Associate General Counsel

Engineering a world of possibilities

The Associate General Counsel - Transactional & Compliance (“AGC”) is an attorney providing primary assistance to the General Counsel (“GC”) with respect to legal advice and services to Colorado School of Mines (CSM).

The AGC formulates legal solutions in the context of a wide variety of issues impacting the university, focusing primarily on contracting, compliance and risk management. The AGC provides legal advice and support in the following areas: commercial transactions and business operations; sponsored research programs; strategic and global enterprises; research compliance; online and continuing education programs; technology transfer, trademark management, and licensing; entrepreneurship initiatives; relationships with affiliated entities; real estate matters; data security and privacy; employee benefits; and other regulatory and compliance issues in a variety of contexts.

Responsibilities also include the review, negotiation and drafting of university agreements, including but not limited to agreements involving real property, employment procurement matters, international engagements, and intergovernmental agencies; providing legal analysis of pertinent state and federal law and regulations; and assisting with the development of university policies and procedures. The AGC will also assist the GC on Board governance and faculty matters, as needed.

This is a full-time, exempt position, working primarily on campus in Golden, Colorado. This position presents a large variety of legal questions and the opportunity to work collaboratively with subject matter experts across campus.

Legal Counsel and Compliance: 

• Assist the GC with providing legal advice and policy development support to the President, Provost, Vice Presidents, Human Resources and other faculty and staff members regarding legal matters related to their official capacity with CSM.
• Provide legal advice and compliance support to the offices of research administration, research compliance, business operations, and institutional compliance and policy, among others.
• Provide counsel and advice concerning compliance with federal and state law affecting institutions of higher education, particularly in the areas of research and business operations and compliance.
• Assists with the development of institutional policies and delivery of relevant legal education or training programs for faculty, administrators, and staff, as appropriate.
• Respond to requests for records pursuant to the Colorado Open Records Act and the Freedom of Information Act.

Contracts: 

• Perform contract review, negotiation and drafting support in the following areas: commercial transactions and business operations; sponsored research programs; strategic and global enterprises; online and continuing education programs; technology transfer and licensing transactions; entrepreneurship initiatives; trademark licensing; affiliated entities; real estate and facilities use transactions; and employee benefits.
• Build trusted relationships with campus constituencies to ensure effective and efficient partnerships with transactional work.

Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience:

• J.D. degree from an ABA-accredited law school.
• Minimum of five (5) years of relevant legal practice experience.
• Licensed and in good standing to practice law in the State of Colorado or eligible for admission to practice within six months of employment.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to effectively manage time and professional commitments while juggling multiple priorities, and work as a collaborative team member with other attorneys and professional staff in a fast-paced, deadline-driven legal office.
• Demonstrated success in progressive responsibilities, including attention to and skills in innovative problem-solving, initiative and reliability.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills demonstrating courtesy and diplomacy, and the ability to work effectively and collaboratively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse academic community.
• Experience in promoting and ensuring privacy and confidentiality of information and records consistent with institutional, ethical, and legal standards.
• Ability to work independently while effectively keeping the GC, colleagues, and campus partners informed.
• Experience in the establishment and maintenance of positive, cooperative effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders and executives.

Highly Preferred Qualifications

Experience:

• Legal experience in higher education at a research university, including but not limited to prior experience advising on research-related matters and compliance.
• Leg