St. John's University seeks a Vice President and General Counsel (GC) to serve as the University's chief legal officer in support of the overall mission of the institution.

For more than 150 years, St. John’s University has played a central role in New York City. One of the nation’s most diverse higher education institutions, headquartered in the most pluralistic borough in the world’s most important financial center, St. John’s is one of the top 40 universities in the nation for social mobility, according to U.S. News & World Report. In early 2021, the University welcomed Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P., as its 18th President.

The next GC of St. John's will provide executive and administrative direction over the University's legal affairs as a member of the President’s senior leadership team. Reporting to the President, this executive will serve as the chief legal officer, providing legal support, advice and assistance to the Board of Trustees, President, senior leaders, faculty, and staff on all legal matters affecting the institution. As a highly visible member of the senior leadership team, this executive will be responsible for a wide range of legal, regulatory, compliance, labor, employment, insurance, and risk management matters, and will manage the legal resources in a manner that supports the overall priorities of the organization. The GC will be expected to provide a proactive and collaborative approach to the legal issues associated with a dynamic organization committed to redefining the future of higher education.

Candidates must bring a distinguished record of achievement and senior leadership experience. The successful candidate must have excellent academic credentials and a law degree from an ABA-accredited school of law, membership in the State Bar of New York or eligibility for admission based on reciprocity is required (if reciprocity is not available, out of state candidates will be expected to become full New York State Bar members within one year of employment), and with at least ten years of broad legal experience in higher education and/or other non-profit entities gained in-house or through working closely with higher education or not for profit clients.

Expressions of interest and applications are welcome and can be made through the WittKieffer candidate portal. For more information, questions or nominations, please contact Werner Boel or Tyler Workman via email at StJohnsGC@wittkieffer.com. Applications should include, as separate documents, a CV or resume, and a letter of interest addressing the themes in the leadership profile.

WittKieffer is assisting St. John's University in this search. For fullest consideration, candidate materials should be received by March 14, 2025.

https://wittkieffer.com/positions/200708

The salary range for this position is $400,000 to $410,000.

Consistent with its mission as a Catholic, Vincentian, metropolitan, and global institution of higher education, St. John’s University abides by all applicable federal, state, and local laws, and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, disability, age, gender, gender identity, sex (including sexual harassment and sexual violence), sexual orientation, marital status, alienage, citizenship status, status as a victim of domestic violence, genetic predisposition or carrier status, status in the uniformed services of the United States (including veteran status), or any other characteristic protected by law. The University also abides by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. The University’s policy of nondiscrimination extends to employment opportunities, admission of students to its programs, and to the administration of its educational policies, scholarships, loan programs, athletics, and other institutionally administered programs or activities generally made available to students at the University.