Position Details

Position Information

Recruitment/Posting Title	Assistant General Counsel
Job Category	Staff & Executive - Legal
Department	General Counsel
Overview	Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, is a leading national land grant research university and the State of New Jersey’s preeminent, comprehensive public institution of higher education. Established in 1766, Rutgers has approximately 65,000 students and more than 24,400 faculty and staff located throughout its main campus in the New Brunswick/Piscataway area, its Newark and Camden campuses, and its extension offices and other facilities throughout New Jersey. The University comprises 33 undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools, including two medical schools, a school of nursing, a school of dental medicine, and a law school, as well as over 130 specialized research institutes, including the Cancer Institute of New Jersey.
Posting Summary	Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey is seeking an Assistant General Counsel for the Office of Senior Vice President and General Counsel. The Office of the Senior Vice President and General Counsel (OGC) represents the University in all legal proceedings and provides legal advice to the President, Board of Governors, and administration on a broad array of legal issues. The OGC: Manages and supervises all legal affairs for the University; and Serves as legal adviser to the Board of Governors, the President, and other administrative officers of the University. While the Office of General Counsel provides advice on specific matters and represents the University and the Board of Governors in all legal proceedings, the Senior Vice President and General Counsel also has the responsibility and authority to designate outside counsel to fulfill these functions as needed. This position reports to the Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Associate Vice President and Deputy General Counsels. This attorney will work in a variety of areas, with a focus on providing advice, counsel, and representation in labor and employment matters. Among the key duties of this position are the following: Prepares and litigates arbitrations of contractual and disciplinary grievances arising under faculty and staff collective negotiations agreements and advises on issues arising during collective negotiations; assisting in providing guidance in collective negotiations in coordination with the Office of University Labor Relations. Handles unfair practice charges and other proceedings before the New Jersey Public Employment Relations Commission; conducting research, rendering advice, and representing the University in employment-related administrative proceedings before such agencies as the EEOC and New Jersey Division on Civil Rights. Provides advice and counsel on a wide variety of legal issues that affect a public institution of higher education, including labor, employment, and constitutional issues, issues arising under Title IX, FERPA, the Open Public Records Act, the Open Public Meetings Act, and other student-related issues (such as discipline and disability accommodations); analyzing and evaluating pending legislation and regulations to determine if they apply to the University and, if so, their impact on the University; providing advice and guidance pertaining to drafting and reviewing University-wide policies and procedures; assisting with and participating in training and preventative law presentations for University administrators, managers and staff; participating in other legal projects as requested by the General Counsel or other supervising attorneys. Advises senior administrators on matters in anticipation of litigation and prepares responses to attorney demand letters; collaborating with University Risk Management on insurance, indemnification and related issues.
Position Status	Full Time
Hours Per Week
Daily Work Shift
Work Arrangement	Consistent with the current application of Rutgers Policy 60.3.22, this position may be eligible for a hybrid work arrangement. The flexible work arrangements outlined in Rutgers Policy 60.3.22 are part of a pilot program that is effective September 1, 2022 through August 31, 2023. Therefore, there is no guarantee that this flexible work arrangement will continue beyond that date. Flexible work arrangements are not permanent, are subject to change or cancellation and contingent on the employee receiving approval in the FlexWork@RU Application System. Additional information may be found at https://futureofwork.rutgers.edu .
FLSA	Exempt
Grade	09
Position Salary
Annual Minimum Salary	108116.000
Annual Mid Range Salary	136846.500
Annual Maximum Salary	165577.000
Standard Hours	37.50
Union Description	Administrators Confidential
Payroll Designation	PeopleSoft
Benefits	Rutgers offers a comprehensive benefit program to eligible employees. For details, please go to http://uhr.rutgers.edu/benefits/benefits-overview . Rutgers also offers a benefit program to eligible full-time postdoctoral fellow students. For details, please go to https://finance.rutgers.edu/healthcare-risk/insurance/postdoctoral-health-insurance.
Seniority Unit
Terms of Appointment	Staff - 12 month
Position Pension Eligibility	ABP

Qualifications

Minimum Education and Experience	Superior academic credentials and a JD degree from an accredited law school. Three (3) years of relevant experience of increasing responsibility, with significant knowledge and experience in labor law/employment litigation, general employment law advice and counseling, including related union contract interpretation and disciplinary arbitration and administrative proceedings. Admitted to practice law in New Jersey or admitted in another jurisdiction and willing and able to become admitted in New Jersey as soon as practicable (but not more than one year after hire).
Certifications/Licenses	Use of personal vehicle in order to travel for business demands; a valid driver’s license would be required for this position.
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities	Excellent communication skills, excellent writing skills, and the ability to work collaboratively with colleagues both within the OGC and within the University as a whole. Comfortable taking responsibility for addressing complex legal issues within the context of a vibrant and ever-evolving institution of higher education. Strategic decision-making and independent sound judgment as applied to complex and nuanced factual scenarios. Ability to function effectively in a fast-paced environment with multiple and changing priorities and objectives.
Preferred Qualifications	Seven (7) years of relevant experience of increasing responsibility, with significant knowledge and experience in labor law/employment litigation, general employment law advice and counseling, including related union contract interpretation and disciplinary arbitration and administrative proceedings. Experience representing or working for public institutions of higher education. Experience representing public sector clients or working as an attorney in the public sector. Experience representing or working for public sector clients in New Jersey.
Equipment Utilized	Worldox (electronic document management system) – creating, scanning, searching, and retrieving documents Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint E-Billing software – legal invoice review and approval of matters Westlaw
Physical Demands and Work Environment
Special Conditions	Clean driving record.

Posting Details

Posting Number	23ST1530
Posting Open Date	05/30/2023
Special Instructions to Applicants
Regional Campus	Rutgers University-New Brunswick
Home Location Campus	Rutgers University - New Brunswick
City	New Brunswick
State	NJ
Location Details

Pre-employment Screenings

All offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of all pre-employment screenings.

Immunization Requirements

Under Policy 60.1.35 Immunization Policy for Rutgers Employees and Prospective Employees , Rutgers University requires all prospective employees to provide proof that they are fully vaccinated and have received a booster (where eligible) against COVID-19 prior to commencement of employment, unless the University has granted the individual a medical or religious exemption. Employees who are not eligible for a booster at the time of an offer of employment must provide proof they have received a booster upon eligibility and upload proof of same. Under Policy 100.3.1 Immunization Policy for Covered Individuals , if employment will commence during Flu Season, Rutgers University may require certain prospective employees to provide proof that they are vaccinated against Seasonal Influenza for the current Flu Season, unless the University has granted the individual a medical or religious exemption. Additional infection control and safety policies may apply. Prospective employees should speak with their hiring manager to determine which policies apply to the role or position for which they are applying. Failure to provide proof of vaccination for any required vaccines or obtain a medical or religious exemption from the University will result in rescission of a candidate’s offer of employment or disciplinary action up to and including termination.

Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

It is university policy to provide equal employment opportunity to all its employees and applicants for employment regardless of their race, creed, color, national origin, age, ancestry, nationality, marital or domestic partnership or civil union status, sex, pregnancy, gender identity or expression, disability status, liability for military service, protected veteran status, affectional or sexual orientation, atypical cellular or blood trait, genetic information (including the refusal to submit to genetic testing), or any other category protected by law. As an institution, we value diversity of background and opinion, and prohibit discrimination or harassment on the basis of any legally protected class in the areas of hiring, recruitment, promotion, transfer, demotion, training, compensation, pay, fringe benefits, layoff, termination or any other terms and conditions of employment. For additional information please see the Non-Discrimination Statement at the following web address: http://uhr.rutgers.edu/non-discrimination-statement