Chief Legal Officer

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Chief Legal Officer

Job Overview

The Senior Vice President & Chief Legal Officer oversees all legal activities for PHEAA. This executive leader is responsible to ensure PHEAA is compliant with all applicable laws specific to the financial services industry, employment, and business process laws, and collaborates with other members of PHEAA’s Executive Management on legal matters. These duties are carried out consistent with the requirements of the Commonwealth Attorneys Act, 71 P.S. §732-101, et. Seq.

Job Responsibilities

Legal Strategy

Establish and direct the strategic long-term goals, policies, and procedures to guide PHEAA’s legal functions.

Develop and implement a risk management strategy for PHEAA through contracts and litigation strategies.

Supervise and directly provide legal support for all regulatory, policy, litigation, and legislative matters at the Federal and State level.

Manage participation in regulatory rulemaking and litigation including review and drafting of pleadings and strategy; defend PHEAA in any legal proceedings.

Ensure PHEAA contracts and agreements follow policy and legal guidelines approving them as to form and legality in accordance with the Commonwealth Attorneys Act, 71 P.S. §732-101, et. Seq.

Work closely with executives and various legal staff to enhance and/or develop, implement and enforce policies and procedures that will improve overall operations and effectiveness.

Maintain excellent relationships with the Pennsylvania Attorney General, external counsel, financial services regulators, and other external financial entities in order to ensure effective communication of critical issues in a timely manner.

Engage and direct outside counsel to undertake specific and complex work requiring application of highly specialized knowledge.

Oversee educational fraud and security investigations, and the determination of appropriate legal action to be taken.

Maintain the requisite knowledge of current trends and technical issues impacting the professional practice of law and areas of compliance and regulatory responsibilities. Ensure the knowledge is extended to legal staff.

Identify continuing opportunities for value-added improvements. Develop and implement new techniques, methods, and practices to improve effectiveness and efficiency.

Actively participate in applicable executive management forums.

Supervision/Evaluation/Development of Staff

Recruit, train and develop a high performing, high quality legal organization.

Ensure the Legal Division is appropriately staffed with qualified individuals and that staff are sensitized to the need for working effectively within the organization with respect to guiding, advising and serving as a business partner.

Provide on-going guidance, mentoring, feedback, professional development, and motivation to a staff to ensure competent performance while adhering to PHEAA policies and procedures.

Continually look for ways to improve team’s performance by identifying and implementing work efficiencies through process improvement techniques and employee empowerment techniques.

Recommend and/or make decisions in personnel related matters (performance review, disciplinary actions, and terminations).

Primary member on the Enterprise Business Continuity Steering Committee (EBCSC).

Other duties as assigned.

Job Qualifications

Education and Experience

Minimum Qualifications: J.D. degree and at least ten years of experience with demonstrated progressively more responsible practical experience in as many of the following substantive areas of the law as possible: contracts, civil procedure, litigation, risk management, employment, bankruptcy, debtor/creditor rights, collections, intellectual property, technology, administrative procedure, alternative dispute resolution, negotiations, privacy and information security, truth-in-lending, consumer lending and finance; or the equivalent in skills, knowledge and abilities.

Experience working with or within government agencies.

Combination of strong management and leadership skills and solid technical expertise.

Experience and comfort level in interacting with executives at a senior level. Diplomatic but assertive in articulating points of view related to legal and compliance functions.

Demonstrated independence and objectivity; executive-level interpersonal skills; management and leadership skills; political savvy; sound judgment personal strength; personal independence; integrity; flexibility.

Strong understanding of the financial services industry and regulatory requirements. Specifically, know the necessary financial services regulatory guidelines and how to implement them.

Excellent leadership skills, well-defined interpersonal skills and outstanding communications skills.

Demonstrated an unwavering commitment to core values and high ethical business standards and integrity and demonstrates this through words and action.

Excellent diplomatic and partnering skills.

Proven ability to build significant internal and external relationships that lead to collaboration and influencing decisions.

Strong verbal, written and listening communication skills; articulate, able to deliver value-added assessments and sound advice in a cogent manner that earns credibility at the top management and Board level. Exceptional attention to detail and quality in verbal and written communication.

Manage delivery of services to ensure PHEAA receives high quality, cost effective, fully responsive legal services.

Monitor workflow, communicates goals, and provides opportunities for professional development.

Demonstrated ability to take a broad view of the environment to identify opportunities.

Demonstrated ability to understanding of business strategy as well as experience integrating research objectives into an overall business or corporate function strategy.

Employee Benefits

Candidates will enjoy our comprehensive total rewards program offering Pennsylvania Employees Benefit Trust Fund (PEBTF) health/dental insurance and defined benefit plan, as well as life insurance, flexible spending accounts, tuition reimbursement, participation in a deferred compensation program, and generous paid vacations and holidays.

About Us

Created in 1963 by the Pennsylvania General Assembly, the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) has evolved into one of the nation's leading student aid organizations. Today, PHEAA is a national provider of student financial aid services, serving millions of students and thousands of schools through its loan guaranty, loan servicing, financial aid processing, outreach, and other student aid programs.

PHEAA's earnings are used to support its public service mission and to pay its operating costs, including administration of the Pennsylvania State Grant and other state-funded student aid programs. PHEAA continues to devote its energy, resources, and imagination to developing innovative ways to ease the financial burden of higher education for students, families, schools, and taxpayers.

PHEAA conducts its student loan servicing activities nationally as American Education Services (AES) and FedLoan Servicing (FLS).#LI-SH1

PHEAA is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Job Summary

Department

Legal Services

Location

Harrisburg, PA

Required Education

J.D. degree

Schedule

Monday through Friday, 8:00-5:00

Posting Period

09/07/2018 – Until Closed

Posting ID #

907936

Company info

Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA)
1200 N 7th Street
Harrisburg
Pennsylvania
United States 17102
Website : http://www.pheaa.org