Senior General Counsel

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https://www.schooljobs.com/careers/seattleschools/jobs/5420132/senior-general-counsel?keywords=counsel&pagetype=jobOpportunitiesJobs

This is a full-time, in-person position. The primary work location for this role is the John Stanford Center for Educational Excellence.

The Senior General Counsel serves as legal counsel and representative to assigned District managers and their staff; provides expertise in specialized legal areas, including labor and employment law issues; advises District staff on other legal and policy issues; takes a lead role in adversary proceedings involving the District; advises the Superintendent and Board of Directors on legal issues affecting the District; and supervises staff within the General Counsel’s office as assigned.

This position is one of a level of attorney positions within the General Counsel’s office. The Senior General Counsel is expected to exercise sound professional judgment with minimal direction from the General Counsel or Deputy General Counsel, based upon experience and practice as a lawyer or in a government position.

Essential Functions

60%

• Acts as legal counsel to the District.
• Represents the District in legal proceedings, including litigation and administrative proceedings.
• Provides advice and counsel to Human Resources and other organizational leaders/managers on a broad spectrum of employment matters including wage and hour compliance, discrimination and retaliation claims, family and medical leave laws, ADA compliance, internal investigations, discipline and terminations, collective bargaining agreement interpretation, and grievance procedures.
• Prepares and provides legal advice on employment-related documents such as Human Resource correspondence and agreements (e.g., settlement agreements, disciplinary letters, grievance responses, etc.) and employment-related policies.
• Oversees outside counsel in employment litigation, labor arbitrations and hearings, and unfair labor practice hearings, including participating in settlement negotiations.
• Prepares written opinions and guidance for organizational management and key leaders.
• Maintains current knowledge of changing federal and local laws impacting the organization as an employer and provides legal advice on a wide variety of employment and leave laws.
• Responds to external governmental/agency audits or investigations, including preparing responses to the EEOC and Department of Labor.

25%

• Undertakes lead responsibilities in other legal practice areas of importance to the District, which may include a variety of school law and policy issues.
• Provides legal advice to District management, administrators, and staff to respond to lawsuits and complaints filed with state and federal agencies.
• Advises the Board and District staff on policies and procedures.
• Advises Board directors on legal issues as assigned.
• Performs legal research.
• Drafts and reviews contracts, policies and procedures.

15%

• Supervises staff within the General Counsel’s Office as assigned.
• Supports colleagues and contributes to a positive workplace.
• Contributes to the office’s efficient operation.

OTHER FUNCTIONS:

• Serves on committees as needed.
• Takes a lead role in training District staff.

RELEVANT COMPETENCIES:

Intellectual Acumen

Is intelligent and capable; deals with concepts and complexity comfortably; is good at learning and deciphering new knowledge; able to assimilate new skills independently.

• Demonstrates and is described as someone who is intellectually sharp, agile and capable.
• Handles concepts and complexity comfortably.
• Demonstrates the ability to comfortably shift thinking on a dime.

Time Management

Uses his or her time effectively and efficiently; concentrates his or her efforts on the most important priorities; adeptly handles several tasks at once.

• Focuses his/her efforts on the most important priorities.
• Uses time effectively and efficiently.
• Handles multiple-tasks effectively and efficiently.
• Values other people's time.

Written Communications

Is able to write clearly and succinctly in a variety of communication settings and styles; can get messages across that instigate appropriate actions.

• Organizes and presents information in writing in a clear and convincing manner.
• Uses appropriate writing style and tailors writing to meet the needs of the audience.
• Uses correct spelling, grammar and punctuation.