Assistant General Counsel (Contracts)
Houston Community College, Houston, TX, United States
The Assistant General Counsel (Contracts) is responsible for managing the daily operations of the Legal Contract Administration Department and assists the General Counsel by providing legal advice and counsel to the Board of Trustees, Chancellor, and College.
This position has responsibilities in areas of actual and potential legal liability, including reviewing and drafting contracts, negotiating contract terms and conditions, providing representation in internal administrative proceedings, interpreting federal and state laws and regulations and system policies, and developing and drafting policies and procedures.
Essential Functions
Serve as the primary contract administrator for the Office of General Counsel and subject matter expert for district‑wide contract products and services.
Responsible for all activities required to authorize OGC contract approvals.
Collaborate with all levels of management to gather, analyze, summarize, and prepare recommendations on contracts, sourcing strategies, and practices and procedures. Draft contracting policies and procedures.
Maintain current knowledge of regulatory, legislative, and industrial changes to ensure updates are completed within required time.
Provide leadership in developing key long‑term supply contracts to achieve continuous improvement.
Ensure that OGC contracts are awarded in accordance with HCCS Purchasing Policies and Procedures Manual.
Provide district‑wide expertise for OGC contracts management, maintain HCC’s contracts and entire contract process including oversight, compliance, accuracy, modifications, closeout, process improvement, project management, problem resolution, and adherence to procurement industry standards and federal and state law.
Draft, review, and negotiate contracts for the college.
Develop and revise standard college contract templates to maintain compliance with applicable laws, regulations, policies, and procedures.
Advise internal parties on procurement and contracting issues, including contract monitoring activities, risks, contractor performance issues, and vendor/supplier protests; research contract and procurement‑related legal issues.
Review contract documents for release in compliance with open records requests or related court orders.
Review and draft bill analyses and other related informational documents during the legislative session on contracting and procurement‑related legislation.
Develop training materials and provide training to college personnel regarding state contracting and procurement law.
With outside counsel, represent the College in procurement and contract‑related litigation matters; research and analyze legal issues; prepare legal memoranda, pleadings, briefs, notices, motions, orders; gather and review evidence, prepare discovery responses and affidavits, and otherwise assist in defense or prosecution.
Perform other duties, tasks and assignments as required.
Qualifications
J.D. degree from an accredited law school.
Five years combined experience in commercial transactions, contract drafting, contract negotiations, public procurement law, government law, education law, Texas Education Code, and lease drafting.
Five years experience working in a public procurement, higher education institution, Texas community colleges, school districts, or governmental entities (preferred).
Active membership in the State Bar of Texas.
Working Conditions
General office. Must be able to perform all job requirements with or without reasonable accommodations; remain in stationary position; move items weighing up to 25 pounds; operate job equipment; apply established protocols; access, input, and retrieve information from technology devices; communicate with others; may be required to work after hours, including weekends and holidays.
Security Sensitive
This job class may contain positions that are security sensitive and thereby subject to the provisions of Texas Education Code § 51.215.
EEO Statement
Houston Community College does not discriminate on the bases of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity and expression, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation or veteran’s status. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non‑discrimination policies:
Sandra B. Jacobson, J.D., M.Ed., SHRM‑SCP, Interim Director of EEO and Compliance & Title IX Coordinator, Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX.
Individuals with disabilities who require special accommodations to interview should contact (713) 718‑8565.
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This position has responsibilities in areas of actual and potential legal liability, including reviewing and drafting contracts, negotiating contract terms and conditions, providing representation in internal administrative proceedings, interpreting federal and state laws and regulations and system policies, and developing and drafting policies and procedures.
Essential Functions
Serve as the primary contract administrator for the Office of General Counsel and subject matter expert for district‑wide contract products and services.
Responsible for all activities required to authorize OGC contract approvals.
Collaborate with all levels of management to gather, analyze, summarize, and prepare recommendations on contracts, sourcing strategies, and practices and procedures. Draft contracting policies and procedures.
Maintain current knowledge of regulatory, legislative, and industrial changes to ensure updates are completed within required time.
Provide leadership in developing key long‑term supply contracts to achieve continuous improvement.
Ensure that OGC contracts are awarded in accordance with HCCS Purchasing Policies and Procedures Manual.
Provide district‑wide expertise for OGC contracts management, maintain HCC’s contracts and entire contract process including oversight, compliance, accuracy, modifications, closeout, process improvement, project management, problem resolution, and adherence to procurement industry standards and federal and state law.
Draft, review, and negotiate contracts for the college.
Develop and revise standard college contract templates to maintain compliance with applicable laws, regulations, policies, and procedures.
Advise internal parties on procurement and contracting issues, including contract monitoring activities, risks, contractor performance issues, and vendor/supplier protests; research contract and procurement‑related legal issues.
Review contract documents for release in compliance with open records requests or related court orders.
Review and draft bill analyses and other related informational documents during the legislative session on contracting and procurement‑related legislation.
Develop training materials and provide training to college personnel regarding state contracting and procurement law.
With outside counsel, represent the College in procurement and contract‑related litigation matters; research and analyze legal issues; prepare legal memoranda, pleadings, briefs, notices, motions, orders; gather and review evidence, prepare discovery responses and affidavits, and otherwise assist in defense or prosecution.
Perform other duties, tasks and assignments as required.
Qualifications
J.D. degree from an accredited law school.
Five years combined experience in commercial transactions, contract drafting, contract negotiations, public procurement law, government law, education law, Texas Education Code, and lease drafting.
Five years experience working in a public procurement, higher education institution, Texas community colleges, school districts, or governmental entities (preferred).
Active membership in the State Bar of Texas.
Working Conditions
General office. Must be able to perform all job requirements with or without reasonable accommodations; remain in stationary position; move items weighing up to 25 pounds; operate job equipment; apply established protocols; access, input, and retrieve information from technology devices; communicate with others; may be required to work after hours, including weekends and holidays.
Security Sensitive
This job class may contain positions that are security sensitive and thereby subject to the provisions of Texas Education Code § 51.215.
EEO Statement
Houston Community College does not discriminate on the bases of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity and expression, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation or veteran’s status. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non‑discrimination policies:
Sandra B. Jacobson, J.D., M.Ed., SHRM‑SCP, Interim Director of EEO and Compliance & Title IX Coordinator, Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX.
Individuals with disabilities who require special accommodations to interview should contact (713) 718‑8565.
#J-18808-Ljbffr