Posting Timeline
PPS strongly encourages and recommends everyone who is able, to be vaccinated and remain current on the COVID-19 vaccine.
This job is open until filled. Applications will be reviewed as received. Portland Public Schools reserves the right to make a hiring decision at any point during the posting period.
Position Details
Portland Public Schools (PPS) is seeking talented people from diverse backgrounds and experiences to lead change and inspire PPS students. At PPS, every employee, despite having different roles, is an educator. We hope to attract talented educators who model the core PPS Educator Essentials. With the District's focus on eliminating systemic racism and its adverse impact on student learning, we seek to hire individuals who bring to our district a deep commitment to racial equity and social justice. To learn more about Portland Public Schools, please visit the District website.
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BASIC FUNCTION:
In partnership with the General Counsel, ensure the delivery of strategic, thoughtful, and collaborative legal advice across the District, including to the Superintendent and Board of Education. In addition to providing leadership and legal advice across the District, this position will serve as primary legal counsel on employment and labor matters.
REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES:
This summary provides examples of typical tasks performed in this position.
- Direct the preparation of legal opinions across departments and to District leadership; interpret and draft documents, contracts, collective bargaining agreements, rules and regulations, resolutions, applications, and other legal or quasi-legal papers upon request.
- Serve as primary employment and labor counsel, working directly with the Human Resources team on employee relations; labor grievances, collective bargaining agreements, and arbitrations; benefits; leaves; and other areas of legal and contractual compliance.
- Partner with Senior Leadership in the formulation and development of policies, procedures, and programs to assure legal compliance; advise on unusual trends or problems and recommend appropriate and strategic response.
- Identify emerging legal issues impacting K-12 education and provide guidance on its impact to the District and recommended response.
- Attend and provide legal advice at department meetings, meetings of the Board of Education, and other meetings as directed; render advice on public records and public meetings.
- Participate in the planning, organization, and implementation of long- and short-term initiatives, programs, and activities to align the legal department with organizational strategic initiatives.
- Manage the selection and delivery of outside counsel to oversee litigation and arbitration matters as necessary; monitor and review the work performed by outside counsel; develop strategies for formal and informal, cost-effective resolution of disputes.
- Provide legal assistance in the drafting of State legislation proposed by the District; interpret the impact of legislation on the District.
- Prepare and maintain a variety of legal, narrative, and statistical reports, records, and files related to assigned activities.
- Demonstrate an understanding of and commitment to racial equity and social justice, including consistent and thoughtful application of the District Racial Educational Equity Policy, Equity in Public Purchasing and Contracting and other policies; participate in staff development, in-services, and trainings related to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace and in K-12 education; model inclusive and self-reflective behaviors; develop, recommend, and implement improvements to business and educational practices with understanding of their impact in a racially and culturally diverse community.
- Participate in and facilitate meetings, workshops, seminars, and in-services; represent the District in a variety of local community-based organizations and coalitions to effect positive dialogue and relations in school legal matters; participate in and attend local, state, and national organization meetings and conferences relating to school legal issues.
- Provide leadership within the District's legal team, including providing strategic advice and thought partnership to the General Counsel, coaching and developing team members, and
- leading strategic initiatives to improve service to students and staff, business process, legal compliance, and/or legal operations.
- Manage a team of legal professionals. Lead through a process of providing ongoing high-quality guidance to develop the skills of team members. Ensure clear alignment of team member goals with department and organizational objectives. Responsible for all technical aspects of leading a team including, hiring and conducting annual performance reviews.
- Assess community relations impacts of decisions and partner with leaders on formulating responses and strategies.
- Provide responsive, collaborative, strategic, and timely service to internal clients.
- Engage and integrate internal and external stakeholders across schools and departments, law enforcement, and local agencies to support a comprehensive and holistic approach to preventing and responding to discrimination, harassment, and other workplace misconduct.
- Perform related duties as assigned.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CLASS:
The Assistant General Counsel is the professional-level classification in the District legal series job family. Employees provide direct legal services to the District, recognizing the unique challenges associated with the law in public agencies, large urban school districts, and community stakeholders. The Assistant General Counsel is sensitive and responsive to diverse populations, cultures, ethnic groups and works collaboratively and efficiently in the rendering of legal opinions and providing advice to District leadership.
EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS:
Knowledge of:
- State, federal, and local laws, regulations and court decisions applicable to K-12 public schools and public entities, generally
- Principles and practices of public administration, intergovernmental relations, and school business operations, methods and practices to provide legal services to an administration and governing body in a large urban public agency, including laws related to public meetings and public records
- Labor and employment law
- Constitutional and administrative law
- Current economic, political, and sociological conditions affecting school districts
- Complex challenges of large urban school districts and their communities
- Principles and practices of negotiation and collective bargaining
- Techniques and principles of high-quality customer service
- Principles and practices of effective leadership, management, and supervision
- Ethnic, cultural, geographic, and socio-economic diversity of the populations served by the District
- Current technologies, statistical, financial, spreadsheet, and presentation software
- Effective written and oral communication and presentation techniques
Required Skills:
- Demonstrated high-quality skill in fact-finding, analysis, problem solving, writing, presentation, consulting, and conflict resolution techniques to identify problems and recommend solutions.
- Strong drafting and negotiation skills
- Proven written and verbal communication skills to explain complex issues to all levels of the organization
Education and Training:
A Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school and license (or ability to obtain a license) to practice law in the State of Oregon is required.
Experience:
A minimum of eight (8) years of experience in the practice of law or equivalent combination of law practice and work in areas of labor and employment is required. Experience in private practice, government, nonprofit sector, representing school districts or in-house counsel for an urban public jurisdiction is considered relevant legal experience.
Preferred Experience:
- Experience working with a large urban school district (Approximately 10,000+ students).
- Previous exposure to or experience in the education sector.
- Previous experience in managing attorneys and legal support staff.
Any other combination of training and experience which demonstrates the applicant is likely to possess the required skills, knowledge, and abilities may be considered.
Special Requirements:
Positions in this classification require the use of a personal automobile and possession of a valid driver's license.
Work hours will routinely include irregular hours, evening and weekend meetings, and District functions.
WORKING CONDITIONS:
The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Persons with certain disabilities may be capable of performing the essential duties of this class with or without reasonable accommodation, depending on the nature of the disability.
Work Environment: Work is performed primarily in an office environment or in a virtual environment. Work hours occasionally include irregular hours, evening and weekend, meetings and district functions.
Physical Demands: Primary functions require sufficient physical ability and mobility to work in an office; dexterity of hands and fingers to operate a computer keyboard and other technologies and office equipment; sitting, standing and walking for extended periods of time; kneeling, bending at the waist; lifting, pushing, pulling and carrying equipment, supplies and materials weighing up to 25 pounds; repetitive hand movement and fine coordination to use a computer keyboard; emotional stability to work effectively under pressure and to keep all aspects of the job under control; hearing and speaking
to exchange information in person or on the telephone; seeing to read, prepare and assure the accuracy of documents.
CLASSIFICATION AND SALARY:
This position is classified as Assistant General Counsel on the Senior Leadership 100 Salary Schedule FLSA Exempt.
Salary Range: $160,000 - $185,000
Work Year: 260 days
Benefits Information
Portland Public Schools (PPS) offers several competitive and comprehensive benefit packages to employees. Fringe benefits include medical, dental, vision, prescription, life and disability insurance, employee assistance program, 403(b) retirement savings plan and various leave and professional development programs. Depending on the insurance option selected by the employee, there may be an employee contribution toward insurance.
Portland Public Schools is a public employer and participates in the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS/OPSRP). Eligible employees are required by statute to contribute 6% of salary on a pre-tax basis to OPSRP/IAP, after serving six months under a PERS employer.
For more information about additional benefits or compensation options by employee group, please visit our website at: https://www.pps.net/Page/1635