Deputy General Counsel, Transactions

Chicago Public Schools • Chicago, IL

7h

About The Position

The Deputy General Counsel provides leadership, staff development, and strategic direction for the Transactions Unit in the Chicago Public Schools Law Office. The Unit drafts and negotiates a broad range of contracts, provides legal review and counsel for bond issuances and other financings, and advises departments and schools on compliance with Board rules, policies, and procurement laws.

The Deputy General Counsel leads the Unit’s management of complex legal issues, contract execution, and daily operations. The role reports to the General Counsel, receives direction from the First Deputy General Counsel, and manages direct reports. This is a full-time, exempt, salaried position.

The successful candidate leads attorneys, paralegals, and support staff; oversees contract drafting and negotiation; ensures legal and policy compliance; manages outside counsel; and leads work on CPS’s most complex and critical agreements. Employees must establish Chicago residency within six months of hire and maintain it throughout their employment.

Requirements

• Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school.
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
• Licensed to practice law and in good standing in the State of Illinois.
• Minimum of 10 years of relevant experience, including 8 years of legal practice and related transactional work.
• Strong ability to develop working relationships, create processes and systems that improve efficiency, and engender trust among internal and external clients.
• Exceptional advocacy, analytical, oral, and written communication skills.
• Strong negotiation skills, including the ability to persuade, plan, strategize, and cooperate with operational goals in mind.
• Ability to quickly analyze risk, prioritize concerns, and determine when to escalate.
• Ability to build effective relationships within the Law Department, with other Board departments, and with external vendors and partners.
• Sound organizational skills and ability to build efficient processes.
• Ability to manage numerous projects simultaneously under pressure.
• Demonstrated ability to take ownership of and solve problems, quickly assess issues, and provide sound legal advice.
• Establish Chicago residency within six months of hire and maintain residency throughout employment.

Nice To Haves

• Minimum of 5 years of leadership experience supervising, managing, and developing direct-reporting attorneys and support staff with differing abilities.

Responsibilities

• Manage a team of attorneys, paralegals, and support personnel responsible for negotiating and drafting all CPS contracts.
• Develop attorneys and staff to be solution-oriented, client-focused, and able to serve District operations.
• Ensure compliance with applicable laws, Board Rules, and Board Policies.
• Work with the Procurement Department and other CPS departments to prepare and review solicitations, including bids, requests for proposal, and requests for qualification.
• Develop efficient processes for tracking, preparing, negotiating, drafting, reviewing, approving, and executing contracts.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of the Law Department and participate in strategic planning and execution of Department goals.
• Manage outside counsel representing CPS in transaction matters and firms working on CPS municipal finance transactions.
• Lead CPS’s most complex and critical agreements by counseling, negotiating, and drafting solicitations and contracts.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree