Position Summary:

• Serves as the University's chief legal officer, supervising the provision of comprehensive legal services to the University and its controlled entities.
• Serves as the principal legal advisor to the President, Board of Governors, Board of Trustees, senior leadership team, and administrators across the University, providing legal advice on a wide range of legal, policy, and business matters impacting the University.
• Serves as a reliable analyst in the management of campus crises and critical incidents.
• Participates actively in the development and implementation of the University's strategic initiatives by providing advice regarding the legal considerations pertaining to such initiatives.
• Provides legal advice on matters related to institutional governance, compliance, and risk management, including navigating complex regulatory environments for both academic and healthcare settings.
• Supports the University's mission by promoting legal best practices in the academic, research, and healthcare sectors.

• Leads and manages the Office of General Counsel, overseeing a team of in-house attorneys (in four practice groups – litigation and general affairs, labor and employment, healthcare, and transactions) and support staff and fostering an environment of excellence, collaboration, and professional growth.
• Provides guidance and oversight on all legal work conducted by the Office of General Counsel, ensuring quality and efficiency in the provision of legal advice.
• Promotes a diverse and inclusive culture within the legal department and across the University's legal functions.

• Manages and coordinates the use of outside counsel, ensuring effective and cost-efficient representation of the University in litigation and other matters in which external counsel is retained.
• Oversees the University's spending for the engagement of external counsel.

• Plays a key role in the University's risk management strategies, including advising on medical, liability, and other institutional claims.
• Participates in high-stakes, sensitive claims, helping to navigate the legal implications of various risks faced by the University and its academic medical center.
• Collaborates with key stakeholders in the management of the University's insurance programs, policies, and claims management.

• Advises on complex legal issues related to University governance, compliance, and ethical standards, including working with the Board of Governors and Board of Trustees on governance and legal matters.
• Provides legal advice to the University regarding all applicable federal, state, and local laws, including those related to higher education, medical care, research, intellectual property, athletics, and labor and employment.

• Provides legal counsel for the University's academic medical center, including compliance with evolving healthcare laws and regulations (e.g., HIPAA, FDA regulations), medical malpractice, patient care, and research-related matters, and provides strategic advice to mitigate legal risks.
• Works closely with leaders in the medical and research communities to address legal challenges related to clinical trials, intellectual property, bioethics, and other healthcare-related issues.

• Represents the University's interests in dealings with government agencies, industry stakeholders, and external legal entities.
• Supports University leadership in advocating for policy positions and initiatives that align with the institution's academic and healthcare missions.
• Provides leadership within regional and national organizations of General Counsels.

• The incoming General Counsel will assume leadership of the Office of General Counsel and continue to enhance the office's track record as a highly regarded business partner. The President, the Board of Governors and the Board of Trustees are fully committed to supporting a well-structured and thoughtful leadership strategy that can effectively address the ever-changing landscape of higher education and healthcare. This approach aims to streamline processes further and promote the growth and professional advancement of the existing legal team. The General Counsel, in their role, will foster a culture of collaboration, working closely with various constituents, including faculty, staff, administrators, and external partners. This collaborative effort is key to ensuring the continued success and positive influence of the Office of General Counsel within the University community.

• As the General Counsel for the University, the individual in this role will play a pivotal part in building and upholding trust with the President, the Board of Governors, the Board of Trustees and other high-ranking administrators and leaders. Their responsibilities will include offering expert advice on the Board's legal and fiduciary obligations and duties. They will also assist the President and Board members in addressing intricate and sensitive matters. Beyond these responsibilities, the General Counsel will have the opportunity to contribute to cultivating a culture rooted in transparency, integrity, and excellence, which is vital for the University's prosperity.

• Success in this position relies equally on interpersonal relationships as well as on specific expertise and experience. The new leader will need to invest time, energy, and passion in building strong relationships and earning the trust, respect, and credibility of senior leadership, the Boards, administrators and the wider community. The effective General Counsel will be known in the Rutgers community as a strategic thinker who is perceptive, responsive, collaborative, and approachable, with strong follow-through, sound legal advice, and comprehensive counsel based on a thorough understanding of legal issues related to higher education and healthcare.

Minimum Education and Experience:

• The ideal candidate must have outstanding academic credentials, a law degree from an ABA-accredited law school, be a member in good standing of the New Jersey State Bar, or eligible to become a member of the New Jersey State Bar within one year after being hired.
• A minimum of 15 years of legal experience with significant experience in higher education law, healthcare law, labor and employment law, including experience in complex institutional matters.

City: New Brunswick

State: NJ

Posting Number: 25ST0724

About Rutgers University

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, is a leading national public research university and the state's preeminent, comprehensive public institution of higher education. Rutgers is dedicated to teaching that meets the highest standards of excellence; to conducting research that breaks new ground; and to turning knowledge into solutions for local, national, and global communities. As it was at our founding in 1766, the heart of our mission is preparing students to become productive members of society and good citizens of the world. Rutgers teaches across the full educational spectrum: preschool to precollege; undergraduate to graduate and postdoctoral; and continuing education for professional and personal advancement. Rutgers is New Jersey's land-grant institution and one of the nation's foremost research universities, and as such, we educate, make discoveries, serve as an engine of economic growth, and generate ideas for improving people's lives.

Connections working at Rutgers University