General Counsel

Job Title:

General Counsel

Location:

MGA - Macon

Regular/Temporary:
Regular

Full/Part Time:
Full-Time

Job

Middle Georgia State University (MGA), a multi‑campus, baccalaureate and graduate degree‑granting public institution, is the most affordable public state university in Georgia. MGA has five campuses—Macon, Cochran, Dublin, Eastman, and Warner Robins—all located in central Georgia—and a global outreach through its fully‑online campus. Its enrollment of 8,400 students is largely comprised of students from most of Georgia's 159 counties. The University has six academic schools, including Georgia's flagship aviation program, that support its mission to educate and graduate inspired, lifelong learners whose scholarship and careers enhance the state.

This position reporting to the Chief Planning Officer/Vice President for Institutional Strategy serves as in‑house legal counsel to Middle Georgia State University with dotted line reporting to the President. The General Counsel will provide expertise in matters of university policy, litigation, intellectual property, contract review, governance, and compliance. This position also serves as a member of the President's Cabinet.

Provides Legal Assistance to the Institution (50%) – Liaises with the Office of Legal Affairs at the University System of Georgia (USG) and Office of the Georgia Attorney General (AG) as needed; reviews institutional agreements (including academic, procurement, and real estate contracts and agreements); manages and provides guidance on institutional grievances, complaints to regulatory agencies and formal litigation; manages trademarks and copyrights;

manages development of institutional policies and procedures, and provides guidance on local, state and federal laws.

Provides Advice and Assistance Related to Compliance with State and Federal Laws, Rules, and Regulations and USG Policies (40%) – Serves as the institution's Open Records Officer and Records Management Officer. Reviews changes to USG policy and suggests appropriate updates to MGA policy accordingly. Chairs the university's Intellectual Property Committee, co‑chairs the Functional Data Governance Committee (FDGC), and serves on various other working groups related to compliance and policy development including but not limited to the Ethics Hotline Triage Committee, the Clery Coordinating Committee, the Cybersecurity Governance Committee, the Threat Assessment Team, the Athletic Advisory Committee, and the Gender Equity Working Group.

Coordinates with Human Resources, Risk Management, University Police, Student Affairs and Academic Affairs on compliance. Supervises the Executive Director of Equal Opportunity and Title IX Coordinator and ensures compliance to federal laws regarding Title IX. Supervises the MGA Compliance Coordinator who ensures compliance with the Jeanne Clery Campus Security Act, the USG Programs Serving Minors initiative, and manages open records requests under the Georgia Open Records Act.

Provides and delivers training to faculty, staff, and students related to policies and legal or regulatory requirements for the institution.

Performs Various Other Duties as Needed (10%) – Researches nationwide higher education best practices, including those identified by the National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA) and the USG, and makes recommendations to Cabinet members on reduction of legal risk through potential improvements to programs and operations. Serves as a Campus Security Authority (CSA) as defined by the Jeanne Clery Act.

Performs related duties as assigned.

Educational Requirements – Juris Doctorate from an ABA accredited law school.

Other Required Qualifications – Licensed and in good standing as a member of the Georgia Bar.

Required Experience – Five years of experience as a practicing attorney in a sophisticated environment such as a law firm, government agency, university, or non‑profit or a business corporation.

Preferred Experience – Experience in litigation management and experience as university counsel and/or higher education preferred.