Assistant General Counsel

About Golden Gate University

Golden 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 Summary

The Assistant General Counsel serves as a trusted advisor to leadership and administrators across the University, providing practical, business-minded legal counsel on the full range of issues facing a modern higher education institution. The Assistant General Counsel's practice spans contracts and transactions, higher education regulatory compliance, employment and labor, governance and general corporate matters, and the University's international programs and partnerships.

The position reports to the General Counsel, Chief of Staff & Secretary to the Board.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Contracts and Transactions

• Draft, review, and negotiate a broad range of contracts, including vendor and procurement agreements, technology and software licenses, sponsorship and affiliation agreements, and consulting arrangements.
• Advise business units on contract structure, risk allocation, and negotiation strategy, and support the continuous improvement of University templates and contracting processes.

Regulatory Compliance

• Advise on regulatory and compliance matters affecting higher education, including FERPA, Title IX, Title IV and federal financial aid, the Clery Act, ADA/Section 504, state authorization, and accreditation requirements.
• Monitor changes in federal and state law and regulatory guidance affecting the University, and ensure that University policies and practices remain compliant.
• Develop and deliver training to University stakeholders on legal risk and compliance topics.

Employment and Labor

• Counsel administrators and Human Resources on employment and labor matters, including hiring, performance management, workplace investigations, accommodations, separations, and dispute resolution.

Governance and General Corporate

• Support institutional governance, including board and committee matters, institutional policy development and review, and corporate and entity matters.
• Manage outside counsel and assist in overseeing litigation, government inquiries, and pre-litigation disputes.

International

• Support the University's international programs and partnerships, including study-abroad and exchange agreements, international student and scholar matters (F-1/J-1 visa compliance, SEVP), cross-border transactions, and export control considerations.

Qualifications

Required

• Juris Doctor degree and active membership in good standing in the State Bar of California.
• Five or more years of legal experience representing or advising higher education institutions, gained in-house, at a law firm, or in a government or regulatory setting.
• Demonstrated experience in several of the following areas: commercial contracting, higher education regulatory compliance, employment law, governance, and international or cross-border matters.
• Exceptional drafting, negotiation, and communication skills, with the ability to translate complex legal issues into clear, actionable guidance for non-lawyers.
• Sound, pragmatic judgment and the ability to manage a varied, fast-moving workload independently in a remote environment.

Preferred

• Prior in-house experience in a college or university general counsel's office.
• Experience with international education programs, immigration matters affecting students and scholars, or export controls.
• Familiarity with data privacy laws (e.g., GLBA, GDPR) as they apply to higher education.

Supplemental Information

To 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.