Associate General Counsel (Contracts and Data Privacy/Security Compliance)

Villanova University, founded in 1842, is a mission-driven Catholic institution sponsored by the Augustinian Order. The University is an equal opportunity employer that values truth, unity, love, and service to others. Our holistic benefits package includes generous paid time off, a competitive retirement savings plan, flexible work options, wellness programs, professional development, tuition assistance, and more.

About the role

The Associate General Counsel is an officer of administration who assists in handling all University legal affairs under the direction of the Vice President and General Counsel.

Responsibilities

• Provides general legal services and day-to-day advice to principal officers of the administration.
• Drafts, reviews, and negotiates complex commercial contracts involving business operations and technology (including software/platform as a service, IT services, software licenses, and data processing agreements) and handles all data security/privacy components of contracts.
• Works directly with the Office of Risk Management, the Office of Information Security, and other relevant partners in the internal contract review process.
• Counsels internal clients on compliance with applicable federal, state, and international information security and privacy laws and regulations.
• Advises the Office of Risk Management on a wide range of risk management and liability issues and prepares appropriate contracts, participant releases, and waivers.
• Advises the Office of Grants and Contracts, as needed, on preparation of submissions and filings to governmental agencies in connection with research grants.
• Advises on research compliance, research integrity, export controls, and research financial conflict of interest, including policy development, updates, and serving ex officio on research committees.
• Oversees and participates in research regulatory proceedings involving the University, managing matters and advising outside counsel.
• Oversees responses to research inquiries, audits, or investigations, including gathering records and ensuring compliance with legal requirements regarding confidentiality and proprietary information.
• Advises on internal dispute resolution and administrative proceedings such as research noncompliance, research misconduct, suspension, or termination matters.
• Assists in intellectual property issues as needed, including patent prosecution efforts and copyright and trademark registration and enforcement issues.
• Assists in formulating and implementing institutional strategies for avoiding future legal problems and provides training to personnel as appropriate.
• Serves on University committees as assigned by the Vice President and General Counsel.
• Performs additional duties and assists with special projects as assigned.

Requirements

• Graduation from an accredited law school with a LL.B./J.D. degree.
• Must be admitted and in good standing in Pennsylvania or other state bar; admission to the Pennsylvania bar required within 1 year of appointment.
• 4-8 years’ legal practice experience.
• Significant demonstrated experience drafting, reviewing, and negotiating complex commercial and technology contracts and data privacy and security components.
• Expertise in U.S., state, and international data security and privacy laws and regulatory compliance.
• Strong time management skills and the ability to prioritize multiple projects.
• Demonstrated capacity for legal research, analysis, and reasoning, superior oral and written communication skills, and an ability to identify and resolve complicated and sensitive problems creatively and with professional discretion.
• Demonstrated ability to interact and function effectively in an academic community and collaborative team environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Work experience in a private research facility or pharmaceutical company.
• Experience advising on or drafting agreements for and overseeing matters involving grants, sponsored research agreements, grant proposals, and University-funded research.
• Experience advising on matters of research compliance, research integrity, export controls, and research financial conflict of interest, including policy development and support for research committees.
• Experience overseeing and participating in research regulatory proceedings, managing matters, and advising outside counsel.
• Experience overseeing responses to research inquiries, audits, or investigations, including gathering records and ensuring compliance with legal requirements regarding confidentiality and proprietary information.
• Experience advising on internal research-related dispute resolution and administrative proceedings such as those related to research noncompliance, misconduct, suspension, or termination matters.
• Experience in technology transfer and commercialization.

Physical Requirements

• Sitting for extended periods of time.
• Occasional lifting of legal file boxes.

Pay

This position falls within salaried grade 21, with a salary range of $191,000–$212,300. The final salary will be determined based on the selected candidate’s qualifications, department budget availability, market data, and internal equity.

This is an in-office, full-time, 12-month position located in Villanova, PA.