Associate Counsel

The Associate Counsel will play a key role in overseeing and coordinating a broad variety of legal and contractual functions in support of the departments business operations. The successful candidate will focus on the efficient and effective management of all departments business contracts and processes to ensure best industry standards are adhered to while protecting the legal interests of the institution and its affiliates.

This is an exciting opportunity for a highly motivated and experienced legal professional to join our team at New York Medical College. The Associate Counsel will be responsible for reviewing, drafting, and negotiating a wide variety of contracts, including commercial contracts, master services agreements, license agreements, non-disclosure agreements, material transfer agreements, equipment leases, sales and purchase agreements, and procurement contracts.

• Review, draft, and negotiate contracts with contractors and subcontractors, vendors, research sponsors, and governmental entities.
• Manage contracts, including commercial contracts, master services agreements, license agreements, non-disclosure agreements, material transfer agreements, equipment leases, sales and purchase agreements, and procurement contracts.
• Coordinate with internal administrative and scientific stakeholders to determine each stakeholder's contractual goals and needs and develop processes and policies to ensure compliance with legal requirements and Institute policies in all contracts.
• Facilitate contract negotiations and manage execution processes; interpret complex contractual language and clauses; optimize and maintain an organized contracts repository and ensure accurate and up-to-date records that are easily accessible.
• Manage litigation arising from Sponsored Programs activity, making appearances and presenting evidence at administrative hearings before administrative agencies, arbitrators, and other entities.
• Support functional business units and operating locations through contract template development, contract interpretation and guidance, policy development and review, and training for campus leaders, managers, and employees.
• Assist with intellectual property and commercialization-related legal matters, development of transactional documents supporting public-private collaborations and industry partnerships and facilitate the financial and legal structuring of new business entities.
• Promote and support company policies, procedures, mission, values, and standards of ethics and integrity; support the corporation's control environment by helping to identify, assess, and manage legal risks and liabilities, assist with the creation, implementation, and enhancement of corporate processes, policies, and procedures, and partner with business unit leaders to identify and facilitate business process improvement initiatives.
• Provide general legal guidance and support to the Institute on a broad range of legal matters and situations and ensure best practices are followed related to relevant laws, regulations and industry best practices to ensure legal compliance and mitigate risks.
• Perform other legal and administrative functions to support the RF's strategic and operating plans. Conduct and/or assist the departments of Compliance and Internal Audit on investigations and other duties and tasks as required, assigned, and/or as needed.

The ideal candidate will have a JD from an accredited law school, membership in good standing, or eligibility for membership in NY State Bar. The candidate should have a minimum of 3 years of directly related experience with sponsored research agreements and contract review, drafting, and negotiation in a corporate or in-house setting; or an equivalent combination of education, training, and/or experience from which comparable knowledge, skills, and abilities have been attained.

The successful candidate will have strong experience in one or more of the following: commercial contracts and corporate transactions (including drafting, reviewing, negotiating, research and development contracts, services and consulting agreements, inbound/outbound licensing agreements, technology agreements, and partner and vendor agreements); litigation including discovery, motion practice, and related legal research; compliance.

The Associate Counsel should have outstanding negotiating skills and a demonstrated ability navigating complex business environments. The candidate should have experience in researching, interpreting, and resolving funding, contract and grant issues, the ability to draft, review and approve complex non-routine contractual instruments, and demonstrated knowledge of contracting concepts, applicable public acquisition laws and associated regulations.

The ideal candidate will have superior professional-level written and verbal communication skills; a high degree of professionalism, diplomacy, and discretion; excellent judgment, problem-solving and decision-making skills; strong customer-service skills and technically savvy in a broad array of applications (and the ability to master new applications).

The successful candidate will have demonstrated capability in managing a wide variety of complex tasks and projects simultaneously while meeting multiple deadlines. The ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive situations with solid judgment and discretion is critical, as well as the ability to perform duties independently.

The ideal candidate will have excellent judgment, business acumen, and common sense. Strong work ethic, superior organizational skills, and ability to handle multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment under time constraints and work well independently and as a collaborative team member.

The successful candidate will have excellent verbal and written communication skills, including presentation and training capabilities and ability to relate and work well with people of many cultures, disciplines, and levels of experience.

The Associate Counsel will be required to travel to various campuses as needed.

The ideal candidate will have experience and/or appreciation for issues in representing academic research organizations and/or faculty, researchers, and academic administrators.

The successful candidate will have confidence and leadership with humility; be self-assured but not self-important. Optimistic attitude that thrives in a dynamic and complex working environment.

The ideal candidate will have familiarity with the life cycle of federally funded programs, including issues related to federal procurement contracts and federal grants, as well as dispute resolution processes.

The Associate Counsel will be required to accept constructive criticism with grace.

The ideal candidate will have a commitment to the mission of Touro.