The University of New Mexico (UNM) (https://www.unm.edu/) is seeking nominations, inquiries, and applications for the position of General Counsel. The General Counsel will report to President Garnett S. Stokes and the Board of Regents and will provide strategic guidance, consultation, and support on a wide range of legal and related issues to the President, Regents of the University, and other senior executive and academic leadership across all University campuses.

The University of New Mexico was founded in 1889 as New Mexico’s flagship institution. The University is the only R1 institution in the State and offers a wide variety of academic programs through 14 colleges and schools. These academic options include more than 215 degree and certificate programs, including 94 baccalaureates, 71 master's, and 37 doctoral degrees. The UNM Health Sciences Center includes UNM Hospital, the only Level 1 Trauma Center in New Mexico, and offers over 40 health science degrees and residency programs. UNM is a Hispanic Serving Institution that takes pride in the extraordinary diversity of its students and in providing opportunities for students, regardless of socioeconomic background. UNM has 4 branch campuses across the state, which provide academic and vocational training, leading to certificates, associate degrees, and transfers to baccalaureate programs. The University enrolls over 26,000 students and employs over 10,000 faculty and staff.

The General Counsel will be stepping into a vibrant campus environment following President Stokes' launch of the UNM 2040: Opportunity Defined (https://opportunity.unm.edu/?_gl=1*1nsus8x*_gcl_au*MTkxNTc5MzYzNi4xNzE4N...) strategic plan. As a crucial member of the President's senior leadership team, the General Counsel will provide executive and administrative direction over the University's legal matters. This individual will act as the chief legal officer, offering legal support, advice, and guidance to the Board of Regents, the President, as well as senior leaders, faculty, and staff on all legal issues affecting the institution. The General Counsel's role will encompass a diverse array of legal, transactional, regulatory, compliance, and litigation matters and will involve the management of legal resources to align with the organization's overarching priorities. The position necessitates extensive experience in areas such as contracts, labor and employment law, intellectual property, research agreements, litigation and risk management. The General Counsel is expected to bring a proactive and collaborative approach to addressing the legal challenges associated with an innovative organization dedicated to reshaping the future of higher education and healthcare delivery.

The individual selected for this position will be a highly strategic, forward-thinking attorney who is well-versed in the business dynamics and regulatory environment of higher education and healthcare. The General Counsel will be innovative, capable of creating solutions that facilitate the University's initiatives to assure the success and growth of the organization. The successful candidate must have excellent academic credentials and a law degree from an ABA accredited school of law and at least ten years of broad legal experience in higher education, government, healthcare and/or other non-profit entities gained in-house or through working closely with higher education, healthcare or not for profit clients. The selected candidate should also be a member in good standing of NM State Bar, or eligible to become a member of the NM State Bar within one year after being hired. New Mexico has reciprocity with many other states, as outlined here: http://nmexam.org/reciprocity/ New Mexico also permits attorneys for public entities to practice with a limited license, as outlined in Rule 15-301.1 of the New Mexico Bar Rules. More information can be found at wittkieffer.com (https://wittkieffer.com/positions/200102).

All applications, nominations, and inquiries are invited. Applications should include, as separate documents, a CV or resume and a letter of interest addressing the themes in this profile. In their cover letter, candidates are encouraged to showcase their strong dedication to UNM's mission, values, institution, and state.

WittKieffer is assisting The University of New Mexico in this search. For fullest consideration, candidate materials should be received by September 14, 2024.

Application materials should be submitted using WittKieffer’s candidate portal (https://apptrkr.com/5450579).

Nominations and inquiries can be directed to:

Werner Boel, LL.M. or Luis Bertot

UNMGeneralCounsel@wittkieffer.com

The University of New Mexico is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class.

The University of New Mexico requires all regular staff positions successfully pass a pre-employment background check. This may include, but is not limited to, a criminal history background check, New Mexico Department of Health fingerprint screening, New Mexico Children, Youth, and Families Department fingerprint screening, verification of education credentials, and/or verification of prior employment. For more information about background checks, visit https://policy.unm.edu/university-policies/3000/3280.html. Refer to https://policy.unm.edu/university-policies/3000/3200.html for a definition of Regular Staff.