It’s a great time to join Marymount University! We are looking for faculty and staff who are passionate about providing excellent service to ensure a high quality student experience and collaborative working environment.
Marymount University Vice President & General Counsel
Marymount is a private, comprehensive Catholic university located in Arlington, Va., just outside Washington, D.C. Founded in 1950 by the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary (RSHM), Marymount welcomes people of all backgrounds and faiths and provides an educational environment that promotes dialogue, understanding, and service, as well as intellectual and personal development. The University offers its 4,000 students a wide array of bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees through its Colleges of Business, Innovation, Leadership, and Technology; Health and Education; and Sciences and Humanities.
The Opportunity:
The Office of the General Counsel (OGC) oversees, manages, and coordinates the University’s legal affairs serving as the point of contact for all legal matters affecting Marymount, its Board of Trustees, colleges and schools, and administrators, faculty and staff in the discharge of their university duties. OGC provides high-quality, efficient, and practical legal counsel while advancing Marymount’s educational mission. Reporting to the President and as a member of the President’s senior leadership team, the Vice President & General Counsel will serve as the chief legal officer and as Secretary to Marymount University Board of Trustees, lead the OGC, and provide in-house legal services and counsel for Marymount University on all legal matters.
Essential Responsibilities
• Oversee and maintain responsibility for a wide range of legal services for Marymount University, including advice and counsel, transactions, and disputes, in areas including but not limited to governance, University policies and procedures, Board governance, including Board bylaws, employment and labor relations, student affairs, contracts, development and gift agreements, grants, intellectual property, real estate, financing transactions, insurance, health and safety, enrollment, academic freedom, immigration and visas, and civil rights (including Titles VI, VII, and IX, and the Americans with Disabilities Act).
• Draft and review contracts and other legal documents.
• Represent or oversee the representation of the University in judicial and administrative proceedings and in responding and negotiating with federal, state, and local government agencies.
• Establish a legal services strategy and operation for the University and retain and manage outside counsel when necessary for matters requiring subject matter expertise or handling and resolving litigation.
• Stay abreast of legal developments relevant to higher education and proactively advise on emerging trends and changes to laws and regulations and their potential impact on the University's operations.
• Inform the President and the President’s senior leadership team in a timely manner of matters regarded as highly visible, sensitive or that expose the University to legal risk or potential liability; work collaboratively with the President’s team to manage and respond to legal issues related to their departments.
• Assist with periodic legal review and development of University policies and procedures to ensure compliance with federal, state and local laws.
• Identify areas of risk and risk mitigation, including matters involving cybersecurity, and collaborate with risk management staff and others regarding proposed improvements.
• Develop and manage the annual budget for the General Counsel’s office, supervise a paralegal, and perform periodic cost and productivity analyses.
• Foster a culture of legal compliance and ethical conduct across the University, promoting awareness and understanding of legal requirements and best practices through training and education.
Competencies, Qualifications, and Experience
• Juris Doctorate from an ABA accredited law school with minimum 10 years legal experience as in-house university/college counsel, or private practice with substantial experience handling matters for clients in higher education.
• Must be licensed to practice law and in good standing in at least one United States jurisdiction and, if not a member of the Virginia Bar, gain admission to the Commonwealth of Virginia Bar to practice law as a Corporate Counsel Registrant on the first day of employment, and maintain good standing thereafter.
• In-depth, broad generalist knowledge and expertise on a wide range of federal, state, and local laws that relate to the mission and operation of a private, non-profit higher education institution.
• Expertise related to FERPA, ADA, Title IX, Title VI, Title VII, and issues of academic freedom, student conduct policies and proceedings, and employment law.
• Exceptional negotiation, communication, and presentation skills, capable of effectively conveying complex legal concepts to diverse audiences.
• Experience advising on complex internal investigations.
• Unquestionable integrity, trustworthiness, and a commitment to upholding rigorous ethical standards and confidentiality. Professionalism, decorum, and diplomacy in all interactions, with the ability to engage others with respect and empathy, in line with the University’s mission and values.
Qualified candidates are invited to submit a cover letter, addressing qualifications related to the aforementioned responsibilities and competences; a C.V., and complete contact information for three professional references who will be contacted only with the candidate’s permission. Salary will be commensurate with the overall qualifications of the selected final candidate. The offered wage or salary is only one aspect of an employee’s total compensation. Benefits include a comprehensive health and wellness plan, tuition remission program for employee, spouse, and dependent children, a generous contribution to the University’s 403B retirement plan, and a generous time off plan. Employment is contingent upon successful completion and clearance of a background check and employment verification. Please note that this role is an in-person position based in Arlington, VA.
To receive fullest consideration, materials must be submitted as soon as March 21, 2025. Position will be open until filled.
Marymount University is an equal opportunity employer. Marymount University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, marital status, pregnancy, veteran status or any other protected bases under applicable federal and local laws and regulations in any of its programs or its activities, including employment and admission. The university also expressly prohibits any form of sex discrimination and sexual misconduct including sexual harassment, dating and domestic violence, rape, sexual assault, sexual exploitation and stalking in any of its programs or activities, including employment and admission. For more information, please visit: https://marymount.edu/student-life/health-wellness/title-ix-2/