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Senior Assistant General Counsel, Transactions

Employer
Chicago Public Schools - CPS
Location
Chicago, IL, US
Salary
Competitive

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Job Category
Administrator, Legal

Job Details

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is the third largest school district in the United States, serving over 340,000 students in 600+ schools and employing nearly 36,000 people, most of them teachers. CPS has set ambitious goals to ensure that every student, in every school and every neighborhood, has access to a world-class learning experience that prepares each for success in college, career and civic life. In order to fulfill this mission we make three commitments to our students, their families and all Chicagoans: academic progress, financial stability and integrity. Six core values are embedded within these commitments - student centered, whole child, equity, academic excellence, community partnership and continuous learning.

CPS is seeking a seasoned attorney who can hit the ground running in the Transactions Unit as Senior Assistant General Counsel. The successful candidate must be a strong leader, have expert level experience in commercial contract drafting and negotiations, demonstrated corporate generalist experience with strong client counseling and management background in a highly time sensitive, deadline-driven, high volume environment. The Senior Assistant General Counsel will handle contracts and related legal issues and questions of substantial complexity and must have a broad range of knowledge and skill on general legal matters, public procurement laws and risks impacting organizations through transactions. Under the direct supervision of the Assistant Deputy General Counsel and Deputy General Counsel the Senior Assistant General Counsel is accountable for the following responsibilities:

  • Independently review, structure, draft, negotiate and advise a wide range of contracts and transactions with limited supervision, including general services, technology, data sharing, research, supply, financings, and related procurement documents and solicitations; ensure timely update of templates to reflect current legal and internal policy requirements.
  • Provide leadership, direction and negotiation strategy support to junior staff attorneys and paralegals and oversee contract negotiations, drafting and review of final work product, ensuring completion against established deadlines and compliance with Board rules, policies and applicable laws; provide mentoring and other skill-development advice for more junior attorneys and staff.
  • Be an active business partner, applying combined business and legal judgment to proposed deals, relationships and other issues requiring legal or compliance attention.
  • Lead internal client meetings, provide guidance on business and legal risks to internal teams; advise and interpret laws and policies impacting transactions, contracting and public procurement compliance. Assist with development and improvement of protocol and tools for contracting, including development of contract templates, internal client training, implementation of systems to streamline contracting, establishing playbooks, processes and workflows.
  • Proactively research and report on changes in relevant laws, policies and emerging trends; develop internal communications and training to ensure alignment in contracts and internal guidance documents.
  • Assist the Assistant Deputy General Counsel with other responsibilities related to contract review, unit operations and other duties as assigned.


Type of Education and License Required:

  • Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school.
  • Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
  • Must be licensed to practice law and in good standing in the State of Illinois.


Type of Experience and Number of Years:

  • Minimum of 8 years relevant commercial contracting experience, with 4 years experience working as in house counsel within a public agency preferred.
  • A minimum of 2 years of successful and relevant supervisory experience managing attorneys of differing abilities.


Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

  • Experience drafting a range of commercial contracts, including technology and data agreements.
  • Preferred prior supervisory experience and demonstrated ability to manage personnel of differing abilities.
  • Strong leadership and team building skills.
  • Excellent communication and engagement skills (writing, speaking, listening, presentations)
  • Excellent project coordination and time management skills with the ability to simultaneously manage a high volume of contract and advisory matters with limited supervision.
  • Demonstrated ability to take ownership of and solve problems, to expeditiously assess issues, and provide sound legal advice to a wide variety of client types, including senior leadership, school administrators and staff, and Central office employees.
  • Exceptional judgment, integrity, honesty, credibility, and the courage to make difficult yet necessary decisions.
  • Ability to provide legal advice in a short response time, work on multiple tasks simultaneously, and assist with supervision of the team.
  • Excellent analytical skills; able to quickly grasp and effectively communicate complex concepts
  • Advanced proficiency with Google Suite, Microsoft Office, specifically and Excel, PowerPoint.


Residency Requirement:

As a condition of employment with the Chicago Public Schools (CPS), employees are required to live within the geographic boundaries of the City of Chicago within six months of their CPS hire date and must maintain residency throughout their employment with the district.

Company

Chicago Public Schools is truly a district on the rise. The last five years have been an unprecedented success for CPS, and during that time, our district has emerged as a beacon of what is achievable for large urban school districts across the country. Our mission is to provide a high-quality public education for every child, in every neighborhood, that prepares each for success in college, career, and civic life.

Company info
Telephone
773-553-1000
Location
42 W Madison St
Chicago
IL
60602
US

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