Vice President of Policy, Compliance, and Government Relations - General Counsel at College of Southern Maryland - La Plata, MD in La Plata, Maryland

Job Description:

*Candidates must send their materials directly towww.acctsearches.org for full consideration!

Located 45 minutes from the Nations Capital, nestled in a history-rich community of southern Maryland, The College of Southern Maryland (CSM) has been twice named in the top 150 community colleges by the Aspen Institute with academic programs in over 100 disciplines. CSM is among Americas top 100 producers of Minority associate degrees in twenty categories, according toDiverse Issues in Higher Education. CSM offers excellent health insurance benefits; State Retirement Pension plan; wellness programs; Code Green early closure Fridays in the summer; college closure for spring break and several major holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Year; and for several days in March for Spring Break. We are an innovative institution committed to student success and well known for our flexibility to meet student and community needs.

Position Summary
The Vice President for Policy, Compliance and Government Relations - General Counsel serves as the Chief Legal officer for the college providing expert
legal counsel to the President, Board of Trustees, senior leadership, and other college stakeholders. This role is responsible for overseeing all legal aspects of the colleges operations, ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations, managing legal risks, and representing the college in legal matters. The Vice President and General Counsel plays a critical role in policy development, governance, and strategic initiatives, ensuring alignment with the institutions mission and goals. This position is responsible for overseeing compliance and risk management and managing litigation and agency complaint investigation and response. This position oversees and provides direction to the government relations function.

Application Process

This search is being facilitated by ACCT Searches. Candidates are asked to apply directly through the company website atwww.acctsearches.orgto be considered.

The following items are required to be submitted with the college employment application:
1.COVER LETTER:should be limited to no more than four typed pages, detailing how your education experiences/background align with this Position Profile
2.RESUME:should be limited to six typed pages. Important Note: All attachments must bein Microsoft Word or PDF format, and file names must begin with the applicants initials(example: ABCcover, ABCres, ABCref). The subject line in the email should reference theposition for which the candidate is applying. Review of materials will begin immediately andcontinue until the appointment is made.
3.APPLICATION DEADLINE: This position is open until filled. Semi-finalist candidates will interview with the Search Advisory Committee, while finalist candidates will participate inonsite interviews.
4.REFERENCES:will be requested only of finalists to include two supervisors. The references must include names, titles, business and personal phone numbers, and email addresses.
References will not be contacted without prior notification to the applicant.
5.TRANSCRIPTS:will be required of all finalists. The successful candidate must provide official transcripts to the College of Southern Maryland as a condition of hire.

*Important Note:All attachments must be in Microsoft Word or PDF format, and file names must begin with the applicants initials (example: ABCcover, ABCres, ABCref). The subject line in the email should reference the position for which the candidate is applying. Review of materials will begin immediately and continue until the appointment is made.

The College of Southern Maryland conducts background checks in order to ensure the safety and well-being of the College's staff and students. The final candidate for this position will be subject to the following background checks: Criminal History Check and Sex Offender Registry Check.

*For best consideration, please apply by January 6, 2025. Applications will be accepted until position is filled.The College of Southern Maryland is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Essential Job Functions:

20% Legal Counsel and Advice
Provides comprehensive legal advice to the President, theBoard of Trustees, and senior administration on matters
affecting the college and its operations.
Guides the President, Board of Trustees, and senioradministration on a wide range of legal issues including
contracts, employment law, compliance, litigation,intellectual property, and regulatory matters.
Draft, review, and negotiate legal documents, contracts, andagreements on behalf of the college.
Advise on issues related to governance, academic freedom,student affairs, and institutional policies.

20% Risk Management and Compliance
Develop and implement strategies for managing legal risksacross the college.
Oversee compliance with federal, state, and local laws andregulations impacting higher education, including Title IX,
FERPA, ADA, and labor and employment laws.
Ensure the institutions policies and procedures are legallycompliant and aligned with best practices.
Identifies college risk management, compliance and legalissues, and, when appropriate, develops and implements,
when appropriate, proposed actions to address the legal risk.
Drafts, reviews and negotiates contracts, agreements, andother legal documents that impact the college, including
those related to real estate, construction, partnerships, andemployment.

10% Litigation and Dispute Resolution
Manage and oversee all legal disputes and litigation involving the college.
Engage and manage outside counsel as needed forspecialized legal matters.
Represents the college in litigation and external agencycomplaints or investigations and selects and supervises
appropriate outside counsel.

20% College Board Relations
Collaborate with college leadership in the development,implementation, and enforcement of Board policies that govern the colleges operations.
Serves as a key legal advisor on institutional governanceissues, including ethics and compliance with board member
fiduciary responsibilities, policies, and bylaws.
Assists with the preparation of Board resolutions and other related documents.
Recommends and reviews proposed changes to collegeadministrative and board policies and drafts new policies as
advised.
Manages a comprehensive insurance program, assesses insurance coverages, and evaluates and obtains appropriate
insurance.

10% Strategic Planning and PolicyDevelopment
Collaborate with senior leadership on strategic initiatives,including institutional governance and long-term planning.
Assist in the development and review of college policies,ensuring they support institutional goals and are legally
sound.

10% Ethics and Governance
Advise on issues of governance, board policies, ethics, andconflict of interest, supporting a strong culture of integrity
and accountability.
Serve as a key resource for matters relating to institutionalgovernance, board relations, and the legal aspects of
fiduciary duties.

10% Government Relations
Prepares, reviews, monitors and analyzes state and federallegislation and advises on impact and provides guidance to
ensure compliance with laws and regulations.
Manages and coordinates the government relations functionand assists in legislative advocacy initiatives.
Liaises with external regulatory agencies, accreditors,and other relevant bodies in response to audits and investigations to ensure compliance and appropriatedefense.
Directs and/or participates in internal investigations related to discrimination or misconduct claims to ensure fair and
thorough processes.

Additional Duties
Leads and manages a team, including their recruitment,development, and evaluation.
Creates, monitors, and oversees the budget for the office.
Performs other related work as required.

Qualifications
Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school.
Must be licensed to practice law in Maryland and in goodstanding with the Maryland Bar within 18 months of start date.
Three years experience representing or working for a highereducation institution.

Preferred Qualifications
Demonstrated experience advising institutions onemployment and labor law and human resource practices.
Demonstrated understanding of and commitment to thevalues of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
Experience with compliance program development,implementation and/or oversight.
Experience with policy and procedure development in ahigher education institution.
Three years of experience in a managerial or supervisorycapacity.
Familiarity with the unique challenges and regulatoryenvironment of public institutions of higher education.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Knowledge of complex legal, risk and policy issues facinghigher education.
Demonstrated ability to provide legal advice tomanagement concerning unions and collective bargainingagreements desired.
Strong knowledge of laws and regulations affecting highereducation institutions, including labor, employment, compliance, and regulatory matters.
High degree of ethics, integrity, and confidentiality consistentwith the position.
Strong problem-solving and conflict resolution skills.
Ability to work effectively as a key strategist who is innovative,collaborative, flexible and committed to diversity and
inclusion.
Ability to successfully work independently and collaborativelywith diverse populations and members of the various collegeconstituencies.
Proven track record of effectively managing litigation, risk,and legal compliance within complex organizations.
Exceptional communication, negotiation, and leadershipskills, with the ability to work collaboratively with diverse
stakeholders.

Physical Demands
The work is sedentary work which requires exerting up to 10pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of forcefrequently or constantly.

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