Vice President and General Counsel

Introduction

The Vice President and General Counsel (VPGC) serves as the chief legal advisor to the LSU Foundation Board of Directors and executive leadership team, providing guidance on legal, regulatory, governance, and employment law matters. Reporting to the President & CEO, the VP/GC analyzes and interprets applicable laws and Foundation policies, manages legal risk, and delivers practical solutions supporting the Foundation’s mission and operations.

Overview

The Vice President and General Counsel (VPGC) serves as the chief legal advisor to the LSU Foundation Board of Directors and executive leadership team, providing guidance on legal, regulatory, governance, and employment law matters. Reporting to the President & CEO, the VP/GC analyzes and interprets applicable laws and Foundation policies, manages legal risk, and delivers practical solutions supporting the Foundation’s mission and operations.

The VP/GC oversees the review, drafting, and negotiation of a wide range of contracts and legal documents, collaborates with development officers on gift agreements, planned giving and complex bequests, and provides counsel on human resources matters, including compliance with employment and labor laws. This role requires sound judgment, discretion, integrity, and collaborative leadership across diverse stakeholders and issues.

Responsibilities

• Review and draft contracts and a broad range of legal documents (e.g., gift agreements, professional services contracts, cooperative endeavor agreements, and investment-related agreements), ensuring compliance with applicable laws and LSU Foundation policies while supporting effective contract management practices.
• Partner closely with development officers to structure and document philanthropic donations that advance the university's mission while ensuring legal compliance, donor intent, and institutional interests are protected.
• Provide legal counsel regarding charitable giving vehicles, including charitable remainder trusts, charitable lead trusts, gift annuities, donor-advised funds, real estate, and other complex assets.
• Advise leadership on human resource–related legal matters, ensuring compliance with applicable employment and labor laws and mitigating organizational risk.
• Provide legal support and coordination for all legal activities relating to LSUF operations and activities (e.g., corporate management and compliance, gift agreements, asset management, trust administration, and public-private projects).
• Oversee all legal demands and litigation relating to LSUF operations and activities; represent LSUF, its subsidiary entities, directors, and officers; and coordinate with insurers in covered claims.
• Manage and oversee the legal structures of projects associated with the LSU Real Estate and Facilities Foundation, the LSU Property Foundation, and all other affiliate organizations and subsidiaries.
• Keep abreast of and informed on best practices and current developments relevant to LSUF operations and activities, including legislation, court decisions, and legal trends that could impact LSUF.
• Collaborate with executive leadership to identify areas of potential liability, reputational injury, or obstruction of LSUF’s mission, and implement risk management practices (e.g., annual assessments, resource allocation) to mitigate such impacts; incorporate assessments of mission‑critical risks and risk management into strategic decision‑making.
• Collaborate with executive leadership to design and implement legal, regulatory, and ethical compliance procedures and best practices (e.g., preservation of confidentiality, avoidance of conflicts of interest, whistleblower protection).
• Manage the solicitation, review, and coordination of automobile and property insurance quotes, ensuring comprehensive coverage evaluation, competitive pricing, and alignment with organizational risk management requirements.
• Act as counsel and chief legal advisor to the governing boards of LSUF and its affiliated entities, the President & CEO, and executive leadership.
• Supervise the Assistant to the Vice President and General Counsel and Board Administrator and the Assistant General Counsel.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the President & CEO and/or Board.

Requirements

Qualifications Required:

• Juris Doctorate from a law school approved for accreditation from the American Bar Association
• Member of the Louisiana State Bar Association, in good standing
• Significant senior level experience in providing legal guidance to nonprofit organizations and governmental entities across a broad range of transactional litigation and organizational matters.
• Proven technical expertise in contract review, drafting, negotiation, and in legal research and analysis.
• Proven ability to identify and anticipate legal, organizational, and ethical issues, and to develop and advise as to appropriate responses and alternatives.

Qualifications Preferred:

• Demonstrate understanding of the legislative and regulatory environment affecting higher education, including the relationship between the LSU Foundation and LSU, as well as familiarity with laws and regulations governing the University's interactions with affiliated governmental entities, including public records, open meetings, ethics, and cooperative endeavor requirements.
• Proven ability to advise on complex public‑private partnerships and multi‑party collaborations, balancing legal, regulatory and institutional considerations to achieve strategic objectives.
• A working knowledge of non‑profit corporate law and governance, tax exemption compliance, copyright law and rights clearances, governmental relations (lobbying), and laws related to fundraising, employment, trademarks, real estate.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, think strategically, effectively plan and problem solve, and to implement positive change when called for.
• Highly effective written and verbal communication skills with the ability to clearly articulate legal issues, and relate directly, openly, and effectively to internal and external constituencies.
• Ability to deal tactfully with varied people, situations, and ideas, and to present persuasive and authoritative recommendations to all levels of the organization.
• Demonstrate high level of judgment and integrity, discretion, and maintenance of confidentiality in dealing professionally with sensitive matters.
• Demonstrate strong work ethic, efficiency, and adaptability in managing multiple priority tasks under pressure, both independently and as part of a team.

DESIRED COMPETENCIES

Collaboration: Works collegially with others, cooperating in both interpersonal and team relationships; fosters enthusiasm and maintains mutual trust, candor, and respect.

Adaptability: Responds to changing circumstances by being innovative and altering behavior to better fit different situations; successfully works with new colleagues; willing to be flexible; remains calm in stressful situations.

Critical Thinking: Practices objective rather than subjective modes of reasoning and action. Maintains perspective when assessing qualitative and quantitative information. Appropriately challenges and questions common beliefs.

Timely Decision Making/Judgment: Demonstrates the ability to make judicious and effective decisions.

Effective Communication: Shares and receives information using clear oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills.

Relationship Building : Develops, maintains, and strengthens relationships with others outside of the organization.

Emotional Intelligence: Identifies and manages the emotions of self and the emotions of others.

Tenacity : Achieves a desired outcome in the face of setbacks, obstacles, or challenging circumstances.

Attention to Detail/Accuracy: Focuses on paying attention to all details and aspects of a job or process to avoid substandard outputs.

Professionalism : Thinks carefully about the likely effects on others of one’s words, actions, appearance, and mode of behavior.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This position has supervisory responsibilities and is responsible for staff performance.

Work Environment Requirements

• This position is primarily performed in a professional office environment.
• The role routinely uses standard office equipment, including computers, telephones, printers, and related technology.
• The position may involve occasional travel, meetings, or attendance at events, as applicable to the role.
• May be required to work extended workdays, evenings, and weekends to meet deadlines.

Physical Demands

While performing the essential functions of this job, the employee may be required to:

• Sit for extended periods of time
• Stand or walk occasionally
• Use hands and fingers to operate a computer keyboard, mouse, and other office equipment
• Communicate clearly in person, by phone, and electronically
• Lift or move materials weighing up to 20 pounds occasionally (if applicable)

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those required to perform the essential functions of the job.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).