Assistant General Counsel

Salary

See Position Description

Location

Ramapo College, Main Campus - Mahwah NJ

Job Type

Full-Time

Job Number

202300374

Core

Executive Core

Department

General Counsel

Opening Date

02/20/2026

FLSA

Exempt

Bargaining Unit

Description

About Ramapo College of New Jersey

Ramapo College of New Jersey is the state’s premier public liberal arts college, where students build the confidence, skills, and perspective to thrive in a changing world. Located on a breathtaking 300-acre campus in the foothills of the Ramapo Mountains and just a short trip from New York City, Ramapo blends the best of both worlds: natural beauty, state-of-the-art facilities, and access to one of the world’s most dynamic job markets.

With approximately 6,000 students, Ramapo offers a personalized, student-centered experience defined by a 16:1 student–faculty ratio, small classes, and faculty who mentor, challenge, and inspire. Students can explore over 40 undergraduate majors and a growing portfolio of graduate programs in fields such as Business Administration, Data Science, Nursing, Educational Leadership, Social Work, Special Education, and the Doctor of Nursing Practice. Across every discipline, Ramapo emphasizes hands-on learning through internships, co-ops, study abroad, faculty research, service projects, and real-world experiences that prepare students for meaningful careers.

Our campus is home to cutting-edge academic spaces, including the Anisfield School of Business, the Adler Center for Nursing Excellence, the Sharp Sustainability Education Center, the Berrie Center for Performing and Visual Arts, the Les Paul Music Studio, and the Peter P. Mercer Learning Commons. Ramapo’s award-winning residence halls are consistently ranked among the best in New Jersey.

Nationally recognized for excellence and value, Ramapo is ranked #1 among New Jersey public colleges by College Choice, named a Best Regional University North by U.S. News & World Report, and celebrated by Kiplinger’s, Money Magazine, Colleges of Distinction, and Victory Media’s Military Friendly rankings.

At Ramapo, students don’t just earn degrees, they discover their strengths, explore new possibilities, and build the foundation for bold futures.

Working at Ramapo

Ramapo College of New Jersey has been recognized as a “Great College to Work For” where our employees are at the heart of everything we do. We foster an equitable and fair workplace where ideas are welcomed, contributions are valued, and individuals are encouraged to grow both professionally and personally. Employees benefit from meaningful work, opportunities for development, and the chance to make a lasting impact on students’ lives every day.

At Ramapo College, we believe excellence is achieved through teamwork, respect, accountability, innovation, and a shared commitment to learning. Our all-hands-on deck culture requires leadership at all levels to ensure we achieve our mission, implement our goals, and invest in our future one student at a time. We are proud to offer a supportive environment that values well-being, and continuous improvement. We believe in being bold, being kind, and being good teammates, making Ramapo not just a place to work, but a great place to belong.

Ramapo College offers outstanding benefits through the New Jersey State Benefits system, generous PTO, professional development opportunities, wellness programs, tuition discounts for employees and their dependents, and much more.

Salary Range - Manager - D32
$142,000-$160,000

JOB SUMMARY:
Reporting directly to the Vice President & General Counsel, the Assistant General Counsel will be responsible for handling a wide range of legal issues and will have significant experience with contract review and employment matters. In addition, the Assistant General Counsel will have experience with student affairs and transactional matters or a willingness to develop expertise in these areas.

Examples of Duties

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Interprets legal regulations and College policies and procedures.
Assists the VP & General Counsel in the handling of administrative and legal proceedings before federal and state agencies and courts.
Negotiates, reviews, revises, drafts and interprets a wide variety of contracts and agreements.
Negotiates and drafts the settlement of claims and/or litigation.
Assists the General Counsel with providing strategic legal advice to senior leadership regarding emerging issues in higher education law and regulatory compliance.
Monitors and interprets developments in laws and regulations affecting the College’s operations and advises accordingly, including through trainings and presentations, as needed.
Support contract lifecycle management, including approvals, amendments, renewals, and recordkeeping.
Assists in the development of policies and procedures that impact faculty, students and staff.
May perform other related legal duties as assigned.
Assists in ensuring the College’s compliance with federal and state laws, including but not limited to the ADA, Section 504, FERPA, Title VI, Title VII, Title IX, the Jeanne Clery Act, and the New Jersey State Policy Prohibiting Discrimination, including policy development and updates, and provide support regarding internal complaints and investigations required by the New Jersey State Policy Prohibiting Discrimination in the Workplace.
Assist with legal requests and demands, such as complaints from state and federal agencies, letters from counsel, New Jersey Open Public Records Act requests, and subpoenas and other court orders.

Qualifications

REQUIREMENTS:

Proven ability in legal and non-legal research.
Proven ability in analytical thinking, and clear and organized oral and written communication.
Proven ability to prioritize and manage responsibilities across multiple timely deliverables.
Proven interpersonal skills and excellent judgment.
Proven organizational skills and strong attention to detail.

Must have strong oral and written communication skills
Must demonstrate an ability to work independently and as a team.
Demonstrated leadership, organization and management skills, and a broad portfolio of leadership accomplishments.
Demonstrated ability and sensitivity in working effectively with people of diverse backgrounds and perspectives.
Experience conducting conflict management/resolution, intergroup dialogue preferred.

EDUCATION:
Juris doctorate from an ABA-accredited law school.
EXPERIENCE:
A minimum of 3 years of experience at a college or university legal department; a law firm working for complex clients; a relevant nonprofit institution; or a relevant federal or state government department or agency. Experience with contract law and knowledge of regulatory compliance preferred.

Supplemental Information

EEO Statement:
Ramapo College is an Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. Ramapo has a long history of advocating, advising, and supporting diversity, equity, and inclusiveness. Examples can be found in its mission statement, strategic plans, degree and course offerings, community outreach programs, and other diversity programs. Ramapo’s commitment to diversity and inclusion is infused across all facets of the College; where the environment is welcoming, dedicated to social justice, respectful of freedom of expression, focused on educating and having an ongoing conversation regarding cultural competence and the benefits and importance of diversity.

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