Description

Job Number #26-107

Suffolk County Community College is the largest community college in the State University of New York (SUNY) system, enrolling more than 26,000 students at its three campuses in Selden, Brentwood, and Riverhead, as well as its Culinary Arts Center in Riverhead. Established in 1959, the college offers a wide array of transfer-oriented associate degrees in the liberal arts and sciences; business; communications and the arts; computing and cybersecurity; health sciences; and many other areas. Career-facing degrees and certificates are offered in allied health professions, automotive technology, culinary and baking, manufacturing, and many other areas. The college provides high school concurrent enrollment opportunities to thousands of students each year through both Suffolk’s Beacon program and through on-campus early college classes. Designated by the U.S. Department of Education as a Hispanic Serving Institution, Suffolk enrolls thousands of students in English Language Learning courses, and also serves more service veterans and military-connected students than any other college in the SUNY system. 

Reporting into the Office of Legal Affairs led by the College’s General Counsel with supervision under the Deputy General Counsel. The Assistant General Counsel is an attorney role that provides legal services and support to the college community.  

Key Responsibilities  

• Works on diverse projects under the direction of the General Counsel and Deputy General Counsel.
• Conducts legal research and drafts correspondence, written memoranda and analyses on a variety of legal, regulatory, administrative, and policy issues affecting the college.
• Assists in the review, drafting, and preparation of contracts, agreements, memoranda of understanding, and related transactional documents.
• Provides legal support relating to student affairs, academic matters, labor and employment issues, public procurement and contracting, compliance obligations, grants, records requests and records retention, and daytoday operational matters.
• Assists with development, review, and implementation of college policies, procedures and guidelines to ensure consistency with applicable laws and regulations.
• Supports compliance efforts related to federal, state, and local laws applicable to higher education, including training initiatives and institutional audits, as assigned.
• Assists with the preparation of materials for Board of Trustees meetings, including resolutions and supporting documentation.
• Monitors and stays current on developments in laws, regulations, and guidance affecting higher education institutions and public entities.
• Assists in the factual and legal preparation of matters involving claims, complaints, investigations, administrative proceedings, or litigation, working collaboratively with internal stakeholders and when appropriate, outside counsel.
• Provides legal guidance to college offices and departments under supervision, fostering cooperative problemsolving and riskaware decisionmaking.
• Reviews requests for proposals, bids and purchasing methods, as assigned.
• In collaboration with the Office of Human Resources, provides support for employee disciplinary matters and investigations.
• In collaboration with the Office for Equal Opportunity & Civil Rights, prepares materials for, conducts, and otherwise supports compliance training efforts and investigations within the purview of that office, as assigned.
• Performs other related duties as assigned by the College Deputy General Counsel or College General Counsel.

Key Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Demonstrated experience with legal issues relating to higher education, government compliance, labor & employment law, or institutional policy.
• Ability to work and effectively complete assignments independently, including when under pressure or with multiple matters or deadlines, while remaining integrated within a dynamic team.
• Strong legal research, writing, and analytical skills, with demonstrated ability to conduct legal research, analyze complex issues, and prepare clear and wellorganized written materials.
• Ability to handle sensitive matters with the highest level of professionalism and confidentiality.
• Ability to handle difficult and stressful situations with professional composure.
• Ability to communicate effectively in both oral and written form, and utilize strong knowledge of appropriate structure, grammar, spelling, and relevant information.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment in making recommendations and decisions.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to collaborate and interact effectively with administrators, faculty, staff, and external partners, as well as build collaborative relationships across campuses, offices, and administrative units.
• High level of attention to detail, strong organizational and triage/prioritization skills, and the ability to manage multiple matters, transactions, deadlines, and stakeholders simultaneously.
• Strong problem-solving skills, with an ability to analyze complex legal issues and assess non-legal implications in an education/public sector setting.
• Computer proficiency, including in preparing documents, conducting research, organization, and using software shared across offices or units.
• Willingness to think creatively, to take on projects or responsibilities outside essential functions, and to develop new areas of sub-specialty, as needs may arise.
• Demonstrated commitment to public higher education and service, as well as to student success. 

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications:

Required

• A Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school, and admission in good standing to practice law in the State of New York.
• At least one year of prior relevant legal experience in the public or private sector, which may include judicial clerkships, higher or P–12 education, government service, nonprofit, or law firm practice.
   

Preferred 

• Demonstrated experience in and knowledge of state and federal higher education law, education law, the Clery Act, public sector labor and employment law, equal opportunity and nondiscrimination laws, New York State general municipal law, constitutional law, and procurement contracts.
• Prior representation of institutions of higher education or significant public entities.
• Familiarity with contracts, student affairs and conduct matters, labor & employment law, investigations, litigation, risk management, or regulatory compliance in a public institutional setting.

The College Assistant General Counsel is an exempt position; compensation will be based on the college's exempt salary and benefit plan. We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental and vision, vacation days, deferred compensation and a defined benefit plan.

The New York State Retirement and Social Security Law requires retirees of a public pension plan within the State or City of New York to disclose prior public employment and pension plan history for the purpose of establishing a retiree's eligibility for employment.