Director of Legal Affairs

ECPI University•Virginia Beach, VA

2d•$135,000 - $225,000

About The Position

ECPI University is seeking a Director of Legal Affairs to serve as a key advisor to executive leadership. This new executive legal leadership position will shape the future of the institution by providing counsel across employment law, higher education regulation, contracts, governance, compliance, strategic initiatives, and institutional operations. The role offers the opportunity to work with an experienced executive team and build the University's long-term legal function. This position is intended to grow over time as responsibilities evolve and institutional needs expand. The Director of Legal Affairs will be the University's primary in-house legal counsel and strategic advisor on a broad range of institutional matters, providing practical legal guidance that supports institutional objectives while managing legal and regulatory risk. This position requires sound legal judgment, strong business acumen, and an appreciation for the operational realities of a highly regulated university.

Requirements

Juris Doctor from an ABA-accredited law school.
Active membership in good standing with at least one state bar.
Significant legal experience advising organizations in complex regulatory environments.
Strong employment law and contract experience.
Excellent written, analytical, negotiation, and communication skills.
Ability to provide practical, business-oriented legal advice to executive leadership.

Nice To Haves

Experience serving as legal counsel for a college or university or representing higher education institutions in private practice.
Experience with the legal and regulatory framework governing institutions of higher education, including federal student aid programs, accreditation, state authorization, institutional governance, and related regulatory matters.
Experience advising executive leadership on strategic institutional initiatives.
Familiarity with the operational and regulatory environment of private higher education.

Responsibilities

Advise Human Resources and executive leadership on employment law matters.
Provide legal guidance related to employee relations, workplace investigations, accommodations, wage and hour issues, policy development, and litigation avoidance.
Partner with Human Resources on employment practices and organizational policy.
Provide legal counsel regarding matters affecting private higher education institutions.
Advise executive leadership on issues involving federal and state regulatory compliance, accreditation, institutional governance, consumer protection, student matters, and other legal issues affecting higher education.
Partner with executive leadership on legal matters involving institutional eligibility, regulatory compliance, and interactions with governmental agencies and accreditors.
Draft, negotiate, and review commercial agreements.
Advise on procurement, technology contracts, software licensing, real estate matters, vendor relationships, and strategic partnerships.
Support institutional transactions and other business initiatives.
Advise executive leadership regarding institutional legal risk.
Coordinate outside counsel as appropriate.
Support Board governance activities.
Assist with litigation management and legal strategy.
Partner with executive leadership on major institutional initiatives including enterprise technology modernization, ERP and Student Information System implementation, artificial intelligence governance and policy, new academic programs, campus expansion, institutional partnerships, and corporate governance initiatives.