Vice President and Deputy General Counsel

Golden Gate University; San Francisco (CA); Remote; USD 250,000 - 325,000; Full time

Job summary

Golden Gate University seeks a Vice President and Deputy General Counsel to serve as the General Counsel’s principal deputy and senior legal adviser across the university. The role directs litigation, guides employee, faculty, and student affairs matters, and oversees compliance with federal, state, and local laws.

Remote work with strategic leadership responsibilities in a complex higher education environment.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor degree required with active California bar membership.
• Extensive experience in litigation and employment law, preferably in higher education.
• Ability to translate complex legal issues for non-lawyers and advise executive leadership clearly.

Responsibilities

• Direct and oversee the University's litigation, arbitration, and administrative proceedings.
• Manage outside counsel; set case strategy and budgets; align litigation spend with priorities.
• Advise on settlement strategy, preservation obligations, and regulatory inquiries (OCR, EEOC, DOE, etc.).
• Counsel on employee relations, faculty matters, and student affairs; draft senior employment agreements.

Skills

Litigation management

Employment law

Executive leadership

Legal risk management

Education

Juris Doctor

Active California Bar admission

Job description

Vice President and Deputy General CounselGolden Gate UniversityPosition DescriptionPosition Title: Vice President and Deputy General CounselDepartment: Office of the General CounselReports To: General Counsel, Chief of Staff & Secretary to the BoardClassification: Full-Time, ExemptLocation: RemoteSalary Range: $250,000 – $325,000 annually, plus eligibility for an annual performance bonusAbout Golden Gate UniversityGolden Gate University is a private, nonprofit university in San Francisco focused on AI and built for working adults. The University serves a diverse community of students across its academic programs and is committed to providing an accessible, high-quality education for working adults.Position SummaryThe Vice President and Deputy General Counsel is the General Counsel's principal deputy and a senior legal advisor to the President, executive leadership, deans, and administrators across the University. The Deputy General Counsel leads the University's litigation and dispute resolution; counsels leadership on employee relations, faculty affairs, and student affairs; and oversees the University's compliance with local, state, and federal law. The Deputy General Counsel acts on the General Counsel's behalf as needed and helps shape how the University identifies and manages legal risk at the institutional level.The position reports to the General Counsel, Chief of Staff & Secretary to the Board.Essential Duties and ResponsibilitiesLitigation and Dispute ResolutionDirect the University's litigation, arbitration, and administrative proceedings, including employment, student, contract, and regulatory matters, from early case assessment through resolution.Select, manage, and evaluate outside counsel; set case strategy and budgets; and align litigation spend with institutional priorities.Manage responses to agency charges and government inquiries, including matters before the California Civil Rights Department, the EEOC, the U.S. Department of Education and its Office for Civil Rights, and other federal and state agencies.Advise leadership on settlement strategy, early resolution, litigation holds, and preservation obligations.Report on litigation and dispute exposure to executive leadership and, as requested, to the Board of Trustees and its committees.Employee RelationsCounsel the President, executive leadership, and Human Resources on the full range of employment matters, including hiring, compensation, performance management, discipline, accommodations, leaves, reorganizations, and separations.Oversee and advise on workplace investigations, including complaints of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and whistleblower concerns.Draft and negotiate executive employment agreements, offer letters, and separation agreements.Advise on California and federal wage-and-hour, leave, and anti-discrimination law, and on employment policies and handbooks.Faculty AffairsAdvise the Provost, deans, and academic leadership on faculty appointments, contracts, evaluation, promotion, discipline, grievances, and separations.Interpret and apply the faculty handbook and related academic policies, including matters of academic freedom and shared governance.Counsel on the employment, compensation, and classification of adjunct and part-time faculty.Student AffairsAdvise on student conduct, academic integrity, grievances, dismissals, and appeals, with a focus on fair and consistent process.Counsel on Title IX and civil rights obligations, disability accommodations under the ADA and Section 504, FERPA, and campus safety obligations under the Clery Act.Advise on admissions, enrollment, and student account matters, including matters involving international students.Local, State, and Federal ComplianceOversee the University's compliance with federal law and regulation, including Title IV and federal financial aid, Title IX, Title VI, the Clery Act, FERPA, ADA/Section 504, Section 117 foreign gift and contract reporting, and F-1/J-1 student and scholar requirements (SEVP).Oversee compliance with California law and the laws of other states where the University operates or enrolls students, including employment, consumer protection, and privacy requirements and state authorization for distance education.Advise on local ordinances and requirements, including San Francisco labor and employment ordinances.Lead the University's compliance program: monitor legal and regulatory developments, keep University policies and practices current, and develop and deliver training to University stakeholders.Coordinate responses to audits, program reviews, and inquiries from regulators and accreditors, including the U.S. Department of Education and WSCUC.LeadershipServe as the General Counsel's principal deputy and act on the General Counsel's behalf as needed.Supervise attorneys and staff in the Office of the General Counsel as assigned.Partner with the General Counsel on institutional risk management, policy development, and the priorities and operations of the Office.RequiredJuris Doctor degree and active membership in good standing in the State Bar of California.Ten or more years of legal experience, including substantial experience in litigation and employment law and significant experience representing or advising higher education institutions, gained in-house, at a law firm, or in a government or regulatory setting.Demonstrated success directing complex litigation and managing outside counsel, including employment and civil rights matters.Deep knowledge of the federal and state legal framework governing higher education, including Title IV, Title IX, FERPA, the Clery Act, and ADA/Section 504.Seasoned judgment and the ability to advise executive leadership and governing boards clearly and decisively on high-stakes matters.Exceptional drafting, negotiation, and communication skills, with the ability to translate complex legal issues into clear, actionable guidance for non-lawyers.Ability to manage a demanding, fast-moving portfolio independently in a remote environment.PreferredPrior in-house experience in a college or university general counsel's office, including in a senior or deputy role.Experience with faculty employment matters, including handbook interpretation, academic freedom, and shared governance.Experience with student conduct, Title IX, and civil rights processes.Experience with Department of Education program reviews, OCR investigations, or accreditation matters.Experience supervising attorneys or building legal and compliance functions.Supplemental InformationTo apply: Please go to http://www.ggu.edu/jobs to submit an application, letter of interest, and a resume.In applying for a position, candidates sign a consent authorizing a broader inquiry which may include reference checks, a motor vehicle check, and a third-party background check.Golden Gate University is an equal employment opportunity employer. We support inclusive excellence and are committed to creating a safe and welcoming community for all. University policy prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion/creed, national origin, ancestry, age, sex/gender, sexual orientation, marital status, medical condition, physical or mental disability, gender stereotyping, and gender identity, gender expression, military or veteran status, taking a protected leave (e.g., family medical or pregnancy leave), or on any other basis protected by applicable laws.The University has a strong commitment to the principles of diversity and inclusion, and to maintaining working and learning environments that reinforces these practices. The University welcomes and encourages applications from all demographics.circa