Assistant General Counsel

Position Title: Assistant General Counsel

Department: General Counsel

Advertised Pay: Competitive

Campus Location: Washburn University

Application Review:  Application review will begin as applications are received and will continue until the position is filled. 

Position Summary: This position reports directly to the General Counsel and Secretary to the Board of Regents and assists with providing comprehensive legal advice and counsel to senior academic and administrative leaders; contracts review, legal research, analysis, and writing; and compliance review, assessment, and recommendations. Additional specific areas of responsibility will be determined based on Washburn needs and in conjunction with professional experience. This position provides proactive, customer-service oriented legal support and guidance to clients across the campus community.

About Washburn University: Washburn University is a teaching-focused, student-centered, public institution located in the metropolitan setting of Topeka that has earned national recognition for its high-impact programs for first-generation students. Washburn has a student body of just over 7,000 students, a significant and growing number of whom are first-generation and Pell-Grant eligible. The University has created educational pathways for all students to be successful and achieve their educational goals.

Washburn is dedicated to recruiting and retaining a dynamic faculty, staff, and student body and cultivating a robust learning and working environment and curriculum. We employ more than one thousand faculty and staff on our campuses throughout Topeka and strive to offer competitive wages, an excellent benefits program, and a supportive culture and a healthy work/life balance. Washburn seeks to create an environment that reflects our core values for creating positive IMPACT: inclusion, modernization, partnership, achievement, community and transformation. In 2024, Washburn was recognized as one of the best colleges in the nation to work for, according to Great Colleges to Work For® program.

Essential Functions:
• Proactively advise a wide range of Washburn leaders on multifaceted matters, including investigations, facility use agreements, real estate, affiliation agreements, public records, federal and state regulations, academic and student affairs, regulatory compliance, intellectual property, labor and employment, and risk management.
• Review, draft, negotiate, and manage contracts, affiliation agreements, and other agreements on behalf of Washburn.
• Administer and maintain Washburn’s contract management system, including workflow, development, user support, training, and implementation of process improvements designed to increase efficiency and transparency.
• Manage legal projects and research as assigned and ensure timely completion and adherence to legal standards.
• Prepare correspondence, reports, policies, and other legal documents as needed as part of legal projects and as assigned.
• Research legal and operations issues as assigned and provide recommendations to support institutional decision-making, policy development, and risk management efforts.
• Administer Washburn’s open records management system and coordinate responses to requests under the Kansas Open Records Act (KORA). Delegate any such tasks as appropriate, managing to ensure timeliness and adherence to laws.
• Assist in directing and supervising legal interns, including assigning work, training and mentorship, and reviewing work product.
• Work with unit leaders to review and assess Washburn programs, policies, regulations, and procedures; advise as to the level of compliance and any needed changes.
• Respond to questions and requests for assistance with compliance and legal issues, advising with consideration of legal and other relevant factors to offer practical solutions.
• Develop and conduct legal and compliance education sessions for faculty and staff as needed.
• Provide legal advice to the Board of Regents in the absence of the General Counsel and attend Board of Regents meetings.
• Maintain confidentiality regarding sensitive issues and information and exercise sound judgment in handling sensitive or potentially sensitive topics.
• Support Washburn’s mission.
• Perform additional job-related duties as assigned or as appropriate.

Required Qualifications:
• JD from an ABA-accredited law school.
• Admission to the Kansas State Bar.
• Experience reviewing, drafting, or negotiating contracts for a legal practice.
• Demonstrated ability to synthesize complex information into easily digestible formats and combine legal considerations with program and policy objectives to develop practical solutions that meet client needs.
• Demonstrated ability to thrive in a customer-service focused environment, with a collaborative working style.
• Proven ability to effectively communicate legal language and analysis to non-lawyers, including when conveying unpleasant or unwelcome information.
• Demonstrated ability to handle work duties and client interactions in an open, respectful manner that builds confidence and approachability in the General Counsel’s office.
• Proven ability to work independently, manage several projects simultaneously, and meet deadlines.
• A proven work history with a commitment to the highest ethical standards.
• Demonstrated ability to use sound independent judgment and professional integrity.
• Proven record of providing prompt and effective research, analytical, and writing skills.
• Proven ability to build and maintain professional collaborative relationships with individuals and groups across an organization, as well as stakeholders and community members.
• Proven ability to prioritize and respond to issues and requests accurately and effectively.
• License to practice law in Kansas.

Preferred Qualifications:
• Knowledge of FERPA, Title IX, and other regulatory frameworks applicable to colleges and universities.
• Experience working in a higher education, governmental, healthcare, or other highly regulated environments.
• Experience conducting compliance risk assessments, compliance reviews, audits, investigations, or corrective action planning.

Exempt, Full-time, Mon-Fri, 9am-5:30pm   
Background Check Required