To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job functions described below. Because every duty associated with this position may not be described below, employees may be required to perform duties not specifically identified, but which are reasonably considered to be incidental to the performance of their duties as though fully stated herein.

GRPS MISSION: Our mission is to ensure that all students are educated, self-directed and productive members of society.

GENERAL COUNSEL

Department:  Legal                 

Unit: Executive Exempt

Salary:   Grade 116 – Specific salary based on experience      

JOB SUMMARY

The General Counsel plans, organizes, directs and controls the legal services activities of the district; provides direct professional legal counsel and representation for the Superintendent, the Board of Education and administrative staff on legal matters; and conducts internal investigations involving compliance with legal and/or Board policies. This position provides strategic legal, cultural, managerial, external development, and micro-political leadership for the efficient and effective operation of the Legal Department through collaborative networking with internal and external stakeholders.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Essential functions under the Americans with Disabilities Act may include any of the following duties, knowledge, and skills. This list is illustrative only and is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and duties performed by employees in this position. Regular on time and in person attendance is an essential function of this job. Other essential functions may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Oversee the preparation and rendering of legal opinions for the Board of Education, the Superintendent, and District administrative staff; provide legal advice in the drafting of legal documents, rules and regulations, resolutions, applications, and other legal or quasi-legal papers upon request.
• Supervise, train, and evaluate in-house legal staff, including the Associate Legal Counsel, Paralegal/Part-Time Attorney, and Risk Management.
• Joint responsibility with the Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources to supervise the Executive Assistant for Human Resources & Legal.
• Conduct and/or oversee investigations of employee misconduct, employee complaints, Title IX, First Amendment, or other legal or policy matters.
• Provide technical legal expertise, information and assistance to the Board of Education and the Superintendent.
• Advise the Board of Education and the Superintendent of unusual trends or problems and recommend appropriate corrective action.
• Review contracts and other documents for legal sufficiency.
• Participate on the Superintendent’s Cabinet; engage and participate in districtwide budget, business, and educational initiatives, programs, and operations planning, providing unique insights and perspectives; collaborate, recommend, and develop cross-functional team strategies designed to serve student, family, local constituent, and District stakeholder needs.
• Serve as the district’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Coordinator and ensure timely responses to requests.
• Serve as the district’s Civil Rights Coordinator, which includes:
  • Coordinating and monitoring compliance with state and federal non-discrimination laws, regulations, and guidelines.
  • Coordinating efforts with HR staff to ensure accessibility and Title VI compliance.
  • Managing efforts to prevent civil rights violations from occurring.
  • Enforcing the District’s discrimination complaint procedures.
  • Investigating discrimination complaints.
  • Ensure that the district provides all students equal educational opportunities, including equal opportunity to all students to participate in programs, activities, and benefit from district services.
  • Ensure that the district complies with accessibility requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and any state equivalent.
• Recommend and supervise the arbitration process; represent the district in arbitration matters or assign to Associate Legal Counsel/outside counsel as appropriate.
• Attend and provide legal advice at regular meetings of the Board of Education and such other meetings as the Board of Education or Superintendent directs.
• Assign outside counsel to handle legal matters as necessary as well as monitor and review the work performed by outside counsel.
• Keep abreast of legislation; interpret the impact of legislation on the interests of the district as such legislation is being considered by the legislature.
• Serve as staff to the Board of Education with policy development; assist in the formulation and development of policies, procedures, and programs to assure legal compliance; oversee the maintenance of files on policy action of the Board of Education and supervise periodic revision of the rules and regulations of the Board.
• Direct the preparation and maintenance of a variety of legal, narrative, and statistical reports, records, and files related to assigned activities and personnel.
• Develop and prepare the annual preliminary budget for the legal department; analyze and review budgetary and financial data; control and authorize expenditures in accordance with established limitations.
• Attend state and national workshops and seminars relating to school legal services and provide professional development to administrators and staff regarding legal issues and Board of Education policy and legal compliance.
• Facilitate meetings, workshops, seminars, and in-service trainings.
• Represent the District in a variety of local community-based organizations and coalitions to effect positive dialogue and relations in school legal matters.
• Participate in and attend local, state, and national organization meetings and conferences relating to school legal issues.
• Supervise the performance of assigned personnel.
• Interview, select, evaluate, and train employees and recommend transfers, reassignment, termination, and disciplinary actions.
• Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required Qualifications:

• License to practice law in Michigan or the ability to become licensed within six months of accepting the position.
• Seven years of practicing law in the field of labor law, public employment law, and education law.
• Three (3) years of supervisory experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working in an education setting, either K-12 or college/university.
• Experience negotiating collective bargaining agreements.

• Experience creating or interpreting contracts.
• Experience advising boards of education or other governing bodies.

• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Experience providing written legal opinions.
• Ability to work and supervise staff in a fast-paced team environment.
• Demonstrated experience providing professional development or training to staff on legal and policy matters.
• Ability to work effectively with diverse individuals in a wide range of positions within the district, as well as in organizations external to the district.
• Ability to relate well and work cooperatively with internal and external customers.
• Demonstrated ability to manage and effectively prioritize multiple tasks simultaneously and work effectively under pressure.
• Ability to work in an atmosphere of collegial decision-making; demonstrate consensus-building skills.
• Ability to work with a variety of individuals to problem-solve, communicate solutions, and apply corrective actions.

ADA REQUIREMENTS

The physical demands, work environment factors, and mental functions described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The work is light work which requires exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force to move objects. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to stand, walk, sit, use hands to finger, handle, or feel, reach with hands and arms, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl, talk, hear (in a quiet or noisy environment). Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and ability to adjust/focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. 

MENTAL FUNCTIONS

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to compare, analyze, communicate both orally and in writing, copy, coordinate, instruct, compute, synthesize, evaluate, use interpersonal skills, compile, and negotiate.

Non-Discrimination

The Grand Rapids Public Schools will not discriminate against any person based on race, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and expression, height, weight, color, religion, national origin, age, marital status, pregnancy, disability, veteran, or military status.

Americans with Disabilities Act Accommodations

Assistance with the application process may be requested through the Human Resources Department at (616) 819-2022 or humanresources@grps.org.