"Senior University Counsel-Employment"

Job Details

Senior University Counsel-Employment

🔍Office of the General Counsel, Stanford, California, United States

📁Compliance Legal

📅Apr 28, 2025 Post Date

📅106370 Requisition #

The Office of the General Counsel is seeking an experienced attorney to provide legal advice on employment-related matters for the University. Reporting to the Deputy General Counsel and Managing Attorney, this Senior University Counsel role demands a high degree of discretion, flexibility, and excellent client service. The ideal candidate will excel in managing competing interests and executing projects within a dynamic and cutting-edge environment.

Core Responsibilities:

• Providing timely and accurate advice to clients in all areas of employment law and labor relations, including wage/hour compliance, disability accommodations and leave management, discrimination and retaliation law, Title IX and pay equity.
• Partnering with Human Resources to support business objectives in a variety of areas.
• Utilizing expertise and current knowledge of changing federal, California, and local laws relating to employment matters to advise management.
• Overseeing workplace investigations, including those involving employees, faculty and academic staff. Experience with Title IX matters is a plus.
• Overseeing employment-related appeals and grievances, claims and litigation, and partnering with outside counsel handling litigation.
• Representing the University in agency matters and mediations, including initial fact-finding regarding charges, preparation of responses, and handling of any hearings/witness interviews.
• Advising on and developing policies, guidelines, and training materials in partnership with Human Resources and other departments. Conducting trainings on a regular basis on a variety of employment law topics.
• Providing employment litigation risk counseling on various business initiatives.
• The ideal candidate will have knowledge of a broad range of employment-related legal issues, with demonstrated expertise in at least two of the following areas:
• Experience with drafting and negotiating athletics employment contracts and overseeing athletics investigations.
• Experience with labor relations and collective bargaining, particularly in a higher education setting. Priority will be given to candidates who have in-house experience being part of a bargaining team.
• Experience in managing a large employment litigation portfolio and overseeing outside legal counsel.

Qualifications:

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school.
• Minimum of ten years of relevant experience providing legal support to higher education institutions with a strong preference for candidates who have experience working as in-house counsel at a college or university.
• Membership in the California Bar or another state’s Bar, with the ability to qualify as registered in-house counsel in California upon starting.
• Strong client service skills with a capacity to manage competing priorities and projects effectively.
• Discretion, flexibility, excellent judgment, and the ability to collaborate and manage a broad range of client needs in a dynamic academic environment.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively with outside counsel and staff attorneys.
• The position requires residency in the Bay Area and in-office attendance three days per week.

The job duties listed are typical examples of work performed by positions in this job classification and are not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, tasks, and responsibilities. Specific duties and responsibilities may vary depending on department or program needs without changing the general nature and scope of the job or level of responsibility. Employees may also perform other duties as assigned.

The expected salary range is $250,000-$320,000 per annum.

Stanford University provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of what the university reasonably expects to pay for a position. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, geographic location and external market pay for comparable jobs.

At Stanford University, base pay represents only one aspect of the comprehensive rewards package. The Cardinal at Work website (https://cardinalatwork.stanford.edu/benefits-rewards) provides detailed information on Stanford’s extensive range of benefits and rewards offered to employees. Specifics about the rewards package for this position may be discussed during the hiring process.

The final candidate will need to successfully pass a background check to be considered for this position.

Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodation to any employee with a disability who requires accommodation to perform the essential functions of their job.

Stanford is an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

How to Apply:

Stanford University has partnered with BarkerGilmore to manage the search for the position of Senior University Counsel. BarkerGilmore will handle all inquiries and applications for this role. For consideration, please submit your confidential resume to Sarah Sullivan - sarah.sullivan@barkergilmore.com and Maria Stayer - mstayer@barkergilmore.com.

Additional Information

• Schedule: Full-time
• Job Code: 3070
• Employee Status: Regular
• Grade: N11
• Requisition ID: 106370
• Work Arrangement: Hybrid Eligible