SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT FOR LEGAL AFFAIRS AND GENERAL COUNSEL

 DUQUESNE UNIVERSITY

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT FOR LEGAL AFFAIRS AND

GENERAL COUNSEL

Duquesne University of the Holy Spirit in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania invites nominations and applications for the position of Senior Vice President for Legal Affairs and General Counsel (GC). Duquesne University (Duquesne) is seeking an exceptional individual to serve as the chief legal officer and to provide proactive counsel and advice on critical strategy, legal, and policy issues. This position is responsible for providing legal counsel and guidance to the University’s President Ken Gormley and Duquesne’s administration.  

Duquesne offers candidates for the position a distinctive Catholic identity and Spiritan mission, nationally-recognized academic programs, a strong financial position, a beautiful urban campus, an entrepreneurial approach to new curricular and co-curricular development, a talented and committed community, a close connection to one of the most dynamic cities in the country, and an exceptional record of service to the world. Duquesne’s solid institutional foundation, coupled with its impressive momentum, characterize an outstanding leadership opportunity.

This private institution with a current total enrollment of approximately 9,300 students (about 6,000 undergraduate and 3,300 graduate and professional students) educates traditional and non-traditional students through small classes, innovative instruction, and rigorous coursework. Through its nine schools (McAnulty College and Graduate School of Liberal Arts, Bayer School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Palumbo-Donahue School of Business, Mary Pappert School of Music, School of Education, School of Nursing, Rangos School of Health Sciences, School of Law, and School of Pharmacy), the University offers degree programs at the baccalaureate, professional, master’s, and doctoral levels while also supporting an ambitious research profile. Duquesne has also recently announced that it will be opening the Duquesne University College of Osteopathic Medicine, due to enroll its first class in 2024.

Duquesne overlooks the heart of Pittsburgh, a vibrant metropolitan region of 2.3 million people that has been recognized world-wide as home to extraordinary academic medical centers, hospital systems, and outstanding institutions of higher education. The campus is a short walk from downtown and only 30 minutes from the Pittsburgh International Airport. For more information on Pittsburgh, please see www.visitpittsburgh.com and vibrantpittsburgh.org.

The next General Counsel will be a skilled, strategic visionary who understands the implications and impact the law has within institutions of higher education. The GC will be an innovative leader who communicates and supports the University’s mission through legal strategy and protects and guides Duquesne towards its future goals.

The GC provides legal counsel and advice to the President and Duquesne’s administration and offers, manages, and coordinates legal services for Duquesne in areas including but not limited to: academic and corporate governance, personnel and employment issues, benefits, student affairs, academic affairs, non-discrimination, conflicts of interest, ethics, gifts and development, immigration issues, contracts, insurance and risk management, construction, purchasing, real estate, compliance with federal, state, and local laws and regulations, housing, accommodations, copyright and other intellectual property matters, information technology, Duquesne policy, athletics, public safety, and environmental health and safety. The GC has specific department management and oversight for: legal affairs, risk management and insurance, Title IX compliance, workers compensation and litigation, environment, health and safety, contract management, emergency management, and human resources.

The successful candidate will have earned a Juris Doctorate from an ABA-accredited law school, a license to practice in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and be in good standing with the Pennsylvania Bar. The higher education environment requires flexibility, creativity, judgment, integrity, and foresight in dealing with a broad array of legal matters. Ideally, the successful candidate will have a minimum of ten years of substantial and progressively responsible legal experience practicing law with at least five years of higher education experience.

Detailed information about the position, leadership agenda, and application process are available in the search profile at: https://assets.storbecksearch.com/files/resources/duquesne-gc-pd.pdf

The Search Committee will begin reviewing candidates immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Applications should include a letter of candidacy that responds to the agenda for leadership and the desired attributes for the Senior Vice President of Legal Affairs and General Counsel and a complete résumé or vita. For best consideration, all applications, nominations, and confidential inquiries should be sent as soon as possible to:

Julie E. Tea, Partner

Amanda Bennett, Sr. Associate

Storbeck Search

DuquesneGC@storbecksearch.com

For more information, please visit the Duquesne University home page at: www.duq.edu.

Duquesne University was founded in 1878 by its sponsoring religious community, the Congregation of the Holy Spirit. Duquesne University is Catholic in its mission and ecumenical in spirit. Motivated by its Catholic identity, Duquesne values equality of opportunity both as an educational institution and as an employer.