Assistant General Counsel - Research Technology and Privacy

Vanderbilt University•Nashville, TN

17d

About The Position

Vanderbilt University seeks an Assistant General Counsel to provide legal advice on a broad range of transactional matters and projects. The role primarily supports the university’s academic research enterprise—including the Office of the Vice Provost for Research and Innovation, Sponsored Programs Administration, and Office of Research Integrity and Compliance—and information security, data governance, and privacy functions, including Vanderbilt University Information Technology, Research IT, and the Office of Data and Strategic Analytics. Depending on the candidate’s expertise, the position may also advise on university policies, practices, and strategies related to artificial intelligence and may serve as the university’s privacy officer, depending on institutional needs and the candidate’s expertise and interest. Reporting to the Deputy General Counsel, the Assistant General Counsel collaborates with leaders across the university to protect its interests and advance strategic goals involving research, technology, and privacy. The role helps develop data and research compliance regimes, monitors evolving legal and regulatory requirements concerning institutional data use and security, and helps ensure university actions comply with university policies and applicable laws and regulations. The attorney manages sensitive and urgent matters with competing deadlines, communicates status to university leaders, recommends corrective actions and training, and contributes to a collaborative legal environment. The position may also advise on other matters facing academic institutions and large employers based on the attorney’s experience and interests and university needs. The Office of the General Counsel provides legal advice informed by client priorities and university business practices, manages litigation on behalf of the university, and emphasizes agile service delivery and operational excellence. This includes project management and status updates, technology implementation and analytics, budget containment and outside counsel management, and identifying the highest and best use of attorney time. The position provides regulatory compliance support and legal counsel to research and technology commercialization offices; advises on international research, foreign influence, and research security; and reviews research, privacy, export security, and technology provisions in supplier agreements and proposed external collaborations. It prepares comments on proposed legislation and regulations; counsels research- and information-technology-focused committees; monitors legal and regulatory developments and federal funding agency policies; advises on data privacy, institutional data governance, artificial intelligence, data security, and breach response; and collaborates on investigations, noncompliance, corrective actions, and legal education for the Vanderbilt community. The attorney also pursues professional development and performs related duties as assigned. The position has no supervisory responsibility.

Requirements

Juris doctorate required.
Must be licensed in Tennessee or eligible for licensure within twelve months of hire.
At least 4–6 years of progressively responsible legal practice experience and demonstrated ability to work independently in relevant subject matters.
Ability to identify, analyze, and explain legal issues clearly, promptly, and thoroughly to senior university administrators.
Advanced oral and written communication skills and ability to work with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community.
Experience with sponsored programs, grant applications, and government contracts.
Ability and willingness to learn new areas of law or apply prior legal practice in a higher education environment.
Experience in regulatory analysis.
Demonstrated ability to navigate a large, complex organization.
Excellent interpersonal and collaboration skills.
Strong critical-thinking skills, sound judgment, and strategic ability.
Proficiency with common technology for document creation and management.
A cover letter and writing sample must be submitted for consideration.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting sponsored programs, grant applications, and government contracts at an institution of higher education.
Expertise in artificial intelligence-related legal or policy matters.
Relevant experience or interest that may support serving as the university’s privacy officer.

Responsibilities

Support the university’s strategic goals, particularly regarding research, technology, and privacy-related matters.
Assist in developing data and research compliance regimes and monitor legal and regulatory frameworks concerning institutional data use and security.
Help ensure university actions comply with university policies and federal, state, and local laws and regulations.
Independently and collaboratively manage sensitive, urgent legal matters with competing and overlapping deadlines, and communicate matter status and updates to Vice Chancellors and their teams.
Analyze risks proactively and recommend corrective actions and training.
Provide regulatory compliance support and legal counsel to offices overseeing research and technology commercialization.
Advise on international research, foreign influence, and research security.
Review research, privacy, export security, and technology elements of supplier agreements and proposed external collaborations.
Prepare comments on proposed federal, state, and local legislation and regulations that may affect the university.
Serve as counsel to research- and information-technology-focused university committees, including committees addressing conflicts of interest, research integrity and compliance, technology review, information security, IT risk, and data governance.
Monitor international, federal, state, and local legal and regulatory developments, including federal funding agency policies and compliance requirements.
Advise on data privacy, institutional data governance, and artificial intelligence.
Advise the chief information security officer on data security and breach response.
Collaborate with University Compliance Services, Risk & Insurance Management, and other offices on investigations, noncompliance, and corrective actions.
Work with university officials, offices, and departments to develop and provide legal education and support to the Vanderbilt community.
Pursue professional growth through seminars, workshops, and professional affiliations.
Perform similar or related duties as assigned or required.
Depending on expertise and institutional needs, advise on other legal matters facing academic institutions and large employers and potentially serve as the university’s privacy officer.