Associate General Counsel - Transactional & Regulatory (Contracts and Procurement)

Detroit-Public-Schools-Community-District; Detroit (MI); Hybrid; USD 139,000 - 162,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Telecommuting up to 20%

Benefits eligible

Job summary

Detroit Public Schools Community District is seeking an Associate General Counsel focused on transactional and regulatory matters, including procurement, contracts, MOUs, and real estate transactions. The role supports the General Counsel and district leadership in complex school-related projects.

The attorney will handle negotiations, drafting, and review of vendor contracts, MOUs, and financing agreements, while ensuring compliance with state law, FOIA, FERPA, and related regulations.

Qualifications

• Law Degree (Juris Doctor) from an accredited law school (Required).
• License in good standing to practice law in the State of Michigan (Required).
• Three (3) to seven (7) years of experience as a practicing attorney.
• Significant experience in school construction matters.
• Significant experience in procurement matters.
• Experience in contract preparation, negotiation, review, drafting and editing.
• Experience in real estate (leases, purchase agreements, land contract agreements, deeds and conveyance documents, negotiations, cell tower issues, etc.).
• Experience in bond/finance and other transactional matters.
• Experience with charter schools, laws and matters.
• Experience with statutory construction, research, review and interpretation.
• Experience using computer-based legal research systems (e.g., Westlaw or Lexus) and knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite.
• Experience working with and supervising outside counsel.
• Strong interpersonal, excellent verbal and written communication skills and executive presence.
• Experience with FERPA and other privacy statutory compliance (preferred).
• Experience with the Michigan School Code (preferred).
• Experience with FOIA and other statutory compliance (preferred).
• Ability to quickly and accurately respond to school-based issues (preferred).

Responsibilities

• Provides legal advice and counsel to administrators.
• Provides counsel and guidance regarding procurement.
• Provides counsel and guidance regarding school improvement and construction contracts.
• Negotiates, prepares, drafts, reviews all contracts between vendors and the school district - and submits recommendation for approval.
• Negotiates, prepares, drafts, reviews all agreements (MOUs, MOAs, Partnership Agreements, etc.).
• Negotiates, prepares, drafts, reviews all real estate transactions and related financing.
• Reviews and interprets statutes and regulations.
• Provides guidance regarding charter schools.
• Provide oral legal advice and written legal opinions to the General Counsel, senior management and Superintendent and/or School Board.
• Draft and review FOIA response.
• Perform additional duties as assigned by the General Counsel.

Skills

Contract negotiation

Procurement experience

Regulatory interpretation

Legal research

Verbal and written communication

Education

Juris Doctor

Michigan license to practice law

Tools

Westlaw

Lexis

Microsoft Office

Job description

Associate General Counsel - Transactional & Regulatory (Contracts and Procurement)

Position Title:Associate General Counsel - Transactional & Regulatory (Contracts and Procurement)

Location:Fisher Building

Salary Range:$138,636 - $162,000

Reports to:General Counsel

Bargaining Unit: N/A

Benefits Eligible:Yes

Telecommuting Eligibility:Eligible for telecommuting up to 20% (one day per week)

Position Summary:

An Associate General Counsel, Transactional and Regulatory (Procurement Focus) provides legal guidance to the General Counsel, Superintendent, School Board and school district administrators on administrative and litigation matters regarding but not limited to: (i) construction contracts; (ii) procurement; (iii) transactions; (iv) contract preparation, drafting, negotiation and review; (v) partnership and memorandum of understanding ("MOU") agreement preparation, negotiation, drafting and review; (vi) charter schools; and (vii) statutory and regulatory interpretation.

An Associate General Counsel, Transactional and Regulatory (Procurement Focus) must have an active and extensive understanding of (or a demonstrated aptitude and willingness to quickly learn) the above facets of law. An Associate General Counsel, Transactional and Regulatory (Procurement Focus) should possess expert interpersonal relationship, critical thinking, organizational, writing and researching skills. Also, must exhibit high attention to detail, the ability to prioritize tasks, initiative and a willingness to complete varied tasks.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Law Degree (Juris Doctor) from an accredited law school (Required).
• License in good standing to practice law in the State of Michigan (Required).
• Additional graduate level education (e.g., , Master of Business Administration) is desirable.
• Three (3) to seven (7) years of experience as a practicing attorney to include experience working in a law firm, corporation, governmental agency, non-profit business, school district or institution of higher learning.
• Significant experience in school construction matters.
• Significant experience in procurement matters.
• Experience in contract preparation, negotiation, review, drafting and editing.
• Experience in real estate (leases, purchase agreements, land contract agreements, deeds and conveyance documents, negotiations, cell tower issues, etc.).
• Experience in bond/finance and other transactional matters.
• Experience with charter schools, laws and matters.
• Experience with statutory construction, research, review and interpretation.
• Experience using computer-based legal research systems (e.g., Westlaw or Lexus) and knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, including but not limited to Word and Excel.
• Experience working with and supervising outside counsel.
• Strong interpersonal, excellent verbal and written communication skills and executive presence necessary to effectively interact with Board Members, Superintendent, senior level managers, individuals throughout the school system and individuals external to the school district.
• Experience with Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act and other privacy statutory compliance (preferred).
• Experience with the Michigan School Code (preferred).
• Experience with Freedom of Information Act and other statutory compliance (preferred).
• Ability to quickly and accurately respond to school-based issues and questions (preferred).

Essential Functions:

• Provides legal advice and counsel to administrators.
• Provides counsel and guidance regarding procurement.
• Provides counsel and guidance regarding school improvement and construction contracts.
• Negotiates, prepares, drafts, reviews all contracts between vendors and the school district - and submits recommendation to the General Counsel for approval of all such contracts.
• Negotiates, prepares, drafts, reviews all agreements (MOUs, MOAs, Partnership Agreements, etc.) relating to the school district - and submits recommendation to the General Counsel for approval of all such agreements.
• Negotiates, prepares, drafts, reviews all real estate transactions relating to the school district - and submits recommendation to the General Counsel for approval of all such transactions.
• Negotiates, prepares, drafts, reviews all bond/financing transactions relating to the school district - and submits recommendation to the General Counsel for approval of all such transactions.
• Reviews and interprets statutes and regulations.
• Provides guidance regarding charter schools .
• Provide oral legal advice and written legal opinions to the General Counsel, senior management and Superintendent and/or School Board
• Draft and review FOIA response.
• Perform additional duties as assigned by the General Counsel (or Designee).

Security Clearance:

Internal Applicants

If you are a current Detroit Public Schools Community District employee, you do not have to submit to a new security clearance, unless your new role requires a different type of criminal background check.

External Applicants

In alignment with Michigan law, if you are hired to fill a position, you will be required to submit to a Detroit Public Schools Community District criminal background check. Information regarding required background checks will be shared at point of hire.

Successful candidates are required to submit official transcript(s) at point of offer to hire. Teaching service outside of the Detroit Public Schools Community District must be verified by the applicant's prior employer(s) prior to hire. It is the applicant's responsibility to provide all documentation (including copies) as requested.

DPSCD does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability and/or religion. Contact the Civil Rights Coordinator for more information at [phone] or detroitk12.org/compliance.

DPSCD does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, transgender identity, disability, age, religion, height, weight, citizenship, marital or family status, military status, ancestry, genetic information, or any other legally protected category, in its educational programs and activities, including employment and admissions opportunities.