Senior Associate General Counsel - Contracts & Procurement

DPSCD Comp; 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

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.