Assistant General Counsel

Rice University•Houston, TX

9d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Office of General Counsel at Rice University is seeking an Assistant General Counsel to provide legal advice and counsel on philanthropic gifts, donations, contracts, and policies. This role will support development leadership, fundraisers, and other colleagues, and communicate with prospects, advisors, donors, and donor families. Reporting to the Vice President and General Counsel, with a dotted-line relationship to the Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations (DAR), the attorney will advise across the campus-wide fundraising enterprise, collaborating with frontline fundraisers and leadership in DAR and with each school, institute, and unit. The attorney will also develop and maintain relationships within the Office of the General Counsel, Rice’s Treasury Office, and the Rice Management Company (RMC). The ideal candidate will have experience and versatility to solve problems in other areas of practice, including contracts, general business law, nonprofit law, and corporate law. The team values versatility, attention to detail, discretion, and curiosity, aiming to represent Rice with the highest standards of civility and creativity. The ideal candidate is a highly collaborative leader and strategic thinker with experience supporting fundraising efforts and navigating complex situations and projects.

Requirements

J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school
2+ years of experience as a practicing attorney
Demonstrated experience in major, planned, and principal gift fundraising, including experience working with financial advisors, accountants, and attorneys
Either: (a) An active license to practice law in Texas, or (b) an active license to practice law in another U.S. jurisdiction and the ability to become licensed in Texas at the earliest opportunity
Commitment to Rice University’s mission
Demonstrated ability to handle multiple complex fundraising activities simultaneously and coordinate solicitation strategies in a decentralized environment
Collegiality, a willingness to support colleagues, and a commitment to the multicultural, multinational environment of a major research university
Commitment to providing expeditious, high-quality service to clients and dedication to working the hours required to meet those expectations
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Strong attention to detail
Advanced problem-solving skills
Strong organizational and time management skills
High level of creativity, initiative, and motivation
Ability to work well under pressure and manage projects simultaneously
Team orientation and willingness to set an example through effective leadership
Ability to work independently and as part of a team to meet expected deadlines and schedules
Adept at problem-solving, creating contingency plans, and handling issues when necessary
Strong interest in and commitment to sharing knowledge with colleagues through effective training programs

Nice To Haves

MBA degree
3+ years of experience in major, planned, and principal gift fundraising with an institution of higher education and/or a mission-oriented nonprofit organization
Ability to demonstrate good judgment in dynamic situations
High emotional intelligence and the ability to think strategically
Demonstrated experience with Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint)
Proficiency with a fundraising CRM and a strong data-driven orientation

Responsibilities

Provide legal advice and trusted counsel on philanthropic gifts, donations, contracts, and policies to development leadership, fundraisers, and other colleagues.
Communicate on Rice’s behalf with prospects, advisors, donors, and donor families.
Advise across the campus-wide fundraising enterprise, collaborating with frontline fundraisers and leadership in DAR and with each school, institute, and unit.
Develop and maintain relationships within the Office of the General Counsel, Rice’s Treasury Office, and the Rice Management Company (RMC).
Solve problems in other areas of practice, including contracts, general business law, nonprofit law, and corporate law.
Draft complex pledge and gift agreements and liaise with RMC.
Support the work of development officers in closing complex gift arrangements and work with external advisors and Rice officials to complete gift documents.
Draft endowment agreements when donor interests or gift situations require unique or complex solutions, especially those involving restrictions on use or designation.
Assist in responding to donor, advisor, and fundraiser questions regarding the Long-Term Pool, including the timing of additions, distributions, taxes and assessments, investment returns, and other related matters.
Provide advice regarding fund accounting and reporting.
Liaise with RMC regarding acceptance and appropriate liquidation strategies for gifts of complex business interests.
Enhance campus-wide risk management as it relates to development activities.
Oversee and manage a reputational risk assessment and review process.
Create, oversee, and manage a standardized gift agreement template and review process across the university.
Provide gift planning, estate, and trust administration support.
Assist in drafting charitable remainder trust and charitable gift annuity agreements and related documents and negotiate those agreements with donors and their advisors.
Provide advice regarding potential tax implications to donors and the university associated with gifts that have complex or unusual structures.
Represent the university in routine probate and trust administration matters.
Provide strategic advice for charitable trust and deferred-giving programs.
Assist in developing, refining, and interpreting gift-planning guidelines and policies.
Review marketing materials as needed to ensure technical accuracy and appropriate clarity regarding the role of gift planners versus professional advisors.
Lead the Gift Policy Committee.
Conduct due diligence on proposed gifts of privately held assets and other intangible personal property.
Assist the Real Estate Office in conducting due diligence on proposed gifts of real estate.
Assist the Executive Director of Gift Planning with evaluating proposed gifts of life insurance, intellectual property, and outdoor objects.
Work closely with colleagues in the Office of General Counsel (OGC).
Successfully communicate and translate the interests of fundraising and alumni offices across campus to colleagues in OGC.
Collaborate with colleagues in OGC to establish, review, and update university policies and procedures that affect development efforts, such as naming approval requirements, memorial gift policies, and gift acceptance and disposition procedures.
Work closely with the Data Services team in DAR.
Coordinate and oversee the drafting and revision of gift receipt templates and other donor-facing materials and assist in revising policies and procedures.
Assist in determining how to receive, liquidate, record, value, and process gifts of complex assets.
Collaborate regarding international fundraising.
Provide advice to fundraisers regarding international gifts, identifying potential issues and solutions.
Oversee the creation and management of appropriate entities and/or vehicles for the receipt of offshore gifts and oversee engagement with third parties to accept offshore gifts as needed.
Collaborate regarding fundraising campaigns.
Draft campaign-counting guidelines and interpret their application.
Draft matching gift rule sets.
Perform all other duties as assigned, including, for example, the negotiation, drafting, and revision of contracts and proposed contracts in the interest of the university.
Requires extensive contact within the university at all levels, including senior administration.
Requires extensive contact outside the university with donors, alumni, parents, and friends of Rice University, as well as financial advisors, accountants, and attorneys.