Associate General Counsel

We are looking for an experienced, detail-oriented legal specialist to support a dynamic higher education environment in the Merrimack Region. This role partners with institutional leaders to provide practical counsel on legal, regulatory, and policy matters that affect higher education operations and strategy. The position also plays a central role in strengthening compliance practices, managing institutional risk, and supporting contract review across a wide range of academic and administrative functions.

Responsibilities:

• Partner with the Vice President and General Counsel and senior legal leadership to deliver legal guidance on institutional issues affecting the institution.
• Research complex legal questions and prepare clear memoranda, policy language, correspondence, and other written guidance for campus stakeholders.
• Counsel senior leaders and departments on federal and state requirements, institutional policy interpretation, and emerging issues relevant to higher education.
• Evaluate legal and regulatory exposure across operations and work with campus partners to create practical risk-reduction strategies.
• Support responses to subpoenas, regulatory reviews, government requests, complaints, audits, and other sensitive legal matters.
• Help design, maintain, and advance the College’s compliance program by coordinating with departments responsible for key regulatory obligations.
• Track changes in laws and regulations, communicate implications to appropriate leaders, and assist with action planning to address compliance needs.
• Draft, review, revise, and negotiate a variety of institutional agreements, including vendor, technology, lease, licensing, affiliation, confidentiality, and independent contractor contracts.
• Advise departments on contract provisions involving liability, insurance, privacy, data protection, intellectual property, and termination terms.
• Develop compliance training, guidance materials, and reporting processes that promote ethical conduct, accountability, and demonstrable adherence to legal requirements.
• Juris Doctor from an accredited law school and active bar membership in good standing.
• At least 3 years of legal experience, preferably involving higher education, institutional compliance, or closely related practice areas.
• Demonstrated experience drafting, reviewing, and negotiating commercial contracts and business agreements.
• Strong knowledge of regulatory and legal issues affecting colleges or universities, including FERPA, Title IV, employment law, and general compliance obligations.
• Ability to conduct detailed legal research and translate findings into practical, business-oriented advice.
• Experience advising leadership on risk management, policy development, and regulatory matters with sound judgment and attention to detail.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to handle sensitive matters discreetly and effectively.
• Collaborative approach and ability to work across functions such as Finance, Procurement, Information Technology, and Human Resources.