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The Position: The Vice President and General Counsel is a strategic, experienced, and business-oriented leader who oversees all legal affairs of the University and provides oversight of the people and culture (human resources), risk management, and compliance functions. In addition to traditional higher education legal matters, the Vice President addresses healthcare-specific legal and regulatory issues, including provider agreements, HIPAA compliance, and risk management. The Vice President will serve as a key member of the executive leadership team, responsible for leading SCU’s legal, compliance, and regulatory strategy while ensuring alignment with business goals and values. This role demands a proactive legal expert who is comfortable in a fast-paced, high-growth environment and who can lead both internal and external legal affairs.
Remote Opportunity: This position will require building strong relationships across the campus and nationally. Candidates for this position will have the option to work on campus, hybrid, or in a fully remote capacity. Travel to the main campus in Whittier and to future learning sites to build relationships and attend key events and meetings is expected. Travel costs will be budgeted for and covered by the University.
Responsibilities: Executive Leadership
Contribute to the management of SCU and its systemic development and success.
Shape and reinforce the University’s culture, values, and ethical standards.
As a member of the President’s Cabinet, discuss and develop SCU system policies and procedures.
Act as a key advisor in major business decisions.
Management
Oversee day-to-day activities of the people and culture (human resources), compliance, and risk management functions through delegation to department leaders, external consultants, or by direct effort.
Establish and maintain strong relationships within the departments reporting to the position and across the University.
Direct the development and maintenance of effective compliance programs and University policies.
Prepare agendas for meetings of the President’s Cabinet and Board of Regents in collaboration with the president, executive team, Board of Regents Chair.
Governance
Advise the Board of Regents and executive team on corporate governance matters.
Ensure compliance with internal bylaws, charters, and applicable governance standards.
Legal Affairs
Lead the strategy for all SCU legal matters across both its academic and healthcare operations.
Oversee the delivery of legal services and resources to accomplish corporate goals, strategies, and priorities.
Review and/or prepare contracts and other legal documents for execution by or on behalf of the University.
Identify and evaluate opportunities for mergers, acquisitions, or expansion.
Advise the Board and senior management and executives on legal issues, risk mitigation, and business decision-making, including regulatory changes.
Review, analyze, and respond to correspondence pertaining to a variety of legal matters.
Spearhead and oversee the University’s strategies to ensure compliance with all applicable legal and regulatory obligations, including, without limitation, Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, the Civil Rights Act of 1991, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (“ADA”), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 as amended (“ADEA”), the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (“FERPA”), the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1966 (“HIPAA”), and the General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”).
Develop and recommend strategic business solutions.
Maintain proper corporate interactions with the relevant local, state, and federal governmental bodies, legislatures, and the community at large.
Ensure compliance with all state higher education authorization requirements, including applications, renewals, reporting, and institutional approvals.
Coordinate with outside legal firms and manage legal affairs budgets.
Participate in/lead training on various legal matters for the Board of Regents, management, and/or staff.
Contribute to the overall success of the University by performing other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the University President or the Board of Regents.
Other Duties As Assigned
Qualifications:
Juris Doctorate (JD) degree from an American Bar Association (ABA) accredited law school.
Must have an active State of California law license in good standing OR active law license in good standing from a different US jurisdiction and must obtain a State of California law license within 12-16 months of starting employment.
Ten (10) years of progressively more responsible legal experience, with at least five (5) years of recent legal experience serving an institution of higher education or serving higher education clients.
Experience working with executive teams and boards of trustees.
Legal experience with non-profit entities and system structures preferred.
Desired Skills and Abilities:
Extensive knowledge of relevant laws and regulatory frameworks governing non-profit institutions of higher education.
Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills necessary to communicate with all levels of staff and a patient population composed of diverse cultures and age groups.
Excellent program development, management and leadership skills.
Demonstrated analytical and organizational, problem-solving, critical thinking, and conflict management and resolution skills.
Demonstrated ability to build effective teams and to lead, mentor and develop management.
Ability to clearly articulate complex legal issues and analysis orally and in writing.
Ability to manage and control the allocation of available resources to achieve projects and goals.
About the Institution: Southern California University of Health Sciences (SCU) is a regionally accredited, nonprofit institution specializing in healthcare education. SCU is dedicated to its core values of integrative whole health, evidence-based practice, health equity, and inclusivity.
The mission of Southern California University of Health Sciences (SCU) is to educate students as competent, caring, and successful healthcare practitioners and professionals. An SCU education equips students with the necessary skills and knowledge for their chosen profession while also providing a deep appreciation for integrative, whole-person health. SCU is one of the only universities in the world to combine western, medical, complementary and integrative, and traditional eastern approaches to healthcare.
SCU’s enrollment increased 79% in four years. During that same period, the percentage of students from underrepresented minorities in health-related sciences increased 36% and now represents 44% of the student population. The University is at an exciting inflection point as it intentionally positions itself to become one of the leading integrative health institutions in the nation. Plans to expand program offerings and to enhance interprofessional education opportunities for students are deliberate and strategic as SCU trains students to meet the urgent need to work across disciplines and professions and navigate a variety of philosophies, practices, and treatment options. The University holds institutional accreditation with the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) as well as several programmatic accreditations. Click here to learn more about SCU.
The University is proud of the SCU Health Center, a unique educational health and wellness facility residing in the heart of Whittier, California. SCU Health faculty work directly with clinical students, helping them treat each person as a whole – considering their biology, psychology, sociology, and environment to achieve better health.
The University is committed to providing excellence in academics, service, scholarship, and leadership through its diverse program portfolio:
Doctor of Chiropractic
Doctor of Occupational Therapy
Doctor of Whole Health Leadership
Doctor of Physical Therapy - CA (in development)
Doctor of Physical Therapy - AZ (in development)
Doctor of Medical Science (in development)
Doctor of Acupuncture & Chinese Herbal Medicine
Master of Science: Physician Assistant Program
Master of Acupuncture & Chinese Herbal Medicine
Master of Science in Human Genetics and Genomics
Master of Science in Medical Science
Graduate Certificate in Human Genetics and Genomics
Master of Science in Genetic Counseling (in development)
Post-Baccalaureate Health Education Certificate
Post-professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy - AZ (in development)
Additional programs planned in Exercise Science, Nutrition and more.
Why Consider the Opportunity:
Mission & Leadership. This is an opportunity to provide leadership for, and support the strategic growth of a University committed to integrative, whole-person health. The University’s mission of health care innovation is advanced by collaboration and defying silos.
Location flexibility. With the flexibility to choose whether to work remotely, hybrid, or on-site, this position lends itself to a unique blend of supporting education with a mission and maintaining a high quality of work-life balance.
Culture. The University has a collaborative, supportive and collegial environment. An Honor Roll recipient of the Chronicle of Higher Education’s Best Places to Work, SCU has built a community of shared respect and welcomes a diversity of ideas, beliefs, and cultures, creating the cornerstone of an engaging and thriving academic culture.
Generous time off. Exceptional vacation and paid time off including national holidays, the day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve, 3 floating holidays, 2 paid community service days, 96 hours of sick leave, and 4 weeks of paid vacation time.
Benefits. Health care plans are paid 100% for employees. Options to enroll family members are available at a reasonable cost.
To Apply: Confidential review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled; parties who apply by August 25 will be given first consideration. Please submit a PDF version of your resume and cover letter outlining your interest and suitability for this position.
For more information please contact: Caitlin Hummel Senior Consultant Summit Search Solutions, Inc. Direct: (585) 880-7550 chummel@summitsearchsolutions.com
Salary Range: The broad range is $235,000 to $255,000. This is a newly created position and, as such, compensation will reflect the individual’s depth of knowledge and academic leadership experience, particularly in fostering healthcare program development and management.
Southern California University of Health Sciences is an equal opportunity employer. Members of underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply.
