Assistant General Counsel - Research Technology and Privacy

Vanderbilt University is seeking an Assistant General Counsel to join the Office of the General Counsel and provide legal advice to Vanderbilt University on a full range of transactional legal matters and projects. The Assistant General Counsel will primarily support several key campus functions: (1) the university’s academic research enterprise, including the Office of the Vice Provost for Research and Innovation (OVPRI), Sponsored Programs Administration (SPA), and Office of Research Integrity and Compliance; and (2) information security, data governance, and privacy, including Vanderbilt University Information Technology, Research IT, and Office of Data and Strategic Analytics. If expertise aligns, the Assistant General Counsel will also advise on university policies, practices, and strategies that intersect with Artificial Intelligence. Depending on institutional need and the candidate’s expertise and interest, this role may serve as the university’s privacy officer.

This position collaborates with and advises leaders across the University to protect the best interests of the university.

Reporting to the Deputy General Counsel, the Assistant General Counsel will have a responsibility to:

Support the university’s strategic goals, in particular with respect to research, technology, and privacy-related matters.

Assist in the development of the university’s data and research compliance regimes by ensuring the university remains abreast of growing legal and regulatory frameworks regarding the appropriate use and security of institutional data.

Protect the university’s short- and long-term interests by ensuring that actions taken by or on the behalf of the university comply with university policies and federal, state, and local laws or regulations.

Work independently and as part of a team to effectively manage multiple highly sensitive and urgent legal matters with competing and overlapping deadlines, and timely communicate matter status and updates to Vice Chancellors and their teams.

Proactively analyze and recommend corrective action and training to ameliorate risk as needed.

Utilize creative problem-solving techniques and excellent oral and written communication skills to contribute to the highly collaborative working environment within the Office of the General Counsel and across the university.

The Assistant General Counsel may also work within the Office of the General Counsel to provide advice and counsel on a variety of other issues facing academic institutions and large employers, based on the individual’s experience and interests and the needs of the university.

About the Work Unit:

The Office of the General Counsel provides legal advice to university departments with an awareness of the nuances of client business priorities and with understanding of university business practices. The Office of the General Counsel is committed to agile service delivery aligned with the university's mission, priorities, and needs. All litigation proceedings are managed by the Office of the General Counsel on behalf of the university.

The Office of the General Counsel focuses on operational excellence in all we do, which includes:

• Project management and status updates

• Technology implementation, use, and analytics

• Budget containment and outside counsel management

• Identification of the highest and best use of attorney time

Key Functions and Expected Performance:

• Provides regulatory compliance support and legal counsel to university offices that oversee and manage the conduct of research and technology commercialization;

• Advises on international research, “foreign influence,” and research security;

• Reviews research, privacy, export security, and technology elements of supplier agreements and other proposed collaborations with external parties;

• Prepares comments on proposed federal, state, and local legislation and regulations that may affect the university;

• Serves as counsel to several university research- and information technology-focused committees, on topics including conflict of interest, research integrity & compliance, technology review committee, information security, IT risk, and data governance;

• Is knowledgeable of and maintains awareness of new legal and regulatory developments at the international, federal, state, and local level to provide counsel on the shifting legal and regulatory landscape, with a federal funding agency (NIH, NSF, DoD) policies and compliance;

• Provides advice on data privacy, institutional data governance, and artificial intelligence;

• Advises the chief information security officer related to data security and breach response;

• Collaborates with other university offices, including University Compliance Services, and Risk & Insurance Management, on investigations, instances of noncompliance, and corrective actions;

• Collaborates with university officials, offices, and departments to develop and provide legal education and support to the Vanderbilt community;

• Pursues professional growth and development through seminars, workshops, and professional affiliations to keep abreast of latest developments in college and university law and in other related matters; and

• Performs similar or related duties as assigned or required in an evolving environment.

Supervisory Relationships:

This position does not have supervisory responsibility.

Education and Certifications:

A juris doctorate is required, and the Assistant General Counsel must be licensed in the State of Tennessee or eligible for licensure within twelve months of hire.

Experience and Skills:

• At least 4-6 years of progressively responsible experience in the practice of law and a demonstrated ability to function independently in relevant subject matters;

  • Ability to identify, analyze, and explain legal issues in a clear, timely, and thorough way to senior university administrators;

  • Advanced oral and written communications skills and the ability to work with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community;

  • Experience with sponsored programs, grant applications, and government contracts, preferably in support of an institution of higher education;

    • Willingness to learn new areas of law, or to apply prior legal practice to a  higher education environment;

    • Experience in regulatory analysis;

    • Demonstrated ability to navigate a large, complex organization, including  Excellent interpersonal and collaboration skills;

    • Strong critical thinking skills, sound judgment, and strategic ability; and

    • Proficiency with common technology for document creation and management.

     A cover letter and writing sample must be submitted to be considered