Career Center

Title: General Counsel/Chief Legal Officer

Employee Classification: Administrative -Full time 

Department: Legal Services

Salary Range:  Commensurate with Experience

Who we are:

We are not-for-profit:  St. Louis Community college (STLCC) is a non-profit institution dedicated to empowering students, expanding minds, and changing lives. Employees are committed to strengthening the St. Louis community with inclusive and transformative education.

We are a respected employer:  For 60 years, STLCC has served the St. Louis community, expanding to 4 main campuses, 2 education centers, 2 workforce training centers, and 5 centers of excellence. More than one-half of the households in St. Louis have at least one member who has taken classes at STLCC.

We make an impact in the community:  Through credit courses, continuing education, and workforce development programs, STLCC annually serves nearly 69,000 students.  More than 80% of career and technical graduates employed in their fields or continue their education at four-year institutions within six months of graduation.  STLCC sends more transfer students to Missouri’s four-year colleges/universities than anyone else.

We value Diversity, equity & inclusion:  STLCC is committed to fostering an atmosphere of appreciation for all people, regardless of race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or class.

What you get:

Benefits package [for full-time employees]:  STLCC offers one of the best benefit packages in the St. Louis area. As a STLCC employee you will have access to a 100% match on your contribution to retirement, two health insurance plans options that are no cost to the employee - including an HSA option, low-cost life insurance with a 3x salary benefit, and other low-cost benefits including dental, vision, AD&D, ST LT disability insurance.

Opportunity to grow:  Over half of our employees have served the college for more than 12 years, exploring different career paths and advancing to higher level positions.

Education & training opportunities: STLCC offers tuition waivers for employees [full-time and part-time] + their dependents.  Full-time employees can take advantage of tuition reimbursement for other institutions after just 6 months of service, and an annual professional development allotment.

Work/life balance:  Full-time STLCC employees have access to a generous time off package, including holidays, vacation, personal days, medical leave, and other leave options. Our holiday schedule even includes a paid winter holiday at the end of the calendar year.

Commitment to wellness:  STLCC HR boasts a dedicated health and wellness specialist who is enthusiastic about creating a culture of wellness throughout the College. With access to college wellness vendors, employees are educated, motivated, and rewarded for healthy behaviors. STLCC employees and anyone living in their household also have access to an employee assistance program (EAP) that can help them with virtually any life need.

The basics of this position:

Provides comprehensive general counsel and legal services to the College on broad range of legal and regulatory matters. Represents the College and works with outside counsel on various administrative and court proceedings. Provides legal advice, representation, and implementation services to the College through the Chancellor, Board of Trustees, and other College officers and administrators. Monitors the College’s adherence to city, county, state, and federals laws; drafts and reviews legal documents; provides in-service training, and coordinates College legal services. Performs normal supervisory functions as assigned.

What you'll do:

• Provides legal advice and counsel to the Chancellor, Board of Trustees, and other officers and directors of the College, serving as the College’s primary legal counsel in all areas.
• Prepares for and represents the College in matters before the EEOC, State Commission on Human Rights, Office for Civil Rights (OCR), and litigation matters in St. Louis City and County state circuit court and in Federal court or works directly with outside law firms in the preparation and representation of such matters.
• Attends and provides advice and guidance at all Board of Trustees meetings, including executive sessions.
• Consults with the Chief Human Resources Officer in protecting the interests of employees and the College in accordance with the College’s human resource policies, and state and federal laws and regulations.
• Consults with senior administrators of the College to provide advice and support to legal matters affecting the various divisions of the College – Academic Affairs; Student Affairs; Finance; Administration and Operations; Facilities and other operational units.
• Prepares and reviews legal documents as necessary.
• Identifies emerging legal issues affecting higher education and the College, including through case law and state and federal laws and regulations. Analyzes, monitors, and advises appropriate administrators on the effects of emerging legal issues and potential exposure of the College. Offers advice and counsel to administration in the preparation of information requested or required for various compliance responsibilities.
• Coordinates the College legal services, including overseeing and coordinating the work of outside law firms; advises and recommends outside legal counsel when appropriate and deemed warranted.
• Monitors activity regarding risk management claims; prepares, reviews, and suggests changes to related documents.
• Manages legal review of all contracts and binding obligations of the College.
• Identifies need for required training and in conjunction with Training and Development engages with third parties to develop training that address the College’s needs in relation to legal requirements.
• Develops contacts with the legal community to anticipate legal changes; conducts a continuous study of laws and regulations and keeps the College abreast of current requirements and/or developments.
• Consults with all segments of administration in relation to policies or actions and makes recommendations for improving the effectiveness of implementing such policies or practices.
• Manages staff to ensure optimum performance and support of college objectives with emphasis on employee training and development. Effectively utilizes the College performance evaluation system.
• Handles other legal matters as may be assigned by the Chancellor and other duties as assigned.
• Participates in all required and relevant College training and development opportunities.

Education, experience, and other requirements:

• J.D. Degree required and at least seven years of relevant full-time experience.
• Must be a member of the Missouri State Bar and licensed to practice in the Federal and State Courts of the State of Missouri, or able to become licensed within six months.
  

Preferred Qualifications:

• Prefer previous experience in education law as it pertains to higher education, particularly community colleges, as applicable in the state of Missouri.

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About St. Louis Community College

STLCC has provided opportunity for all. As the largest higher educational institution in the region, STLCC has served more than 1.2 million students. Over 50% of households in the St. Louis area are represented in our former and current student body. Since 1962, St. Louis Community College has held fast to the fundamental belief that education has the power to lift us up — as individuals, as communities and as a city.Today, STLCC consistently ranks among the top associate degree-awarding institutions in the United States. As we launch students into new and better careers, four-year degrees and richer lives, we strengthen St. Louis one student at a time. The College employs 1,400+ full-time faculty and staff and 2,300+ part-time faculty and staff

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