Vice President and General Counsel

The Role of the Vice President and General Counsel

The Vice President and General Counsel reports to the president and is the chief legal officer for the University of Nebraska.
The General Counsel leads a legal team responsible for all University legal matters, including employment issues, real estate transactions, contract negotiations, administrative matters, litigation and appeals, intellectual property and technology transfer, athletics, health sciences, University policies, rules, regulations, and compliance with all local, state, and federal laws. When appropriate, the General Counsel retains and oversees outside legal counsel.

In addition, the General Counsel or his/her designee will assist various affiliated entities of the University, including service as (1) secretary of the National Strategic Research Institute; (2) secretary of the Nebraska Applied Research Institute; (3) secretary of the University Technology Development Corporation; and (4) legal counsel to the Nebraska Innovation Campus Development Corporation.

Professional Qualifications and Personal Characteristics:

The General Counsel will be an accomplished attorney with a distinguished professional record. Candidates must have knowledge of the major areas of law affecting higher education organizations, including governance, compliance (ADA, FERPA, HIPPA, Title IX, GLBA, HEOA, Clery Act), litigation management, privacy and data protection, faculty appointments and tenure, sponsored programs administration, gift planning, athletics, healthcare law (medical malpractice, fraud and abuse, false claims), employment law, constitutional law, insurance law, intellectual property, construction and real estate law, licensing, commercial contracts, tax, and corporate transactions.

The ideal candidate for the General Counsel position will demonstrate many of the following professional qualifications and personal characteristics:
- Outstanding executive leadership skills.
- Demonstrated management experience, including proven track record of motivating colleagues and other leaders.
- Ability to communicate in a clear and concise manner.
- Ability to anticipate issues and eliminate/mitigate risks.
- Strong business acumen with the ability to see the broad consequences of a course of action and its impact across stakeholder groups.
- Ability to work collaboratively and with diverse constituents.
- High ethical standards, integrity, and strong morals.
- Ability to handle complex matters and multiple projects simultaneously.
- Ability to directly handle university priorities in a leanly staffed office.
- Positive external relations/constituency management capabilities as it relates to legal and business operations in the General Counsel’s office, including work with broad constituencies that include government, business, and community partners.

Qualified applicants must have a Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school, be a member in good standing of the Nebraska State Bar, or be eligible for admission to the Nebraska bar under Neb. Ct. R. § 3-119 as a Class 1-B applicant and to the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska, and have at least ten years of active law practice.

Special Instructions

Nominations and applications are invited. Review of applications is underway and will continue until the position is filled. Candidates should provide a resume and a letter of application that addresses the responsibilities and requirements described in this position profile. These materials should be submitted electronically at https://careers.nebraska.edu. For fullest consideration, material should be submitted before June 1, 2018. If you need assistance with your application, please call (402) 472-3701.

Nomination information may be sent to GCsearch@nebraska.edu.