General Counsel

Davita Inc.; Saint George (UT); On-site; USD 190,000 - 219,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading university in Utah is seeking a General Counsel to join their executive staff. The successful candidate will manage a wide range of legal issues including governance, compliance, and risk management while providing strategic counsel to the administration and Board of Trustees. This full-time position promises a competitive salary along with a comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance and tuition waivers.

Benefits

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Retirement plan contributions

Undergraduate tuition waivers for employees and dependents

Paid holidays, sick and vacation leave

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years of substantial legal experience, preferably in higher education.
• Advanced knowledge of higher education and contract law.
• Licensed to practice in Utah or able to obtain within one year.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal counsel and advice to the University's administration.
• Coordinate legal affairs, including contract development and compliance.
• Prepare and deliver legal advice to the President and senior administrators.

Skills

Analytical Skills

Communication Skills

Problem Solving

Interpersonal Skills

Education

Juris Doctorate (JD)

Job description

Position Announcement

The General Counsel serves as the Chief Legal Officer of Utah Tech University and works in conjunction with the Utah Attorney General's Office to provide proactive professional counsel and advice on critical strategic, legal and public issues. Provides, manages, and coordinates the legal services for the University in areas relevant to the University, including academic and corporate governance, personnel and employment issues, benefits, student affairs, academic affairs, non-discrimination, conflicts of interest, gifts and development, immigration issues, contracts, tax and payroll matters, insurance and risk management, construction, purchasing, real estate, environmental issues, compliance with federal, state, and local laws and regulations, copyright and other intellectual property matters, IT, University policy, and Athletics.

The General Counsel is a member of President's Cabinet and reports directly to the President. The position works closely with, and provides legal advice to and support to, the Board of Trustees, the President, senior administrators, and other leadership of the University.

Responsibilities

• Working in conjunction with the Utah Attorney General's Office, provide legal counsel and advice to the University's administration and monitor, prioritize, and coordinate the legal affairs within the University.
• Coordinate legal affairs, including but not limited to:
  • Contract development and review.
  • Assist with the legal review and development of policies.
  • Promote compliance with state and federal laws and regulations.
  • Attend on-campus hearings.
  • Provide information and training to minimize legal risks and costs.
  • Risk management and litigation (pending and potential), in conjunction with the Utah Attorney General's Office.
• Effectively prepare advice to the President and other senior administrators on all University legal matters.
• Gather all facts and the pertinent law, effectively communicate advice orally and in writing, and follow-up on the advice given.
• Develop an environment within the University that is conducive to and actively promotes the successful practice of preventative law.
• Be readily available to the President and other senior administrators and keep them appropriately informed on legal matters. Proactively identify and address problems and issues before, or as, they may arise.
• Provide information and training that encourages the prevention of legal problems and litigation.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• Juris Doctorate (JD) from an ABA-accredited law school.
• Licensed to practice in Utah, or if licensed in another state, able to obtain admission to practice in Utah within one year of hire; a member of good standing with the Utah State Bar.
• A minimum of five (5) years of substantial and progressively-responsible legal experience practicing law. Such experience shall include the provision of sophisticated legal advice and counsel reflecting sound judgment, first rate legal acumen, and substantive in-depth legal advice.
• Excellent analytical, oral, and written communication and problem-solving skills.
• Professional legal experience providing legal counsel and advice to, or representation of, an institution of higher education is preferred.

Knowledge:

• Advanced knowledge of higher education law, contract law, and other specialty areas of law pertinent to higher education, which may include academic and corporate governance, personnel and employment issues, benefits, student affairs, academic affairs, non-discrimination, conflicts of interest, gifts and development, immigration issues, tax and payroll matters, insurance and risk management, construction, purchasing, real estate, environmental issues, HIPAA, compliance with federal, state, and local laws and regulations, copyright and other intellectual property matters, information technology, and athletics.
• Knowledge of the procedural and evidentiary requirements of administrative hearing and litigation.
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of legal research.
• Demonstrated understanding of ethical issues, policies, and procedures in a higher education setting.

Skills:

• Judgment, tact, and diplomacy to provide legal counsel and advice assisting senior administrators to achieve their strategic goals and objectives.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills to interact effectively, develop, and maintain productive working relationships with a wide array of individuals, departments, programs, interests, and constituencies.
• Outstanding verbal and presentation skills, including the ability to communicate clearly, logically, and persuasively during interactions. Excellent communication and negotiating skills, including active listening skills.
• Exceptional ability to draft accurate, complete, and persuasive legal documents.
• High integrity as demonstrated by having the ability the make and communicate hard decisions and opinions, as well as being able to articulate the reasoning for such decisions and opinions.

Abilities:

• Ability to represent institutional concerns persuasively to internal and external parties.
• Demonstrated ability to act as a team player in all circumstances, as defined by contributing to the successful outcome of goals and initiatives of others and the operation of the University.
• Proven ability to maintain confidentiality with regard to sensitive issues and information and exercise discretion in dealing with sensitive or potentially sensitive topics.
• Ability to work with all groups in an academic setting of university students, faculty and staff.

Supplemental Information

POSITION DETAILS, COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS: Full-time overtime-exempt executive staff position. Annual salary of $190,000+ depending on qualifications and experience. Desired start date of August 2025. Excellent benefits package included that begins on start date; includes medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance, employee assistance and wellness programs, retirement plan contributions, and undergraduate tuition waivers for employees and eligible dependents, as well as paid holidays in addition to sick and vacation leave accruals. See https://humanresources.utahtech.edu/employee-benefits/ under "Benefits Summary" for more details.

ELECTRONIC APPLICATION PROCEDURES: Position open until filled; application review begins June 23, 2025. Submit application materials (including resume contents and contact information for three professional references) and upload a cover letter electronically. If, because of a disability, you need special services or facilities in order to apply for this opening, please call the Human Resources Office at [phone].

ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY: Utah Tech University is an open, comprehensive, polytechnic institution, committed to exceptional student learning and success that has adopted an instructional approach of "active learning. active life" and a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship. We seek faculty and staff committed to creating an active, applied, and career-oriented learning environment that is student-centered. Established in 1911 as a community college and in 2013 as a state university, our University is located in picturesque southwestern Utah, approximately 120 miles north of Las Vegas. The area is renowned for its red rocks, desert climate, over 300 days of sunshine annually, and featuring easy access to world-class outdoor recreational opportunities. Click here to learn more about the University.

Utah Tech University is a fast-growing Utah public institution of higher education, with more than 13,000 students. We offer over 250 programs, including doctoral, masters, bachelors, associates, certificates, endorsements, minors, and/or emphases. We seek faculty and staff committed to creating an active, applied, and career-oriented learning environment that is student-centered, who bring new ideas, possess values and career aspirations aligned with the University's mission and vision, and are inspired to build a premier open, comprehensive, polytechnic university. Utah Tech University is an Equal Opportunity employer; the President and employees of the University are fully committed to equal opportunity within its employment programs and activities. Utah Tech does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination, including harassment, based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by University policy, Title IX, or any other federal, state or local law.

The following individuals have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the application of Title IX and its implementing regulations and/or the University's non-discrimination policies:

• Director of Equity Compliance / Title IX Coordinator: Hazel Sainsbury - [e-mail], HCC 579, 435-652-7747.

• Deputy Title IX Coordinator: Brenda Medrano - [e-mail], BROWN 102, 435-879-4769.

For further information regarding non-discrimination, please visit https://titleix.utahtech.edu/or contact:

• U.S. Department of Education, Office of Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, [e-mail], 800-421-3481.

• U.S. Department of Education, Denver Regional Office, [e-mail], 303-844-5695.

The University provides key institutional information regarding Academics, Campus Safety, Student Services, Employment Laws, and other requirements per the Higher Education Act and other consumer information requirements to prospective students, students, UT employees, and prospective employees online at https://utahtech.edu/right-to-know/ and https://police.utahtech.edu/clery-act/.

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification.