General Counsel

Colorado School of Mines; Colorado; On-site; USD 220,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible health and dental care

Pension and retirement benefits

Tuition benefits

Job summary

Colorado School of Mines seeks a strategic General Counsel to serve as chief legal officer, reporting to the President and partnering with the Board of Trustees. You will guide enterprise-level legal strategy, oversee the Office of Legal Services, and coordinate with external counsel to navigate governance, regulatory, and policy challenges across Mines’ research, education, and operations.

You will lead a high-performing team, translate complex legal dynamics into actionable insight, and work

Qualifications

• J.D. from ABA-accredited law school with excellent academics.
• Active Colorado license or eligible for admission on motion within six months of hire.
• 15+ years of progressive experience advising executive leadership in complex organizations.

Responsibilities

• Provide enterprise-level legal counsel and strategic guidance to the President and Board of Trustees.
• Lead the Office of Legal Services and manage external counsel.
• Advise on governance, regulatory, and legislative matters across the university.
• Support research, technology transfer, and IP asset management from a legal perspective.
• Collaborate with HR, Student Affairs, Title IX, and other units on employment and civil rights matters.

Skills

Executive leadership

Strategic advisory

Governance & board relations

Regulatory expertise

Communication

Education

Juris Doctor (J.D.)

Colorado Bar licensure or eligible

Job description

Engineering a world of possibilities

Reporting directly to the President and serving as a key member of the President’s Cabinet, the General Counsel serves as the chief legal officer to Colorado School of Mines (Mines) and its Board of Trustees. The General Counsel provides forward-looking, enterprise-level legal counsel that enables the university to advance its mission, pursue strategic growth, and navigate an increasingly complex higher education landscape. As a proactive university partner, the General Counsel balances risk management with strategic opportunity, ensuring that legal considerations are integrated into strategic and key operational decision-making. In addition to guiding the university through complex regulatory and governance issues, the General Counsel leads the Office of Legal Services, directs external legal counsel, partners closely with the State Attorney General’s Office, and serves as Secretary to the Board of Trustees.

Strategic & Operational Responsibilities

• Executive Leadership & Strategic Advisory
• Strategic Partnering: Serves as a legal advisor to the President, Board of Trustees, and Executive Leadership, translating complex legal and regulatory dynamics into actionable strategic insight that advances university priorities.
• Proactive Risk Management: Frames risk within the university’s strategic context by identifying legal vulnerabilities and advising leaders on considerations that inform risk management decisions in support of strategic goals.
• Governance & Board Relations: Directs legal and corporate governance support for the Board of Trustees in the role of Board Secretary, safeguarding institutional integrity.
• University-wide Legal Management & Policy Strategy
• Departmental Leadership: Leads a high-performing team of legal professionals, driving a service model focused on responsiveness, proactive counsel, and high-impact support.
• Regulatory & Legislative Strategy: Anticipates, evaluates, and responds to emerging state and federal legislation, higher education legal trends, and regulatory changes affecting Mines’ research, operations, and policy environment.
• Litigation & Special Counsel Strategy: Oversees institutional litigation and administrative proceedings in collaboration with the Colorado Attorney General’s Office and specialized external counsel, aligning legal strategy with overarching institutional interests.
• Institutional Operations & Compliance Alignment
• Research & Commercialization: Provides legal strategy supporting Mines’ research enterprise, technology transfer, and intellectual property asset management.
• Human Capital & Student Life: Collaborates with HR, Student Affairs, and Title IX administrators to provide legal advice necessary in areas such as employment, labor relations, student governance, and civil rights (ADA, Title IX, EEO).
• Networking: Cultivates relationships with peer higher education leaders, state officials, and legal networks to leverage best practices, benchmark policies, and elevate Mines’ institutional standing.

Minimum Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an ABA-accredited law school with excellent academic credentials.
• State Bar Licensure: Active license to practice law in the State of Colorado, or eligible for admission on motion / licensed within six (6) months of hire.
• 15+ Years of Progressive Experience: Proven track record advising executive leadership in complex, multi-faceted organizations, including a minimum of five years leading and developing a team of legal professionals.
• Executive Presence & Communication: Superior analytical, negotiation, and communication skills, with demonstrated ability to convey complex legal principles to diverse stakeholders, boards, and public audiences.
• Strategic Problem-Solving: Demonstrated expertise in navigating organizational risk, public sector regulations, and governance matters.

Preferred Qualifications

• 10+ Years in Higher Education Legal Practice: Extensive experience within a public university system or research-intensive (R1/R2) institution.
• State Governance & Public Sector Knowledge: Deep familiarization with Colorado constitutional, statutory, and administrative laws governing higher education and public entities.
• Board Advisory Experience: Direct experience advising a governing Board of Trustees or Board of Directors on governance, fiduciary duties, and institutional policy.
• Complex Litigation & Commercial Strategy: Background in managing complex litigation, research/technology commercialization, or public-private partnership agreements.

Salary and Benefits

$220,000 - $260,000 annual salary. Mines takes into consideration a combination of candidate’s education, training and experience as well as the position’s scope and complexity, the discretion and latitude required in the role, work location, and external market and internal value when determining a salary level for potential new employees.

Colorado School of Mines offers a robust portfolio of benefits for all employees. For this role, that includes:

• Flexible health and dental care options
• Generous sick/vacation time: 13 paid holidays per year - including a week-long winter break for entire campus.
• Fully vested retirement plan on first day of employment, with generous employer contribution
• Tuition benefits (6 credits per year for employees, 50 percent discount for dependents)
• Free RTD Ecopass
• All Mines employees also have access to discount programs through the State of Colorado and free tickets for Mines Athletics home games, as well as access to the state of the art Recreation Center (fitness classes and training, swimming pool and more) and equipment rentals through the Outdoor Rec Center.
• We are proud to have recently opened an on campus daycare center.

For more details about benefits at Mines, visit mines.edu/human-resources/benefits.

Application Eligibility

Candidates must be currently authorized to work in the United States. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position now nor in the future.

Successful completion of a background investigation is required for this position.

About Mines & Golden, CO

When the world looks for answers, the world looks to Mines. Colorado School of Mines is a top-ranked public university solving the grand challenges facing our society, particularly those related to the Earth, energy and the environment. Founded in 1874 with specialties in mining and metallurgy, Mines’ scope and mission have continually expanded to meet the needs of industry and society. Today, we are the No. 36 public university in the nation, recognized for our innovation and undergraduate teaching in science, technology engineering and math (U.S. News and World Report, 2025). Mines graduates are change makers, boundary breakers and problem solvers. Since our earliest days, a Mines education has been and continues to be a transformational opportunity, with one of the strongest returns on investment out there for talented STEM students of all backgrounds. At the same time, Mines faculty members are pushing their fields in new directions, whether that’s manufacturing, space resources, quantum engineering, carbon capture or more. Mines was recently classified as a R1 “Very High Activity” research institution by Carnegie, a notable feat for any university but particularly one of our size. That size – roughly 8,200 undergraduate and graduate students – also translates to a close-knit campus community, where employees have opportunities to get involved in multiple ways, continued professional learning is valued and everyone can make an impact.

Community Alliance groups bring together employees for professional development, networking, and community involvement, and all Mines employees also have access to the wealth of activities happening every day on campus – nationally‑renowned speakers, special events and Mines traditions like Engineering Days, just to name a few. And don’t get us started on our hometown. We are located in the heart of Golden, Colorado – with its charming historic downtown and nearby hiking trails – and in close proximity to all that Denver and the Rocky Mountains have to offer. That includes the sunny, high‑altitude climate and outstanding outdoor recreation opportunities that make the Denver area an ideal place to live, work and play.

Are you looking for an inspiring, mission-driven workplace where you can contribute to solving the world’s problems and educating the next generation of change makers? Are you an individual who values a community where our individual perspectives and experiences enrich the educational and work experience? Look to Mines.

Additional Information and Reasonable Accommodation Requests

It is the intent of Mines to comply with the applicable requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008, and their implementation rules and regulations, in support of equal opportunities for qualified applicants with disabilities. To meet this goal, Mines will make reasonable accommodations during the employment selection process and within our working environment.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you may request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to access job openings or apply for a job on our site as a result of your disability. You can request a reasonable accommodation by contacting our Human Resources team at [e-mail] or 303.273.3250 for assistance.

Successful completion of a background investigation is required for this position.

Equal Opportunity

Colorado School of Mines is committed to equal opportunity for all persons. Mines does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, gender (including gender identity and gender expression), ancestry, creed, marital status, race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, veteran status or current military service. Further, Mines does not retaliate against community members for filing complaints regarding or implicating any of these protected statuses. Mines’ commitment to nondiscrimination, equal opportunity and equal access is reflected in the administration of its policies, procedures, programs and activities and in its efforts to achieve a talented student body and workforce. Through its policies, procedures and resources, Mines complies with federal law, Colorado state law, administrative regulations, executive orders and other legal requirements to prevent discrimination (including harassment or retaliation) within the Mines campus community and to address potential allegations of inequality or concerns for safety.

Why Choose Mines?

Mines is consistently ranked among the top engineering colleges in the United States and ranks number one as the best public school in the state for best value colleges. Mines is located in the heart of Golden, Colorado, a western suburb of Denver. The campus location offers a small‑town ambiance with close proximity to all that the Denver metropolitan area has to offer with an abundance of cultural events, museums, theaters and sporting venues. An arid climate and an average 300 days of sunshine per year make the area an ideal place to live, work and play. We seek individuals who value a diverse and inclusive community – offering different perspectives, experiences, and cultures that enrich the educational and work experience. Come explore the possibilities!