University Counsel & Director of Investment Legal Services

Princeton University•Princeton, NJ

7d•$225,000 - $360,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Princeton University is hiring an experienced attorney for its Office of the General Counsel (OGC) to provide dedicated legal support to the Princeton University Investment Company (Princo). This newly created role is a member of OGC and sits with Princo, serving as Princo’s lead attorney on legal and compliance matters related to its investment activities. The attorney practices under the professional supervision of the University’s Vice President & General Counsel and has a dual reporting structure: directly to the Vice President & General Counsel (or designee), with a reporting line to Princo’s Managing Director of Operations, Administration, and Technology. Day-to-day functional supervision is provided by the Managing Director, while legal and ethical oversight is provided by the Vice President & General Counsel. The role carries substantial responsibility for reviewing and negotiating agreements with investment managers, prime brokers, and other vendors, as well as managing legal workflows and designing and overseeing regulatory and compliance practices. The successful candidate will collaborate with Princo staff, OGC, other University departments, and external counterparties. The position offers broad involvement in legal and operational matters, process improvement, and supporting Princo’s fiduciary responsibilities and long-term investment objectives. Princeton University describes OGC as a collaborative, mission-driven legal team. OGC has 10 attorneys, a paralegal, and three administrative professionals; this hire will be its 15th team member. Princo manages the University’s $42 billion endowment and has a total staff of 49, including investors. The role is based with a team that has offices in Princeton, New Jersey, and New York City. The team currently meets in Princeton on Mondays and Tuesdays, with employees able to work from either location later in the week. The position is full-time, benefits-eligible, and not eligible for overtime. The annualized salary range is $225,000–$360,000, plus a bonus opportunity. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis and successfully complete the University’s background check.

Requirements

At least 10 years of relevant legal practice experience in a law firm or in-house legal department, including extensive experience reviewing public and private investment fund documents.
J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school and excellent academic credentials.
Licensed attorney in good standing, licensed in or willing and able to become licensed in New Jersey.
Demonstrated outstanding judgment, the highest ethical standards, and close adherence to the Rules of Professional Conduct.
Ability to handle a widely varied array of legal issues in the investment and asset management sector.
Excellent oral and written communication skills and willingness to engage in clear, transparent dialogue about legal and non-legal issues.
Advanced problem-solving skills, resourcefulness, and a creative approach to ambiguous, complex, and multi-variable problems.
Intrinsic motivation and ability to work independently; meticulous attention to detail; strong organizational, project, and time-management skills; urgency and responsiveness; and ability to manage multiple projects and prioritize competing needs.
Positive, energetic approach and demonstrated commitment to teamwork and cross-functional collaboration; ability to perform effectively, calmly, and collegially under pressure.
Excellent relationship-management skills and ability to balance a partnership-oriented style with strong legal representation of Princeton’s interests.
Strong Microsoft Office skills and facility with other technology tools and systems, including emerging legal AI products, used consistently with professional rules and University and OGC policies.
Successfully complete the University’s background check.
Authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.

Nice To Haves

Experience at an investment office of a university, foundation, or other nonprofit, or at an asset management firm, is highly desired.

Responsibilities

Lead legal review of investments in investment funds, primary investments, and co-investments, including advising on terms, reviewing offering materials, preparing comment memoranda, conducting legal and due diligence inquiries, and negotiating with managers’ counsel.
Delegate portions of investment document reviews to outside counsel when needed, and provide additional support and relationship-building for investments in emerging managers, including sourcing and maintaining relationships with recommended third-party service providers and evaluating non-U.S. regulatory requirements.
Identify and research complex legal and compliance issues, especially U.S. securities filings and compliance requirements; consult with OGC attorneys, Princo’s Tax Director, and external tax, compliance, and derivatives counsel as appropriate.
Present legal and compliance findings and practical impacts to investment and operations teams, and collaborate on new investment structures, compliance enhancements, and operational capabilities.
Lead the review, negotiation, and execution of trading-counterparty agreements, including prime broker agreements, ISDAs, and collateral agreements, and agreements with associated service providers such as custodians and administrators.
Liaise with internal stakeholders and clients regarding agreement terms, strategic enhancements, trading-related responsibilities, approvals, and queries; advise on compliance with contractual terms and assess and implement Princo’s trading needs with operations colleagues and relevant University departments.
Lead legal efforts for periodic reviews and opportunistic secondary sales of illiquid investments, including preparing portfolios for sale, supervising legal data-room materials, coordinating with external counsel, and negotiating and reviewing legal documentation.
Collaborate with operations colleagues on initial and periodic operational due diligence of external investment managers.
Attend and contribute to weekly OGC attorney meetings, Investment Committee meetings, and weekly investment team meetings.
Maintain and update key terms and other documentation templates; manage records and document databases for contracts under the attorney’s purview; and ensure relevant reports, policies, and procedures are regularly reviewed and updated in alignment with University policies.
Oversee staff compliance with Princo’s personal trading policies.
Identify and implement process efficiencies and training opportunities, and arrange or provide training for the Princo team in coordination with OGC attorneys.