Truman State University Looking for General Counsel Full Time

Truman State University — Missouri’s only public liberal arts and sciences university — seeks an experienced, skilled, collegial, and collaborative attorney to serve as its next General Counsel. This position provides a unique opportunity to formulate and oversee legal policies and procedures that will have a lasting impact on Truman’s ability to fulfill its mission for many years to come.

The Position: The primary function of the General Counsel is to provide legal advice to and representation for Truman’s Board of Governors, administrators, faculty, and staff acting in their organizational capacity on behalf of the university. A General Counsel provides effective legal advice, representation, and training in a complex operational context. Subject areas are numerous and varied and include constitutional law, particularly speech and due process, accreditation, employment, benefits, student issues (including discipline, privacy, and welfare), utilities, facilities, procurement, real and intellectual property, construction, finance, insurance, tort liability, privacy of information systems, electronic discovery, export controls, labor relations, contracts, grants, personal injury, and increasingly complex compliance issues, particularly Title IX. The Institutional Compliance Officer reports to the General Counsel. The Board of Governors appoints the General Counsel to serve at the pleasure of the Board.

The Institution: A vibrant community of teacher-scholars and academically talented students, Truman is a residential university providing approximately 3,700 students with broad liberal arts experiences and in-depth study in 50 undergraduate majors and 11 graduate programs. Truman has a longstanding reputation for providing an exceptionally high-quality education paired with an outstanding return on investment. As a result, Truman consistently appears in the most respected annual listings of the nation’s best colleges and universities. For 27 consecutive years, U.S. News and World Report has recognized Truman as the No. 1 public university in the Midwest Regional Category. Other accolades include being one of 10 public colleges profiled by Fiske Guide to Colleges, 2024 as a “Best Buy” school noted for quality academic offerings and affordable cost, named by the Princeton Review College Guide, 2024 among “The Best 389 Colleges” out of 2,400 institutions across the country to earn an undergraduate degree, and recognized as the No. 7 best master’s university in the nation by Washington Monthly 2023.  Truman was the only state school to be included in the top 300. In addition to its commitment to excellence, the University promotes a welcoming culture that puts people first and supports students, faculty, and staff. More information about Truman and what others say about the University can be found at www.truman.edu and www.truman.edu/about/facts-about-truman/points-of-pride/.

Qualifications: The successful candidate must have earned a JD from an ABA-accredited school of law and admission to the Missouri Bar or eligibility for admission via reciprocity and successful admission in the immediate future. 

The ideal candidate will have:

• A minimum of 5 years relevant experience in the practice of law;
• Experience providing legal services and advice to higher education institutions or state or local governmental entities, boards, or commissions;
• Expertise in contract law, employment law, civil litigation, and constitutional law;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills;
• Sound judgment and demonstrated ability to serve as a collegial and collaborative member of a leadership team;
• High ethical and professional standards of conduct;
• Experience in managing a broad range of legal challenges;
• Demonstrated ability to foster sound decision-making in all areas of University operation;
• The ability to identify and mitigate legal risks within the University operation;
• The ability to support the University’s functions through the delivery of legal support and guidance to senior management;
• The ability to communicate and interact with University officials at all levels; and
• Knowledge of current and developing legal issues and trends in educational law and related areas.

Location: Located in Kirksville, Truman plays a vital role in the thriving regional center of northeast Missouri. The city enjoys a low crime rate, excellent schools, and a low cost of living. Within a few minutes’ drive, a broad range of outdoor recreational opportunities is easily accessible. Kirksville is connected to Chicago by Contour Airlines (https://contourairlines.com/). Amtrak operates the Southwest Chief on daily schedules from LaPlata (13 miles from Kirksville) to Chicago, Kansas City, and points southwest to Los Angeles. A. T. Still University maintains dental and medical schools in Kirksville. More information about Kirksville can be found at www.visitkirksville.com.

To Apply: Applications, nominations, and expressions of interest will be received until a list of candidates is put forward for final consideration. The review of candidates will begin February 1, 2024. Application materials should be received by this date to receive full consideration. Applications should include a curriculum vitae, detailed cover letter, and contact information for three references and be sent to:

Philip J. Christofferson, Chair
General Counsel Search Committee
Truman State University
President’s Office
McClain Hall 200
Kirksville, MO 63501
[email protected]

Truman State University is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer committed to assembling a diverse, broadly trained faculty and staff. Women, minorities, people with disabilities, and veterans are strongly encouraged to apply. In compliance with applicable laws and in furtherance of its commitment to fostering an environment that welcomes and embraces diversity, Truman does not discriminate on the basis of age, color, disability, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or protected veteran status in its program or activities, including employment, admissions, and educational programs. Inquiries may be directed to the Institutional Compliance Officer, 660-785-4354 and [email protected].

Truman is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. To request this document in an alternate form or to request an accommodation, please contact Human Resources, McClain Hall 101, 100 E. Normal, Kirksville, MO 63501, 660-785-4031 or [email protected].