Vice President and Deputy General Counsel

GOLDEN GATE UNIVERSITY•San Francisco, CA

4d•$250,000 - $325,000•Remote

About The Position

Golden Gate University seeks a Vice President and Deputy General Counsel to serve as the General Counsel’s principal deputy and a senior legal advisor to the President, executive leadership, deans, and administrators. The role leads litigation and dispute resolution, advises on employee, faculty, and student matters, and oversees compliance with local, state, and federal law. The Deputy General Counsel acts on the General Counsel’s behalf as needed and helps shape the University’s institutional approach to identifying and managing legal risk. The position is in the Office of the General Counsel and reports to the General Counsel, Chief of Staff & Secretary to the Board. It is full-time, exempt, and remote, with an annual salary range of $250,000–$325,000 and eligibility for an annual performance bonus.

Requirements

Juris Doctor degree.
Active membership in good standing in the State Bar of California.
Ten or more years of legal experience, including substantial litigation and employment law experience and significant experience representing or advising higher education institutions in-house, at a law firm, or in a government or regulatory setting.
Demonstrated success directing complex litigation and managing outside counsel, including employment and civil rights matters.
Deep knowledge of the federal and state legal framework governing higher education, including Title IV, Title IX, FERPA, the Clery Act, and ADA/Section 504.
Seasoned judgment and ability to advise executive leadership and governing boards clearly and decisively on high-stakes matters.
Exceptional drafting, negotiation, and communication skills, including the ability to translate complex legal issues into clear, actionable guidance for non-lawyers.
Ability to independently manage a demanding, fast-moving portfolio in a remote environment.

Nice To Haves

Prior in-house experience in a college or university general counsel’s office, including in a senior or deputy role.
Experience with faculty employment matters, including handbook interpretation, academic freedom, and shared governance.
Experience with student conduct, Title IX, and civil rights processes.
Experience with Department of Education program reviews, OCR investigations, or accreditation matters.
Experience supervising attorneys or building legal and compliance functions.

Responsibilities

Direct litigation, arbitration, and administrative proceedings, including employment, student, contract, and regulatory matters, from early assessment through resolution.
Select, manage, and evaluate outside counsel; set case strategy and budgets; and align litigation spending with institutional priorities.
Manage responses to agency charges and government inquiries, including matters before the California Civil Rights Department, EEOC, U.S. Department of Education and Office for Civil Rights, and other agencies.
Advise leadership on settlement strategy, early resolution, litigation holds, and preservation obligations.
Report litigation and dispute exposure to executive leadership and, as requested, to the Board of Trustees and its committees.
Advise the President, executive leadership, and Human Resources on employment matters, including hiring, compensation, performance management, discipline, accommodations, leaves, reorganizations, and separations.
Oversee and advise on workplace investigations involving discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and whistleblower concerns.
Draft and negotiate executive employment agreements, offer letters, and separation agreements.
Advise on California and federal wage-and-hour, leave, and anti-discrimination laws, as well as employment policies and handbooks.
Advise the Provost, deans, and academic leadership on faculty appointments, contracts, evaluation, promotion, discipline, grievances, and separations.
Interpret and apply the faculty handbook and academic policies, including matters involving academic freedom and shared governance.
Counsel on employment, compensation, and classification of adjunct and part-time faculty.
Advise on student conduct, academic integrity, grievances, dismissals, and appeals, with a focus on fair and consistent processes.
Counsel on Title IX and civil rights obligations, ADA and Section 504 disability accommodations, FERPA, and Clery Act campus safety obligations.
Advise on admissions, enrollment, and student account matters, including matters involving international students.
Oversee compliance with federal requirements, including Title IV and federal financial aid, Title IX, Title VI, the Clery Act, FERPA, ADA/Section 504, Section 117 reporting, and F-1/J-1 student and scholar requirements.
Oversee compliance with California law and laws of other states where the University operates or enrolls students, including employment, consumer protection, privacy, and distance-education state authorization requirements.
Advise on local ordinances and requirements, including San Francisco labor and employment ordinances.
Lead the University’s compliance program by monitoring legal and regulatory developments, keeping policies and practices current, and developing and delivering training.
Coordinate responses to audits, program reviews, and inquiries from regulators and accreditors, including the U.S. Department of Education and WSCUC.
Serve as the General Counsel’s principal deputy and act on the General Counsel’s behalf as needed.
Supervise attorneys and staff in the Office of the General Counsel as assigned.
Partner with the General Counsel on institutional risk management, policy development, and the priorities and operations of the Office.