CCSNH General Counsel

General Summary: Reporting to the Chancellor, CCSNH's General Counsel serves as the primary legal and compliance advisor and representative for CCSNH and its colleges, the Board of Trustees, Chancellor, Presidents, and senior leadership. Provides strategic leadership and sound guidance on a broad and complex range of legal matters, mitigating institutional risk while supporting the CCSNH mission and values. Ensures all policies and practices align with state and federal legal requirements and best practices in higher education.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

• Oversees CCSNH's legal matters and provides general and specialized counsel on a broad range of higher education issues.
• Identifies legal issues and counsels management to develop legal strategies and solutions. Advises the Chancellor and CCSNH leadership on matters regarded as highly visible, sensitive, or that may expose the System or a College to legal risk or liability, and works with the relevant stakeholders to manage and respond to the legal issue(s).
• Proactively reviews policies and practices, identifying complicated compliance and operational issues, and develops legally sound solutions, guidance, and training for CCSNH staff.
• Serves as a member of the CCSNH Leadership Team with responsibility for strategic planning, fiscal management, resource development, employee relations, policy setting, and operational oversight.
• Oversees and manages a portfolio of legal issues and provides advice and counsel on a variety of areas, including, but not limited to: employment and anti-discrimination laws (including Title IX, ACA, FMLA, ADA, FLSA, COBRA, ERISA. ADEA), admissions, financial aid, academic and student affairs, contracts, lease agreements, procurement policies, development and gift agreements, grants, , AI-related issues, governance and board bylaws, legislative proceedings, and internal investigations.
• Negotiates, drafts, and reviews complex transactional documents such as contracts, leases, licenses, and other documents related to CCSNH's legal business transactions.
• Manages the legal services budget and establishes a strategy to retain and manage outside counsel to provide subject matter expertise.
• Ensures an effective Right-to- Know policy and practice is in place. Reviews complex requests pursuant to NH RSA 91-A, and acts as the conduit for all requests to CCSNH institutions.
• Serves as a resource to the Executive Director of Government Affairs on proposed state and federal legislation, providing occasional testimony before legislative or other committees.
• Provides advice on crisis response situations, governance issues, and accreditation requirements.
• Confers with System and college administrators, faculty, and staff on legal and/or policy matters, and guides them in the development and implementation of policies and procedures.
• Conducts periodic legal reviews of college policies and procedures to ensure legal compliance with appropriate laws and the principles of academic freedom.
• Fosters a culture of legal compliance and ethical conduct across the colleges, promoting awareness and understanding of legal requirements and best practices through training and education.
• Stays abreast of legal developments relevant to higher education and employment legal matters. Proactively advises on emerging trends and changes to laws and regulations, and their potential impact on CCSNH operations.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

Education: Juris Doctor degree from an ABA accredited institution.

Experience: A minimum of seven (7) years practicing law in employment, higher education, and/or as general counsel for a public agency.

License/Certifications: Valid Driver's License or access to statewide transportation.

SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS: Member of the New Hampshire Bar Association required. Experience in employment law and in performing legal work in an institution of higher education desired.

Additional Desired Qualifications:

• Knowledge of the regulatory environment affecting higher education and employment, judicial procedures and rules, knowledge of common, statutory, and constitutional law, and court and legal procedures in the State of New Hampshire.
• Strong communication skills - oral, written, research, collaboration, and negotiation.
• Ability to establish effective working relationships and contribute as a member of a team.
• Innovative, with superior problem-solving skills.Sound independent judgment and decision-making, with the ability to analyze, prioritize, and resolve complicated issues.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet deadlines.
• Professional, with a keen sense of integrity, diplomacy, and confidentiality.
• Values accountability, and handles matters honestly and with the discretion required of the position.
• Proficient in the use of technology including Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).

DISCLAIMER STATEMENT

The job description lists typical examples of work and is not intended to include every job duty and responsibility specific to a position. An employee may be required to perform other related duties not listed, provided such duties are characteristic of that classification.

CCSNH has established employer status within the New England states (Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island). In compliance with CCSNH policies and state regulations, eligibility for employment within CCSNH and its institutions requires residency within a New England state.