The Office of Legal Affairs, under the direction of the Senior Vice President and General Counsel, provides legal representation and advice to the University and all of its constituent parts, including the Board of Trustees, the President, Provost, faculty and academic departments, the Office of Administration & Planning, the Office of Student Life, Human Resources, Advancement, Athletics, Public Safety, Business and Finance, and the Wexner Medical Center among many others. As one of the largest universities in the nation, Ohio State is a multifaceted institution, with a sophisticated and leading-edge legal practice that touches nearly every area of the law, including litigation, labor and employment, public contracting, real estate and construction, intellectual property, research and technology transfer, business transactions, taxation and benefits, administrative law, health care law, public safety and criminal law matters, federal and state constitutional and public law issues, and more.
The Senior Associate General Counsel is responsible for providing legal advice and services to University leadership and staff regarding University construction and design matters, including facilities management and facilities administration, state construction contracts, prevailing wage, the procurement and administration of architectural and engineering services, capital project audits (both internal and external), and health and safety-related obligations.
The Senior Associate General Counsel will serve as central legal contact to the University to draft, negotiate and enforce all contracts necessary for the University facilities projects, including management and oversight of administrative claims and litigation. The Senior Associate General Counsel works closely with the Office of Administration & Planning and its Facilities Design and Construction department as a legal advisor, partner and consultant for structuring, procuring and constructing capital projects in order to advance quality and delivery of University capital needs, while also adhering to legal obligations and University policies. This individual advises University leadership and staff regarding construction contract and related disputes, legal claims relating to surety agreements and insurance coverage and claims arising from architect/engineer services and works closely with the Office of the Attorney General and University leadership to negotiate resolutions to such disputes which may include pursuing recovery for errors and omissions and defective work. The Senior Associate General Counsel needs to be comfortable communicating with many University stakeholders, including trustee members, senior leaders, departmental leads, project managers and others. This role will liaise with Compliance, Government Affairs, Internal Audit and Risk Management to identify opportunities, address issues, and resolve matters related to the University's capital program. Under the direction of the Senior Assistant Vice President, this individual will complete other duties as assigned.
Required Qualifications:
The successful candidate must have graduated from an accredited law school and be a member of the Ohio bar or eligible to practice law in the State of Ohio within one year or less. A minimum of eight (8) years of legal practice. All University attorneys are expected to work at the highest professional level with integrity, excellent judgment, attention to detail, and discretion, and to demonstrate the highest personal and leadership characteristics of teamwork, inclusiveness, calmness, and adaptability to a broad range of issues, people, and situations.
Desired Qualifications:
Significant previous legal experience with construction law practice for public universities or other state institutions or entities. Previous experience with public entities and public law issues (such as public records law and ethics laws). Areas of experience should include one or more of the following:
Ohio Revised Code Chapter 153
Ohio Revised Code Chapter 4115
Construction and CMR delivery methods and contracts within the state of Ohio
AIA documents
Dispute resolution
The Target Hiring Range for this position is $146,000 to $195,000 per year.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, disability, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, genetic information, HIV/AIDS status, military status, national origin, race, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, pregnancy, protected veteran status, or any other basis under the law.
