Associate VP & Deputy General Counsel

Context of the Job:

OGC attorneys have wide-ranging practices and must handle multiple, unrelated matters concurrently. All OGC attorneys report to the Vice President and General Counsel; on a day-to-day basis, attorneys are overseen by one of two Deputy General Counsel. This position will oversee the attorneys working on business, research, and transactional type matters.

The Deputy General Counsel is a member of OGC’s senior leadership team and serves as a key advisor to the Vice President and General Counsel. The successful candidate must be able to manage a team and a demanding practice concurrently, exercise sound and practical judgment, and communicate effectively with colleagues and clients. The candidate will be expected to handle complex matters and transactions from beginning to end with minimal supervision and to ensure the same standard across the transactional team.

Major Responsibilities:

• Serve as a strategic advisor to the Vice President and General Counsel, providing expert legal advice and practical solutions on business, research, and other transactional matters affecting the University and on the management and operations of the transactional practice.
• In collaboration with the General Counsel, oversee the day-to-day work of the attorneys and professional staff handling the University’s transactional matters, including project allocation and prioritization, reviewing work product, identifying and providing training, mentoring, and contributing to performance assessments.
• Provide legal advice and support on transactional matters for the University, including procurement, real estate, construction, and other University business and operational matters. This includes reviewing, negotiating, drafting, advising, and managing documentation related to these areas.
• Handle and oversee complex commercial contracts and transactions (e.g., business agreements, agreements related to public-private partnerships, joint ventures, and agreements governing large gifts).
• Oversee legal support for research-related agreements, intellectual property licensing and technology transfer, software and information technology agreements, and healthcare-related transactions and affiliations.
• Assist clients in developing processes, documents, and templates to optimize business approaches and improve the efficiency and consistency of the University’s contracting.
• Assert, respond to, and resolve commercial disputes (but not including representing the University in litigation or arbitration of such disputes), and engage and manage outside counsel on transactional matters as needed.
• Safeguard the University’s immediate and long-term interests by ensuring compliance with University policies as well as federal, state, and local laws and regulations.
• Collaborate with University officials, offices, and departments to develop and deliver legal education and support to the University of Delaware community, including training on contracting authority and transactional processes.
• Interpret and review University regulations, policies, and procedures to identify the need for policy development or changes that protect and serve the University’s legal interests.
• Serve as a legal advisor to key work groups, committees, and related entities as assigned.
• Maintain and improve personal legal expertise by following legal developments and participating in continuing legal education relevant to higher education and transactional law.
• This position may also work within OGC to provide advice and counsel on a variety of other issues facing academic institutions and large employers, based on the individual’s experience and interests and the needs of the University.

Required Competencies and Qualifications:

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited ABA law school.
• Licensed to practice law in the State of Delaware, or eligible for licensure within twelve months of hire under an in-house limited license.
• More than 10 years of recent experience as a practicing attorney, with substantial depth in one or more of the following areas: real estate, commercial transactions, research and sponsored programs, taxation and public finance, intellectual property licensing, software and technology agreements, or healthcare transactions.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, supervise, or mentor attorneys or other legal professionals.
• Proficiency and experience in drafting and negotiating sophisticated agreements, as well as advising on compliance matters.
• Strong research and analytical skills, coupled with sound judgment and the ability to balance legal risks with business strategy.
• High level of problem-solving ability, including working collaboratively to find solutions to very complex problems.
• Ability to plan for and lead complex projects requiring a team approach for resolution within deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to perform effectively under the pressure of frequent interruptions, conflicting demands, and changing priorities.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong client service orientation and skills.
• Demonstrated ability to identify potential legal issues or long-term implications of policy and legal decisions.
• Capacity to thrive in a collaborative, diverse environment and work independently with a high degree of motivation.
• High ethical standards, reflecting honesty, integrity, and reliability.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in a college or university general counsel’s office strongly preferred.
• Significant in-house experience, or experience in government or a non-profit organization.
• Prior experience supervising a team of attorneys or serving in a deputy, section-lead, or practice-group-leader role.
• Solid working knowledge of legal, academic, and operational issues relevant to the operations of a research-intensive public university, with willingness to develop new subject matter expertise as client needs dictate.
• Expertise in other legal matters applicable to higher education institutions and/or non-profit organizations (e.g., research and sponsored programs, intellectual property, donor and gift agreements, taxation and public finance, and risk management and insurance).
• Familiarity with applicable privacy laws, including but not limited to FERPA, GDPR, and PIPL.
• The ability to communicate and collaborate with stakeholders to find solutions and address the risk landscape, and to establish relationships with various constituencies.

This position is full time and will require an in-office presence.