The posting
Job Description
The Senior Principal Counsel is a recognized expert and leader in employment and labor law and its application to public, academic, and/or healthcare employers; may be recognized in California, on a national or international basis.
Oversees employment and pre-litigation and litigation matters, practices in state and federal courts. Direct experience with the CA Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) is preferred. Responds to and advises on agency investigations, regulatory proceedings, and hearings. Participates in emergency operations. Oversees general liability litigation.
Provides substantial expertise within UCSF and UCSF Health on labor, employment, and related legal matters. Relevant experience in a law firm and/or as in-house counsel in higher education, healthcare, government, or corporations. Independently handles and/or represents UCSF’s interests in a full range of legal matters and projects, including pre-litigation, complex litigation, regulatory proceedings, employment-related transactions (e.g., employment agreements, offer letters, separation and settlement agreements), and initiatives with substantial importance and impact. Interprets complex facts and law in highly ambiguous contexts.
Experience advising higher education, healthcare, government or corporations on different employment issues including, but not limited to, international activities, exposure and risk assessment as to all employment matters, including harassment, discrimination, and retaliation; advising on accommodation for disabilities and religion; workers’ compensation as it relates to disability laws; housing; immigration; free speech in the workplace; privacy; public records acts; conflicts of commitment and financial interests; accessibility laws; whistleblower laws; among others.
Advises on issues related to confidential services of Ombuds and the faculty and staff assistance program. Advises on artificial intelligence use. May also advise on student and faculty matters.
Provides functional advice, training, and/or guidance to less-experienced attorneys. Collaborates with colleagues in UCSF Office of Legal Affairs (OLA) and throughout UC Legal to achieve UCSF and systemwide objectives. Acts as a liaison with outside counsel, and/or represents the University in litigation of the highest complexity or consequence. May lead projects or changes in policy with a broad impact across the organization. May direct programs with organization-wide impact that include formulating strategies and administering policies, processes, and resources. Significant barriers to entry exist at this level. May contribute to UC Legal’s repository of scholarly and/or pedagogic publications through the development of templates, white papers, precedents, litigation briefings/advisories, etc. Has substantial experience interfacing with key senior clients and constituents. Demonstrates excellent judgment.
Responsibilities
%
of time
Essential Function (Yes/No)
Key Responsibilities
(To be completed by Supervisor)
30
Yes
Regularly counsels and advises senior and executive management, often on
issues that can have significance across the system. Serves as a trusted strategic partner with University business units, providing practical advice and alternative solutions to business issues:
- Responsible for research and presentation of novel legal issues and legal guidance, frequently on short notice, to leadership.
- Responsible for guidance on policy and policy-related procedures and legal requirements, frequently involving complex implementation problem solving.
- Expert on state and federal agency inquiries and investigations related to labor and/or employment law; including providing strategic advice to clients related to compliance and impacts of non-compliance.
- Provides direct services to include litigation, contract negotiations, advice and support for effective compliance and risk mitigation strategies to facilitate the University's complex operations.
- Interface between academic and medical center entities on issues that cross multiple lines and are complex in nature and unique to campus.
20
Yes
Provides influence on the identification and framing of systemic legal issues, and the formulation and advancement of approaches to address them:
- Responsible for assessing and advising senior leadership on remedial actions related to liability exposure linked to litigated and non-litigated claims.
- Responsible for gathering input from a variety of stakeholders on client’s risk tolerance, desired outcome, precedent and impact at UCSF Campus, Health and systemwide as may be indicated by the circumstances and pathways to desired outcome.
- Supports and advises on remedial efforts on complex issues with multi-disciplinary stakeholders.
- Advises or oversees advice on the UCSF EPL and GL litigation cases, particularly on those with the highest risk.
- Develops successful strategies for optional outcomes on all matters, including identifying and strategizing on issues that impact all UC campuses and medical centers.
- Responsible for identifying and reporting trends related to legal obligations, including identifying and advising on remedial actions to decrease risk of liability.
- Routinely gives input on systemwide policies and practices.
- Works collaboratively with the Chief Campus Counsel, Chief Health Counsel and Deputy General Counsel and other UC Legal counsel to advise on and manage litigation or other systemic legal issues in a manner that promotes UC’s mission, vision, and values.
15
Yes
Collaborates to achieve solutions on the most complex legal issues in area of specialty, providing strategic direction with high-level stakeholders such as faculty, senate committee chairs, and senior administrators at the Office of the President and/or across UC locations. Proposes long-term strategic decisions that can have a broad impact across the UC system:
- Collaborates with UC Legal and systemwide counsel regarding matters impacting the UC systemwide.
- Serves as a resource to other campus counsel in the implementation of policies.
- Close coordination with internal and external entities, including external police departments and city attorneys, and agency investigators, to coordinate and advise on actions for complex work environments governed by policies of different entities (e.g., shared work environments of San Francisco General Hospital (ZSFG) and Benioff Children’s’ Hospital Oakland (BCHO)).
- Non-Litigated matters: successfully develops and implements reliable strategies for early resolution of non-litigated matters. Collaborates with UCOP and Campus and Health partners.
5
Yes
As a recognized expert, participates on external committees to provide input
on issues that affect state and/or federal legislative developments:
- Operates with a line of sight into and access to systemwide and campus task forces, working groups, etc., participating in a strategic capacity.
- Presents on panels for national organizations, government agencies and UC organized events.
- Responsible for systemwide and enterprise responsibilities.
- Provides support for training on employment matters.
- Serves as a resource to other UC Legal counsel.
10
Yes
Directly negotiates matters on behalf of The Regents. Acts as a liaison with outside counsel, and/or represents the University in complex litigation. Manages outside counsel budget:
- Trains and monitors outside counsel on campus and systemwide priorities, litigation expectations, and client priorities.
- Responsible for identifying, escalating, and strategizing issues with systemwide implications and coordinating multi-disciplinary consensus.
- Routinely negotiates settlements on employment matters. Aligns settlements with campus and systemwide liability risk value.
- Expertise on federal law compliance and training and advising clients on compliance and minimizing exposure to risk of liability.
- Responsive to state and federal agency inquiries, including strategic advice to clients.
- Responsible and accountable for the stewardship of UC resources, including expenses associated with outside counsel, and the development of systems and procedures to protect organizational assets and institutional knowledge.
5
Yes
Provides guidance to attorneys interested in field of expertise:
- Advises colleagues in UCSF Legal regarding labor and employment issues and any other issues within area of expertise, and in matters that involve complex collaboration.
- Delegates work effectively to maximize efficiencies.
5
Yes
Develops objectives and ensures service according to established priorities:
- Trains on objectives and strategies to align with systemwide objectives.
5
Yes
Provides clear expectations and mentors legal support staff to establish strong commitment to teamwork and to meet expected levels of productivity and accuracy:
- Manages and monitors administrative workflow delegated to legal support staff.
5
Yes
Supports UC Legal's commitment to diversity and ensures equal opportunity in the recruitment process. Encourages participation in career advising or mentoring programs:
- Advises campus on implementation of systemwide policies.
100%
Qualifications
Required Qualifications:
- Must possess a J.D. from an accredited law school or equivalent.
- 10+ years of directly related work experience.
- Must be a member in good standing of a United States state bar. (Out-of-state hire would be afforded time to pass the Bar within a reasonable period.)
- CA State Bar License in good standing. (Out-of-state hires must pass the California Bar Exam within one year of hire and be admitted within 18 months of hire.)
- Relevant practice experience in a law firm, or in-house counsel for an academic institution, corporation or other entity.
- Expert ability in collaboration, facilitation, and strategic and creative thinking.
- Trusted partner with senior management and a diverse spectrum of clients.
- Expert understanding of highly complex legal issues and ability to foresee implications in specialty areas, even when ambiguous or hidden.
- Outstanding interpersonal communication skills, including proven ability to actively listen, negotiate, persuade, and educate. Skills to gain trust and build credibility with a broad group of colleagues and clients, including senior leaders.
- Outstanding written communication skills and ability to create and deliver effective materials and/or presentations appropriate to a particular audience.
- Outstanding research skills; ability to readily identify critical legislative changes in area of specialty.
- Outstanding ability to establish strategic solutions at the macro level; to influence key stakeholders in alignment with mission.
- Expert ability in consulting, relationship building, and strategic thinking skills.
- Thorough knowledge of the organizational environment of higher education and large research universities to understand client priorities, issues, motivations and constraints.
- Ability to represent institutional concerns persuasively to internal and external parties.
- Demonstrated ability to mentor and coach all levels of staff; provide for succession planning in area of specialty.
- Proven ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise discretion and tact when handling sensitive or potentially sensitive issues.
- Demonstrated commitment to the highest ethical standards.
- Expertise in employment law, including disability discrimination, Title IX, Title VI, and Title VII.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Current CA State Bar License in good standing at time of application.
- 6+ years of legal practice as a member of UC Legal.
- Experience in multiple practice areas or experience collaborating and working with others across multiple practice areas.
- Relevant practice experience specifically advising academic medical centers, hospitals, health systems, and/or medical groups.
