Executive Counsel and Labor Designee – Associate Administrator

Full/Part Time Full-Time

Regular/Temporary Regular

POSITION DETAILS

The City University of New York seeks an experienced attorney to serve as Executive Counsel to the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy (SPH) and the CUNY School of Professional Studies (SPS). SPH offers cutting edge graduate degree programs, designs and evaluates public health initiatives, and conducts applied research aimed at promoting population health and social justice. CUNY SPS provides online and on campus degree and certificate programs that meet the needs of working adults who are looking for a seamless way to finish or transition into a bachelor’s degree, earn a master’s degree or certificate in a specialized field, advance in the workplace, or change careers with a nontraditional faculty structure

Reporting to each Dean, the Executive Counsel will provide executive and administrative direction over the Schools' legal affairs as a key member of each Dean's senior leadership team. The Executive Counsel will be responsible for a broad array of legal, regulatory, compliance, employment and risk management matters and will expertly deploy resources that support the overall priorities of each School.

The Executive Counsel will be well versed in the many challenging issues arising within the higher education context, including labor and employment law, governance, collective bargaining, ethics, student issues, litigation, compliance including Title IX, affiliation and contractual agreements, research agreements and grants, college governance, freedom of information law requests and fundraising. They will be innovative and entrepreneurial, capable of creating solutions that facilitate the Schools' initiatives to assure the success and growth of each organization.

The Executive Counsel will be responsible for maintaining up-to-date knowledge of State and Federal laws, regulations, and precedents and for developing and maintaining the Schools' policies and procedures so that they are consistent with the legal landscape. S/he will serve as the Schools' liaison to the CUNY Office of General Counsel and Senior Vice Chancellor for Legal Affairs and General Counsel, facilitating and expediting the prompt resolution of legal issues. At each School, the Executive Counsel will also serve as the Labor Designee and as liaison to the Office of the CUNY Senior Vice Chancellor for Human Resources and Labor Relations regarding employee relations issues. The Executive Counsel will also serve as the Ethics Officer and Records Access Officer for each School.

Primary responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Serves as legal advisor, providing proactive, strategic in-house legal advice, support, and representation on behalf of the Deans and senior administrators at each School.
• Provides guidance on the implementation of and compliance with CUNY Board of Trustees Bylaws, CUNY and School policies, School governance plans, and all applicable laws, regulations, and other procedures and rules affecting employees, students, faculty, and School operations.
• Provides legal counsel to School senior staff in areas related to complex contract and commercial matters, research agreements, grants, and affiliation agreements
• Drafts and negotiates agreements and related legal documents.
• Works as a strategic partner with each School's senior leadership team on innovative projects, programs, partnerships, and initiatives.
• Provides legal support to the Schools’ Foundations, Student Associations, and other auxiliary entities.
• Serves as the Schools’ legal liaison with the alumni community, government representatives and institutional partners.
• Counsels the Office of Student Affairs on student conduct issues and co-represents the Schools on appeals before the appropriate Board of Trustees’ Committee.
• Participates in developing appropriate protocols and procedures to maximize compliance and minimize financial, legal and reputational risk to the Schools.
• Works with CUNY’s Office of General Counsel in managing and supporting litigation and administrative cases involving students, School officers, faculty, and staff.
• Reviews and responds to subpoenas and information requests under the New York State Freedom of Information Law.
• Serves as the Labor Designee, directing the Schools’ Labor Relations Functions, including contract interpretation, handling of union grievances and negotiating settlement agreements.
• Serve as a consultant to Human Resources on H1-B issues and may be responsible for working with outside counsel on immigration issues and processes.
• In consultation with School or University officers, develops and manages legally mandated training programs.
• Conducts investigations, prepares disciplinary charges and recommends resolutions.
• Serves as each School’s Hearing Officer and represents the Schools at grievances and disciplinary proceedings from informal resolution through arbitration.
• Serves as the Deans' representative to the PSC/CUNY Labor Management Committee.
• Oversees the Deans’ appeals process for faculty and other members of the instructional staff who have been non-reappointed or denied tenure or promotion, including, without limitation advising the Deans, and drafting all appeal-related correspondence including the Deans’ letters of reasons. 
• Interprets contractual agreements, and provides thoughtful, timely guidance in responding to legal, policy and procedural inquiries from senior School officials

QUALIFICATIONS

This position is in CUNY's Executive Compensation Plan. All executive positions require a minimum of a Bachelor's degree and eight years' related experience. For this position, a J.D. and ten years related experience in the practice of law and membership in the New York State bar is required.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

The preferred candidate will be a visionary leader with a demonstrated ability to contribute to the collective success of both institutions. With a strategic mindset, this individual will have a proven track record of developing and executing plans to achieve a shared vision of the future. The preferred candidate will also have an exceptional ability to navigate complex organizational structures and drive change. Specific experience and attributes will include:

• Extensive legal and employee relations experience in a public higher education, local or state government setting.
• Deep knowledge of relevant state and federal employment laws, experience responding to employment-related complaints and issues and devising effective solutions.
• Successful history of negotiating and finalizing contracts governing partnerships, research, facilities and institutional events.
• Demonstrated proficiency in drafting, negotiating, and interpreting contracts, governing strategic partnerships, research, facilities, and institutional events.
• Experience interpreting and enforcing collective bargaining agreements.
• Experience conducting hearings and investigations, managing litigation, and providing supervisory oversight of similar proceedings.
• Excellent track record of managing and prioritizing an extensive caseload, ensuring timely and effective resolutions.
• Strong work ethic, impeccable character, and a high degree of personal integrity, professionalism, discretion, confidentiality and diplomacy.
• Outstanding communication and presentation skills, with impeccable orientation to detail.
• Demonstrated ability to be decisive, establish informed positions, make well-reasoned recommendations and successfully advocate for legally sound and evidenced-based positions to diverse stakeholders.
• Insightful approach to legal, policy, and risk management issues with exceptional critical analytical, research and evaluation skills
• Demonstrated experience effectively managing multiple complex priorities.
• Demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion. 

CUNY TITLE

Professional School Associate Admin

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

Salary commensurate with education and experience between $185,000 - $195,000.

CUNY's benefits contribute significantly to total compensation, supporting health and wellness, financial well-being, and professional development. We offer a range of health plans, competitive retirement/pension benefits and savings plans, tuition waivers for CUNY graduate study and generous paid time off. Our staff also benefits from the extensive academic, arts, and athletic programs on our campuses and the opportunity to participate in a lively, diverse academic community in one of the greatest cities in the world.

HOW TO APPLY

Visit www.cuny.edu, access the employment page, log in or create a new user account, and search for this vacancy using the Job ID# 28049 or Title. Select "Apply Now" and provide the requested information.

Candidates should provide a resume and cover letter.

CLOSING DATE

March 12, 2024

JOB SEARCH CATEGORY

CUNY Job Posting: Executive

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

CUNY encourages people with disabilities, minorities, veterans and women to apply. At CUNY, Italian Americans are also included among our protected groups. Applicants and employees will not be discriminated against on the basis of any legally protected category, including sexual orientation or gender identity. EEO/AA/Vet/Disability Employer