General Counsel

Tennessee Tech University invites nominations and applications for the position of General Counsel. With an enrollment of more than 10,000 students, Tennessee Tech offers degrees from nine academic schools and colleges: Agriculture and Human Ecology, Arts and Sciences, Business, Education, Engineering, Fine Arts, Interdisciplinary Studies, Nursing, and Graduate Studies. As a comprehensive, STEM-focused university, Tennessee Tech produces practical, ready-to-work graduates from a broad range of academic disciplines prepared to compete in a technologically driven world. As Tennessee’s only technological university, Tennessee Tech offers more than 100 academic programs, including longstanding programs in liberal arts, education, engineering and nursing alongside innovative and cutting-edge programs in cybersecurity, computer science, vehicle engineering, and entrepreneurship. The university awards bachelor’s, master’s, doctorate, and education specialists’ degrees. Tennessee Tech is located on a 235-acre campus in Cookeville, Tennessee. Known as “Tennessee’s College Town,” Cookeville features over 100 restaurants, coffee shops, boutiques, city parks, outstanding festivals, art, music, and sports. Over 20 state parks and natural areas offer hiking trails and camping sites, and water falls with easy driving distance. Cookeville is located 70 miles to the east of Nashville, 90 miles west of Knoxville, and 90 miles north of Chattanooga. Independently provide legal advice and counsel necessary and desirable to serve the University’s legal interest and the enterprise risk management. Provide legal interpretation or opinion. Establish mechanisms and steps to maintain awareness of current developments in the area of law and education. Advise the President, top administrators, faculty, and staff on matters of legal concern. Inform individual employees and/or entire departments of potential practices which may lead to individual or institutional liability. Recommend the implementation or revision of policies and procedures, as needed. Oversee Policy Tech (web-based depository of all University policies). Communicate to the University community current legal practices or positions held by the Attorney General and Reporter of the State of Tennessee. Perform other duties and special projects, as assigned.

Prepare drafts of reports and memoranda for the President. Consult with and advise faculty, staff, and administrators on legal matters and prepares legal memorandum as follow-up. Consult with and advise personnel, staff, and administrators on labor and personnel relations (i. e. Affirmative Action, equal employment, immigration, federal employment guidelines.) Represent University in administrative hearings. Serve as an agent of the university where legal expertise and business judgment are required. Coordinate the University’s enterprise risk management efforts identifying risks across the entire enterprise. Assist the Office of the Attorney General in representing the university in litigation. This includes document and witness preparation, research, etc. Negotiate, prepare, review, approve, and interpret routine and complex contracts and other legal instruments to which University and affiliated organizations are a party. Formulate, implement, interpret, and review rules, policies, practices, guidelines, and procedures for faculty, staff, students, and persons doing business with or participating in the programs and activities of the university and affiliated organization. Oversee the operation of Policy Tech (the web-based depository of all university policies.) Review, interpret, and advise on all applicable state and federal laws, and university policies. Independently develop and direct programs for legal audit of University, including formulation and/or review of policies and procedures and practices to ensure compliance with applicable state and federal laws, rules, and policies to otherwise protect and serve the university’s legal interests. Frequently interact with external public such as students, persons doing business or involved in legal proceedings with University and affiliated organizations, and their attorneys, contact with public officials and staff of other governmental agencies with members of the press, and with a broad range of other persons in connection with the business and functions of the university. Ongoing interaction with persons at all levels of administration of the university and affiliated organizations. Frequently involved in consideration of and action on matters that have a great financial impact on the university. The General Counsel is responsible for the legal affairs of the institution. Provide legal advice and opinions to the Board and Board Secretary. Provide information related to the operation of the Office of General Counsel related to litigation and legal matters. Ensure compliance with applicable laws, e.g., open meetings, public records, conflicts of interest. Ensure promulgation of necessary rules. Ensure completion of annual conflict of interest statements. Perform other duties and special projects, as assigned.

Law Degree. Applicant must be a member in good standing with the State of Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility of the Supreme Court of Tennessee or meet the requirements of Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 7, Article V for admission by comity and be licensed in the State of Tennessee within a reasonable period of time. Six (6) years of progressively responsible legal practice experience. Three (3) years of experience in the area of higher education law. Experience as in-house counsel for a college or university or practiced in the area of higher education law. Knowledge of the workings of university policies and procedures. Knowledge of federal and state laws and regulations affecting public institutions of higher education. Effective negotiation skills. Effective interpersonal, written and oral communication skills. Ability to work effectively with various university officials, administrators, faculty, staff, students and other diverse constituencies. Ability to effectively engage and communicate the results of legal research to a diverse audience. Ability to express ideas clearly, concisely and convincingly.

Licensed to practice law in the State of Tennessee. Eight (8) years of progressively responsible legal practice experience. Six (6) years of experience in the area of higher education law. Experience in public higher education institutions.

Typical hours are Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Additional hours if/when needed.

Benefits include the accumulation of two vacation days per month and one sick leave day per month, and thirteen University holidays. Other benefits include medical and life insurance (shared cost with the university), retirement, optional 401k, and educational benefits.

Applicants will be required to electronically upload a cover letter addressing how the applicant’s skills and abilities meet the qualifications for the position, resume, copy of transcripts (Official transcripts required upon hire), and complete contact information for three professional references at time of application. References will be contacted at a later date. Submission of materials is the applicant’s responsibility. Applications without all required materials are incomplete and will not be considered.