[blindlaw] Seattle Public Schools - Assistant General Counsel position opening

[Nightingale, Noel]

Link:
http://agency.governmentjobs.com/seattleschools/default.cfm?action=viewJob&jobID=350692&hit_count=yes&headerFooter=1&promo=0&transfer=0&WDDXJobSearchParams=%3CwddxPacket%20version%3D%271%2E0%27%3E%3Cheader%2F%3E%3Cdata%3E%3Cstruct%3E%3Cvar%20name%3D%27FIND%5FKEYWORD%27%3E%3Cstring%3E%3C%2Fstring%3E%3C%2Fvar%3E%3Cvar%20name%3D%27CATEGORYID%27%3E%3Cstring%3E1%2C130%2C46%2C52%2C15%2C18%2C19%2C20%2C112%2C149%3C%2Fstring%3E%3C%2Fvar%3E%3Cvar%20name%3D%27TRANSFER%27%3E%3Cstring%3E0%3C%2Fstring%3E%3C%2Fvar%3E%3Cvar%20name%3D%27PROMOTIONALJOBS%27%3E%3Cstring%3E0%3C%2Fstring%3E%3C%2Fvar%3E%3C%2Fstruct%3E%3C%2Fdata%3E%3C%2FwddxPacket%3E

Text:
Job Title:  Assistant General Counsel
1.0     FTE
2.0     John Stanford Center for Educational Excellence
Closing Date/Time:  Continuous
Salary:  $74,859.00 - $103,397.00 Annually

Job Type:  Full-Time
Location:  John Stanford Center for Educational Excellence, Washington
Required Attachments:  Cover letter and Resume

Print Job Information | Apply
Description  Benefits  Supplemental Questions

This position's responsibilities are to act as legal counsel and adviser for assigned management and administrators to ensure maximum protection of the district's legal rights.

Position reports to:  General Counsel

Essential Functions:
1.  Provides oral and written advice and counsel on general education matters, including professional interpretations and recommendations to assigned management, administrators and their staff in order to prevent and/or respond to complaints and suits, to plan preventive measures, and to serve as a legal resource for decisions affecting policies and procedures; acts as an adviser in meetings, to assist in management decision-making to ensure protection of the district's legal rights. Substantive areas of involvement may include advanced learning, alternative learning, curriculum, English Language Learners and International Education. (15% of the time)

2.  Participates in a variety of Special Education matters, including IDEA, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and their implementing regulations, federal and state laws governing students with disabilities; advises management on how to protect the rights of the District; leads or conducts investigations; researches issues, incidents, laws, documents and records; prepares and represents the District in litigation, administrative hearings and similar actions, and manages outside counsel. (35% of the time)

3.   Participates in a variety of Employment matters, including labor contract rights, employment actions, civil rights, American Disability Act, Fair Labor Standards Act, fair labor practices; advises management on how to protect rights of the District; leads or conducts investigations; researches issues, incidents, laws, documents and records; prepares and represents the District in litigation, administrative hearings and similar actions, and manages outside counsel.  (20% of the time)

4.  Writes and reviews written policies and procedures; develops and reviews contracts and provisions; writes responses to and verbally responds to requests for legal advice on a wide variety of special education and employment issues; provides interpretation of written policies and district practices to ensure proper application. (10% of the time)

5.  Supervises and works as a team with assigned legal office staff and outside contracted staff to respond to legal inquiries and to prepare for legal actions; supervises and evaluates legal secretary or legal assistant(s), as assigned. (5% of the time)

6.  Provides on-going training to management and administrators on legal issues, laws and best practices of a wide-range of subjects within area of assignment; identifies areas of concern that need to be shared with a broader audience, which may include acting as a staff development instructor for classes or giving presentations to groups within a department or division. (5% of the time)

7.   Serves on committees; attends meetings; makes presentations and conducts training.  (5% of the time)

8.   Maintains knowledge of current trends in laws, affecting area of assignment and public employers; participates in training to enhance professional skills; coordinates with outside agencies to establish working relationships with other professionals engaged in legal arenas of interest to the area of assignment. (5% of the time)

Other Functions:
Performs related duties consistent with the scope and intent of the position.
_______________________________________________________________________
Minimum Qualifications:
Education:
J.D. or L.L.M. Degree
Preferred Years of Experience:
2 (two) years.

Required Testing:

Certificates & Licenses:

Member in good standing of the Washington State Bar Association; valid Washington State driver's license or evidence of equivalent mobility.

Continuing Education/Training:

45 hours of continuing education every three years.

Clearances:

Criminal Justice Fingerprint

Background Clearance

REQUIRED DISTRICT-WIDE CORE COMPETENCIES:

Collaboration

Is seen as a team player who encourages efficient and effective collaborations.

Works skillfully in difficult situations with both internal and external groups.

Represents his/her own interests while being open-minded to other groups.

Builds respectful and productive relationships internally and externally

Getting Results (Action Oriented)

Demonstrates a strong sense of urgency about solving problems and getting work done.

Focuses on achieving the goal even in the face of obstacles.

Assumes responsibility for starting and finishing work with minimal supervision.

Strives for new levels of performance.

Decision Quality & Problem Solving

Weighs the consequences of options before making a decision.

Applies appropriate criteria to situations for the purpose of making decisions.

Displays self-confidence in own judgment.

Focuses in the facts and solutions instead of opinions and problems.

Integrity

Deals with people and situations in an honest and forthright manner.

Represents information and data accurately and completely.

Represents the confidentiality of information and concerns shared by others.

Takes ownership if a mistake is their own and does not blame others.

Accountability

Takes responsibility and action as if the risks (financial or otherwise) are his or her own.

Holds individuals and team accountable for their actions and results.

Initiates action even if outcome is uncertain and is willing to accept the consequences of failure.

Aligns own activities and priorities to meet broader organizational needs.

Demonstrates courage and confidence in his or her own ability.

REQUIRED JOB SPECIFIC COMPETENCIES:

Litigation/Arbitration: Incumbents are expected to have expertise representing the District in litigation, arbitrations and other adversarial matters, and to manage and direct outside counsel.  Manage all aspects of case preparation and presentation for assigned matters.

Negotiation Skills: expertise in negotiation and resolution of disputes of all types, to achieve both immediate goals, including financial goals, and long term policy objectives of the District.

Team work: As assigned, participate in staff projects for resolution of complex processes, bringing together disparate departments to identify, agree upon, plan, develop processes and implement steps to achieve common goals.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Knowledge of:
school, employment, labor, and contract law; current trends and related laws and regulations that affect Washington public schools, Washington public employers, or similar local government organizations; collaborative problem-solving and teamwork methods; research and investigative methods.

Skills in:
oral and written communications; team building; problem-solving; time management; risk identification and minimization; research and analysis.

Abilities to:
facilitate group discussions; advise and counsel management and administrators; supervises staff and work as a team; motivate and influence others and team processes; effectively represent the General Counsel's Office; develop and assist with developing legal strategies in support of District hiring and employment practices and related areas; evaluate legal issues and recommend appropriate courses of action; take individual initiative; accept responsibility and be held accountable; coordinate multiple activities simultaneously; establish and maintain effective working relationships with District management, administrators and staff, students, parents or guardians, outside agencies, union representatives, and the public in a multicultural community.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS / TASKS:
Please check all that apply.
        Never   Seldom
1-10% or
0-1 hour/day    Occasional
11-33% or
1-3 hours/day   Frequent
34-66% or
3-6 hours/day   Constant
67-100% or
7-8 hours/day
Sit                                      X
Stand / Walk                     X
Keyboard (use a computer)                                        X
Twist / Reach           X
Bend / Stoop             X
Squat / Kneel            X
Crawl    X
Climb (ladder/stairs)           X
Lift / Push / Carry (10 lbs)            X

Conditions/Disclaimers:
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by those assigned to this position and are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills.  Employees may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time as needed.  District employees are not authorized to make promises of employment for a particular period of time, or promises of a particular level of compensation or benefits to job applicants for certified or classified positions, and that any such agreement must be in writing and signed by the Superintendent.  Any verbal or written statements to that effect by District employees other than the Superintendent are null and void.  Additionally, nothing in this job description restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

Benefits

A position that is a 0.5 FTE position or greater is eligible for District benefit plans, including medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance, and flexible spending plans. District contribution to benefit coverage is prorated by FTE, .5 and above. Enrollment is not automatic. In order to participate, a person must complete and submit enrollment forms within 30 days of hire. Information regarding benefits is available on the Benefits Website at www.ourpasswordpage.com (password is "sps") or by calling the Benefits Helpline at (206) 957-7066. It is the individual's responsibility to enroll in a timely fashion, and failure to do so will result in coverage being waived for the remainder of the plan year.

Supplemental Questions

There are no supplemental questions for this posting.