The General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer and Vice President of Legal Affairs

The General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer provides legal advice and consultation to the Board of Trustees, University President, the Administration and faculty and represents the University before University hearing bodies as well as administrative and judicial bodies of the United States, the State of Illinois, and Illinois counties and municipal bodies. The General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer also oversees and coordinates the University’s commitment to remain compliant with all applicable legal and regulatory obligations.

As General Counsel, provides advice and support to the Board of Trustees, President, University executive leadership, and other university units.

• Provide legal services, counsel and representation to University colleges, departments and other directly related organizations pertaining to litigation and adversarial proceedings, labor and employment law, governance, statutory interpretation, regulation and compliance.
• Independently anticipates, identifies and resolves legal issues of concern to senior University administration.
• Develops appropriate legal strategies and solutions, often in situations of high risk to the University.
• Establishes working guidelines to include internal operating policies, intake procedures, work priorities, quality standards, and other operational benchmarks.
• Oversees, coordinates, and trains Legal Affairs attorneys and support staff.
• Coordinate services of outside counsel and participate in the defense of litigation.
• Manages various litigation and adversarial proceedings.
• Monitors and analyzes complex current, proposed, or pending laws, regulations, and other internal or external developments affecting the University in areas of legal specialty.
• Translates legal information and requirements into meaningful client advice including supporting and developing client education and training opportunities.
• Addresses areas of risk or loss resulting from developments in the law or activities of the University.
• Negotiate, prepare, review, approve and interpret complex contracts and other legal instruments involving risk or significance to the University.
• Prepare legal documents necessary to serve the best interests of the University and to facilitate legal compliance.
• Provide advice and counsel in conflicts of interest and compliance issues.
• Leads the development of internal reviews to assess university compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
• Oversees adequate record maintenance and processes are in place to document compliance efforts.
• Directs the assessment of targeted compliance issues, investigations, or potential problems.

As the Chief Compliance Officer, directs the formulation of strategic compliance planning in support of the University’s vision, mission and values. Oversees integrated implementation and evaluation of compliance initiatives and on-going activities for compliance units, including coordination between the Office of Legal Affairs, Internal Audit, and other compliance partners, as may be identified to serve future needs.

• Provides strategic guidance and representation to leadership on changing governmental requirements in the areas of civil rights, affirmative action, equal opportunity, reporting obligations under the Cleary Act, dispute resolution, and reporting and related areas as may be identified in the future.
• Directs and oversees the university’s integrated strategic compliance planning process, to include short- and long-term strategic plan development, review, approval, implementation and evaluation.
• Provides guidance, collaboration and support to the implementation process for key compliance strategies, initiatives and action plans.
• Leads the development and implementation of policies and procedures related to the various compliance areas of oversight in alignment with government laws and regulations.
• Plans, develops, monitors, revises and implements the university’s compliance initiatives in response to changes in the law; consults with various representatives as necessary to ensure program effectiveness.
• Directs and collaborates in the development of multifaceted compliance educational and training programs so that employees and management are knowledgeable of institutional policies and pertinent federal and state standards.
• Interacts with senior management, faculty, staff and/or government agency officials, to represent and promote the development of strategic compliance and educational programs to further university awareness on related initiatives.
• Directs the development of periodic compliance reports of the areas of oversight to other senior leadership members and various committees.

Minimum Qualifications

Experience Required:

• A minimum of ten years of legal practice experience in a relevant area, having attained a senior position of responsibility in firm, corporation, government agency, or other organization that employs him or her.
• Five years as a senior leader, general counsel or similar role in an educational, non-profit, for-profit, or governmental organization, or equivalent role as outside legal counsel in an established law firm or law firm practice.
• A minimum of five years of experience in supervising the work of other lawyers, is preferred.
• Juris Doctorate degree from a law school approved for accreditation by the American Bar Association, a member in good standing of the Bar of the supreme court of the state in which he or she practices law, and the prompt eligibility for such license and standing in Illinois.
• Membership in the State of Illinois Bar or eligibility for membership in the Illinois Bar within a reasonable period is required.
• Five years as general counsel of a large educational, non-profit, for-profit, or governmental organization, or equivalent role as outside counsel, is preferred.
• A minimum of five years of experience in supervising the work of other lawyers, is preferred.

Education Required:

License:

Preferred Qualifications:

Note:

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