"Assistant General Counsel"

Assistant General Counsel

Benefits of Working at UNCW:
Want to become a soaring UNCW Seahawk and work at one of the best universities on the East Coast? Want to put your toes in the sand after a day of work? The University of North Carolina Wilmington offers a wonderfully vibrant university community along with a beautiful location just miles from the beach. Employees of UNCW are provided a comprehensive benefits package as well as other programs, resources, policies, and practices that help to support a work/life balance. Our programs have been designed to provide a variety of choices to best fit your needs and the needs of your family. Full time employees are eligible for dental, vision and health insurance plans. Health insurance benefit plans eligibility begins on the first of the month following date of hire. Retirement plan contributions begin on the eligibility date following election and include employer contributions for either a defined contribution or a defined benefit plan. Optional disability plans are also available. Full time employees are also eligible for the tuition waiver program which covers the cost of tuition and fees for up to three (3) undergraduate or graduate courses per academic year at UNCW or any other university within the UNC System. In addition, UNCW covers the cost of tuition and fees for one UNCW course each summer session. As a full time employee, UNCW also offers a free membership to the Campus Recreation Center, free vaccine and booster shots offered on campus, meditation and yoga sessions, voluntary supplemental insurance coverages, pretax flexible spending accounts, 12 paid holidays, 24 hours of paid community service leave time, paid vacation and sick leave accrual and family medical leave after 12 months of continuous service. We also offer an abundance of training and development programs through our Dare to Learn Academy, and the employee assistance program, many of which are offered free of charge.

Recruitment Range: Up to $129,500
Vacancy Number: E1455
Competency Level:
Location of Workplace: Main UNCW Campus
Home Department: Chancellor - 25000
Division: Chancellor - 25000 Division

Primary Purpose of Organizational Unit:
The Office of the General Counsel, as a unit of the Chancellor's Division, provides, manages, and coordinates all legal services for UNCW in a collegial, responsive, and professional manner. The office provides these services on university matters to the Board of Trustees, the Chancellor, the senior officers, other university administrators, staff, and faculty who are acting on behalf of the university. The attorneys and legal staff are committed to rendering high quality, cost effective, and responsive legal and risk management advice to facilitate the achievements of UNCW's goals of teaching, research, scholarship, and service. The goal of our office is to provide professional advice minimizing risk, reducing litigation, and identifying and responding to legal issues affecting the university.

The Office of the General Counsel researches the law and advises the university on compliance with applicable federal and state law and regulations and UNC policies, drafts and/or reviews contracts, grants, and license agreements, and advises on a wide variety of legal and risk management matters to include employment, student affairs, business affairs, advancement, litigation, civil rights, public records, real property, public finance, facilities development, sponsored programs, and intellectual property matters. The office is responsible for selecting, engaging, and supervising any outside counsel retained by the university. We represent the university in a variety of administrative proceedings and coordinate all litigation conducted by the North Carolina Attorney General's Office on behalf of the university.

Brief Summary of Work for this Position:
This position dispenses legal and risk advice, as well as drafts and reviews contracts, relationships, and transactional documents supporting the various activities of the institution. Provides timely advice and counsel to faculty, staff, and administrators of the university in a broad range of legal and risk management situations with responses expected on short or immediate notice. Researches and analyzes applicable state and federal statutes, regulations and case law. Drafts and reviews policies, procedures, memoranda, correspondence, and contracts in support of various university operations and units. Gathers information from and submits variety of forms and filings to state and federal agencies on variety of matters.

The legal services to be provided consist of supporting and advising the academic and administrative units and representatives on issues ranging from contracts for goods and services, participant programs, facility use, campus entertainment, public records, e-discovery, tort claims, FERPA, public records, subpoenas, various regulatory issues and support, policies and procedures, and support to institutional regulatory compliance. The position acts as a catalyst and advisor on university compliance. It coordinates compliance plans, promotes a culture of compliance, and works with enterprise risk management and internal audit to ensure that key compliance risks are identified and mitigated.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements:
College degree; law degree from an ABA accredited law school; licensed to practice in NC within 12 months of hire; minimum three years of legal experience.

Preferred Education, Knowledge, Skills & Experience:
Knowledge and familiarity with North Carolina higher education and agency relationships is a plus. Excellent analytical, research, problem solving, and interpersonal skills; ability to prioritize; excellent communication skills; collegial; professional; sound judgment; and legal experience supporting a public higher education institution; contracts and procurement related experience preferred.

Required Certifications or Licensures: N/A

FTE: 1.0 FTE (40 hours per week)
Months Per Year: 12 Months
Type of Position: Permanent
Position Number: 2174
Job Posting Date: 12/01/2025
Posting Close Date: 1/16/2026
Number of Openings: Single Incumbent

Special Notes to Applicants:
PLEASE NOTE: This posting will close at 11:59PM (Eastern time) on the posted closing date. To receive full consideration, please be sure you have fully completed the entire application, including the ‘Work History' section before you apply for this position. Applications must be submitted through the online application system to be considered.

Eligibility for Employment:
Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. UNC Wilmington participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.

To apply, visit https://jobs.uncw.edu/postings/38087