Deputy General Counsel Greater Washington D.C. Area

Terms of Employment: 12 MONTHS

Exemption Status: EXEMPT

Salary Scale: EXECUTIVE SALARY SCALE, G01

Salary Range: $149,609 - $197,376

Reports To: GENERAL COUNSEL

SUMMARY: Under the direction of the Superintendent of Schools and the General Counsel, serves as the deputy legal advisor to Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) and provides legal counsel to the Superintendent, executive leadership, school system administrators, and, when applicable, the Board of Education.

Assists the General Counsel in providing leadership and oversight of the school system's legal services and advising on matters including employment and labor relations, special education and student services, civil rights, discrimination, harassment, Title IX, Maryland Public Information Act, Open Meetings Act, contracts and procurement, real estate, workers' compensation, litigation, and other matters affecting the operation of the school system.

Assists the General Counsel in proactively identifying and evaluating legal and organizational risks, interpreting federal and state laws and regulations, overseeing litigation and outside counsel, and developing and reviewing Board policies, Superintendent's rules, procedures, contracts, and other legal documents.

EDUCATION AND WORK EXPERIENCE

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school.
• Active membership in good standing with the Maryland Bar, or active membership in good standing with the bar in another state with the ability to obtain admission to practice law in Maryland within six months as a condition of continued employment.
• Minimum of three (3) years of progressively responsible professional legal experience including litigation, administrative proceedings, or other experience relevant to public education.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Demonstrated ability to interpret and apply statutes, regulations, case law, policies, contracts, and legal principles.
• Demonstrated leadership, administrative, written and oral communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to effectively manage a high-volume and complex legal workload.
• Knowledge of federal and Maryland laws and regulations applicable to public education.
• Knowledge of labor and employment law, special education law, student rights, civil rights, contracts and procurement, administrative law, and governmental compliance.
• Ability to anticipate and evaluate complex legal and organizational risks and provide practical, timely, and strategic recommendations.
• Ability to communicate complex legal matters clearly to Board members, executive leadership, administrators, employees, and other stakeholders.
• Ability to manage multiple high-priority matters, litigation, and deadlines.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality, exercise sound professional judgment, and demonstrate the highest standards of legal and professional ethics.
• Ability to travel countywide and statewide and work outside normal business hours as necessary.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience serving as General Counsel, Chief Legal Counsel, senior legal counsel, or in a comparable leadership capacity for a public school system, governmental entity, or other complex public-sector organization.
• Experience with Maryland education law and the legal and regulatory requirements applicable to Maryland public school systems.
• Experience with labor and employment law, employee relations, collective bargaining, and interpretation of negotiated agreements.
• Knowledge of IDEA, Section 504, student rights, and other federal and state laws affecting public education.
• Experience with arbitration, mediation, administrative hearings, litigation, negotiations, and settlement of legal matters.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Serves as the school system's deputy chief legal advisor and provides legal opinions, counsel, and recommendations to the Superintendent, executive leadership, administrators, and when applicable, the Board of Education.
• Assists the General Counsel in leading and overseeing the delivery of legal services for CCPS, including the work of assigned legal staff and outside counsel.
• Advises on labor and employment matters including grievances, collective bargaining, negotiated agreements, employee discipline, appeals, discrimination and harassment complaints, EEOC matters, arbitration, mediation, and administrative hearings.
• Provides legal counsel regarding special education and student matters including IDEA, Section 504, student discipline and due process, student records, FERPA, custody matters, subpoenas, and related proceedings.
• Provides legal advice and representation regarding civil rights, discrimination, harassment, Title IX, Office for Civil Rights complaints, and other state and federal administrative agency matters.
• Advises the Superintendent and staff on legal appeals and provides legal guidance regarding administrative and Maryland State Board of Education appeals.
• Provides legal guidance regarding Maryland Public Information Act requests, Open Meetings Act compliance, subpoenas, discovery, and requests for student, employee, and other school system records.
• Drafts, reviews, and advises on contracts, procurement matters, memoranda of understanding, real estate transactions, leases, and other school system agreements.
• Assists the General Counsel in managing litigation and evaluating claims and potential legal exposure and coordinating case strategy, settlements, outside counsel, and external legal expenditures.
• Drafts and reviews Board policies, Superintendent's rules, procedures, and other governing documents and advises regarding proposed legislation and changes in federal and state law.
• Monitors legal developments affecting public education and proactively advises leadership regarding legal risks, compliance requirements, and potential changes to school system practices.
• Provides legal guidance regarding workers' compensation, risk management, and other claims involving the school system.
• Develops and provides legal and compliance training to administrators and staff as appropriate.
• Assists with development and oversight of the legal services budget and promotes the effective and cost-efficient use of internal and external legal resources.
• Performs other work-related duties as assigned.

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS & PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Work is primarily performed in an administrative office environment and may require attendance at Board meetings, hearings, court proceedings, negotiations, school-based meetings, and other locations. The position regularly handles confidential, sensitive, and time-critical matters and may require work outside normal business hours.

The environmental factors and/or physical requirements of this position include the following: While performing the duties of this job, the employee requires prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer and other office equipment; ordinary ambulatory skills sufficient to move throughout buildings and grounds and visit other locations; and the ability to stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, reach with hands and arms, and manipulate (lift, carry, and move) light to medium weights of 10–50 pounds. The position requires good hand-eye coordination; arm, hand, and finger dexterity, including the ability to grasp; visual acuity to read and use a keyboard; and sensory skills sufficient to communicate and interact effectively with individuals, as normally defined by the ability to see, read, talk, and hear. The employee must be able to travel countywide and statewide. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT

Employment is subject to the policies and procedures of the Board of Education of Charles County and applicable federal and state laws and regulations. The Board of Education will establish salary placement and other terms of employment.

Charles County Public Schools reserves the right to re-advertise and modify the content of vacancy announcements at any time; however, this may be the only notice for this position during the noted advertisement period.

The Charles County Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, or disability in its programs, activities, or employment practices. For inquiries, please contact Dr. Michael Blanchard, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (students) or Nikial M. Majors, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (employees/adults), at Charles County Public Schools, Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building, P.O. Box 2770, La Plata, MD 20646; 301-932-6610/301-870-3814. For special accommodations, call 301-934-7230 or TDD 1-800-735-2258 two weeks prior to the event.