Assistant General Counsel

Position Information

UNC Asheville Overview

Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains in Western North Carolina, UNC Asheville is the designated public liberal arts campus in the University of North Carolina system. UNC Asheville is nationally known for the quality of our student-centered teaching, mentoring of undergraduates in research, interdisciplinary learning, and striving to be an inclusive campus community.
UNC Asheville is committed to promoting diversity and a work environment that encourages knowledge of, respect for, and the ability to engage with those of other cultures or backgrounds. Staff members are encouraged to take an active role to engage in the institution's efforts in promoting diversity and inclusion throughout the workplace. The successful candidate is expected to foster an inclusive work culture where uniqueness of beliefs, backgrounds, talents, capabilities and ways of living are respected and welcomed. Women, traditionally under-represented minorities, and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Position Type

EHRA Staff

Title

Assistant General Counsel

Position Number

001110

Recruitment Range

$110,000-$130,000

Work Schedule and Hours

Typical hours are Monday-Friday from 8:00 a. m. to 5:00 p. m. Occasional evenings and weekends may be needed to meet University needs. Occasional overnight travel to meetings and conferences may also be needed.

Full-Time / Part-Time

Full-Time

Months per Year

12 Months

Position Summary

The Assistant General Counsel is responsible for assisting the General Counsel in providing comprehensive legal advice and assistance to the University of North Carolina Asheville with a primary focus on business affairs. This position, under the direction of the General Counsel, will assist in advising the Chancellor and other campus representatives concerning legal matters such as University policies and procedures; contracts and transactions; advancement, gifts and endowments; intellectual property, information privacy, information technology; and other University matters.

The Assistant General Counsel will also provide legal advice related to government and private grant compliance, research collaborations, contracts, and the legal and business implications of contractual and policy decisions. The position will conduct legal research in the diverse areas of law faced by higher education institutions and provide legal advice and legal analysis on compliance and the regulatory impact on University operations.

The duties of the Assistant General Counsel center on delivering a high level of professional legal counsel on a broad range of issues to support the achievement of core university academic and administrative objectives.

The Assistant General Counsel is expected to work at the highest professional level with integrity, excellent judgment, attention to detail, and discretion; and to demonstrate the highest personal and leadership characteristics of teamwork, inclusiveness, and adaptability to a broad range of issues, people, and situations.

FLSA

Exempt

Required Education/Experience/Skills

J. D. from an American Bar Association accredited law school and must either be a current member in good standing of the North Carolina Bar or must be admitted to the North Carolina Bar within one year of employment; minimum of three (3) years of legal experience in higher education and/or public agency law with substantial experience in business/transaction law.
The successful candidate for this position will have a minimum of three (3) years, with a preference for five (5) or more years, of relevant legal experience handling progressively complex contracting and transactional matters; a demonstrated capability for legal research, analysis and reasoning; superior interpersonal and communication skills; an ability to identify and resolve complicated and sensitive problems creatively and with professional discretion; an ability and willingness to handle a wide variety of intricate legal questions both independently and as part of a team; and an ability to interact and function effectively in both an academic community and within a governmental organization.
Requires compliance with the professional conduct and ethics expectations of a legal office, including but not limited to, maintaining the confidentiality of sensitive information.

Preferred Education/Experience/Skills

• Progressively responsible and related experience in the areas of contract development, review, and negotiation.
• Knowledge of contracting principles, including developing/drafting of contracts, negotiations, contract interpretation, and conducting a contract risk assessment.
• In-depth understanding of and experience with a university's real property transactions, including applicable policies, procedures, and practices, as well as the preparation and submission of reports to governance bodies.
• Proven experience in managing commercial property transactions.
• Experience in North Carolina government land management, including oversight of acquisitions and dispositions, ensuring compliance with statutes, contracts, and land use laws.
• Experience coordinating long-range development planning and preparing materials for governance boards to secure approvals.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex legal principles and real estate matters clearly to senior administrators, staff, and faculty.
• Strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to collaborate with a wide variety of stakeholders, including Facilities Management, Business Affairs, external brokers, and university leadership.
• High moral and ethical standards that reflect honesty, integrity, and reliability in professional practice.
• Strong work ethic, self-starter mentality, and ability to manage multiple deadlines in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated awareness, attitude, knowledge, and skills required to engage and include individuals of diverse backgrounds, identities, and abilities, fostering a collaborative and inclusive environment
• Successful candidates for this position will have a demonstrated track record of excellent judgment, critical thinking, strong writing and reasoning skills, persuasiveness, and unquestioned integrity.

• Must possess strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Must have demonstrated ability to analyze issues, conduct legal research, and give attention to detail.
• Must be able to work both independently and collaboratively with others.
• Must exercise sound judgment.
• Must have effective time management skills.