opening from external sources is:

https://hrsa.cunyfirst.cuny.edu/psc/erecruit/EMPLOYEE/HRMSCG/c/HRS_HRAM_FL.HRS_CG_SEARCH_FL.GBL?Page=HRS_APP_JBPST_FL&Action=U&FOCUS=Applicant&SiteId=1&JobOpeningId=29758&PostingSeq=1

Current CUNY employees must apply through CUNYfirst Employee Self Service using their login credentials. After you login, click the Careers tile on the Employee Self Service Menu page to view job openings.

Open until filled.