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Senior Assistant General Counsel

Our team members enjoy competitive salaries, a well-rounded benefits package, generous paid time off (including 25 holidays, vacation, and sick leave), and an array of professional development opportunities. We’re always looking to add to our team of more than 3,000 dedicated professionals who are leading online education worldwide with transformative digital solutions – personalized to every student.

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The Position:

Position General Summary:

The Senior Assistant General Counsel for the Office of General Counsel (“OGC”) provides legal services and legal advice to the Board of Trustees, CEO, and staff serving Florida Virtual School (“FLVS”) at the direction of and under the supervision of the General Counsel.

Essential Position Functions :

• Provide support to and represent Members of the FLVS Board of Trustees and FLVS officials and personnel in an array of matters, including litigation and administrative proceedings.

• Serve as lead or co-lead counsel and/or represent FLVS in various adversarial, administrative, and quasi-judicial proceedings and in civil litigation and appellate matters, including matters arising from or related to the Florida Administrative Procedures Act, as well as statutory, equitable, common law, contract, and constitutional claims.

• Represent FLVS in administrative and quasi-judicial hearings concerning:

  • employee discipline

  • student discipline

  • bid dispute protests

• Serve as special counsel to the Board and/or FLVS officials in administrative and quasi-judicial hearings as directed.

• Provide advice and counseling regarding Exceptional Student Support Services, including all matters related to IDEA, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and the ADA.

• Prepare legal opinions to FLVS CEO, Board, and senior administrative staff.

• Provide proactive and preventative legal counsel to FLVS officials and personnel.

• Maintain thorough and current knowledge of state and federal laws and regulations pertaining to the Florida K-20 public education system.

• Manage, monitor, and provide oversight of matters assigned to outside litigation counsel and consultants.

• Manage OGC legal support staff as directed by the General Counsel.

• Develop, monitor, and review contracts and agreements as directed by the General Counsel.

• Provide legal guidance and services to FLVS Board, CEO, and senior administrative staff regarding a wide range of legal issues, including employment, public records, open government/sunshine law, and purchasing and procurement, and student discipline matters.

• Provide guidance and counsel regarding risk management operations, claims processes, and insurance issues.

• Attend meetings, hearings, depositions, and interviews at the direction of the General Counsel.

• Demonstrate high levels of proficiency in text- and computer-based research.

• Assist with implementation and compliance with applicable laws and programs, including Title IX and Title II/ADA.

• Provide legal guidance as to risk management issues.

• Provide training to FLVS personnel and officials concerning legal issues, regulations, and/or processes.

• Monitor and provide advice on legislative and regulatory developments potentially impacting FLVS.

General Functions and Responsibilities:

• Serve as an ambassador of FLVS and OGC when communicating with Board Members, community representatives, parents, students, and representatives of other organizations.

• Maintain confidentiality of records and information protected from disclosure pursuant to state and federal law, regulation, legal privilege, and/or attorney work product doctrine.

• Consistently provide highly effective verbal and written communications.

• Demonstrate initiative in the performance of assigned duties.

• Demonstrate awareness of and compliance with Board policies and FLVS procedures.

• Demonstrate a commitment to teamwork.

• Pursue professional training, seminars, and conferences to maintain and continuously improve upon the skills needed to faithfully perform assigned duties.

• Attend meetings, hearings, interviews, and other events as needed and within normal work hours.

• Identify, develop, and recommend model practices and procedures which enhance the efficiency and performance of OGC operations.

• Perform professional obligations through effective work habits such as: meeting deadlines, honoring schedules, coordinating resources, and demonstrating respect for others.

• Perform other duties as directed by the supervising OGC attorney.

(These essential functions are not to be construed as a complete statement of all duties performed. Employees will be required to perform other job-related duties as required.)

Requirements :

• J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school

• Member in Good Standing with the Florida Bar

• 10 years of experience practicing law

Preferred Experience:

• Graduation within top 10% of ABA-accredited law school class.

• Service as a federal or state court law clerk.

• Service as the Parliamentarian of a school board or other public agency board(s).

• Three or more years of legal practice within field of public education or state/local government law.

• Demonstrated knowledge of state and federal laws and regulations pertaining to public education and governmental agencies.

• Demonstrated success in planning, directing, and supervising the work of other attorneys and paraprofessionals in a public or private legal office setting.

• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain positive and effective working relationships with peer, superior, and subordinate officials, and personnel.

• Demonstrated ability to independently perform and direct sophisticated legal analyses.

Knowledge, abilities and skills:

• Working knowledge of state and federal laws and regulations pertaining to public education

• Ability to zealously represent FLVS and its officials and personnel in array of litigation, administrative proceedings, and arbitration/alternative dispute resolution matters.

• Ability to plan, direct, and supervise the work of subordinate employees

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships

• Effective verbal and written communication

• Solid teamwork and interpersonal skills

• Ability to work with and through people to establish goals, objectives, and action plans

• Proficiency in online and text-based legal research

CORE COMPETENCIES FOR SUCCESS:

COMMUNICATION SKILLS

Clearly and effectively conveys and/or presents information verbally; summarizes what was heard to mitigate miscommunication; Shares ideas and perspectives and encourages others to do the same; Informs others involved in a project of new developments; Disseminates information to other employees, as appropriate; Effectively uses multiple channels to communicate important messages; Keeps supervisor well informed about progress and/or problems in a timely manner; Writes in a clear, concise, organized and convincing way for a variety of target audiences; The written message is consistently error-free.

CLIENT FOCUS

Prioritizes Clients (internal and external) and their needs as primary and is dedicated to meeting their expectations; Develops and maintains Client relationships; builds credibility and trust; Quickly and effectively solves Client problems; Provides prompt, attentive service in a cheerful manner; adapts to changing information, conditions or challenges with a positive attitude; Incorporates Client feedback into delivery of service to provide the best experience possible for the Client; Actively promotes FLVS in community by serving as a FLVS ambassador or volunteer.

INTERPERSONAL SKILLS

Relates well with others; Treats others with respect; Shares views in a tactful way; Demonstrates diplomacy by approaching others about sensitive issues in non-threatening ways; Considers and responds appropriately to the needs, feelings and capabilities of others; Fosters an environment conducive to open, transparent communication among all levels and positions; Takes the initiative to get to know internal and external Clients.

FUNCTIONAL /TECHNICAL EXPERTISE

Has the skills, abilities, knowledge and experience to be successful in functional area of expertise; Dedicates time and energy to keeping abreast of the latest information related to area of expertise and technology; Picks up on technology quickly; Does well in technical courses and seminars; Produces high quality work in an organized and timely fashion.

INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTOR COMPETENCIES FOR SUCCESS:

PEER RELATIONSHIPS

Finds common ground and solves problems for the good of all; Ability to represent his/her own interests while being fair to others; Solves problems with peers with minimal or no distraction to operations; Observed as a team player and cooperative; Easily gains trust and support of peers; Encourages collaboration; Exhibits candor with peers.

CREATIVITY

Develops new and unique ideas; Easily makes connections among previously unrelated matters; Creates and contributes valuable insights during brainstorming sessions; Takes calculated risks; Is not afraid to try new things.

SELF KNOWLEDGE

Seeks feedback; Gains insight from mistakes; Is open to constructive criticism; Is not defensive; Proactively seeks to understand his/her strengths and areas for growth; Applies information to best serve FLVS and its stakeholders; Recognizes how his/her behavior impacts others and incorporates insight into future interactions.

PLANNING

Accurately assesses length and difficulty of tasks and projects; Sets realistic objectives and goals; Breaks down work into the achievable steps; Develops schedules and assignments; Anticipates and adjusts for problems and roadblocks; Measures performance against goals; Evaluates results.

ORGANIZING

Uses his/her time effectively and efficiently; Concentrates his/her efforts on the more important priorities; Can attend to a broader range of activities as a result of organizing time efficiently; Can marshal resources (people, funding, material, support) to get things done; Can orchestrate multiple activities at once to accomplish a goal; Arranges information and files in a useful manner.

PROBLEM SOLVING

Uses rigorous logic and methods to solve difficult problems with effective solutions; Probes all fruitful sources for answers; Sees out hidden problems; Conducts honest analyses; Looks beyond the obvious and doesn’t stop at the first answer.

DRIVE FOR RESULTS

Can be counted on to exceed goals successfully; Results- oriented; Steadfastly pushes self and others for results; Exhibits energy and excitement to meet and overcome challenges; Consistently seizes opportunities; Consistently exceeds goals.

Physical Requirements and Environmental Conditions:

• Occasional travel is required to attend meetings, training sessions and conferences; location may vary and may require overnight stays

• Light physical activities and efforts required working in an office environment

(Reasonable accommodations will be made in accordance with existing ADA requirements for otherwise qualified individuals with a disability.)

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About Florida Virtual School

We believe people thrive when they’re given freedom, trust, and the opportunity to make a difference. That’s why we empower our talented instructors and dedicated support staff with something unique—equal parts flexibility and support. With opportunities at Florida Virtual School, FlexPoint , and Florida Scholars Academy , we inspire students to believe the sky’s the limit and support schools across the nation.

Our Commitment

At Florida Virtual School (FLVS) and FlexPoint we value our dedicated team of instructors and support staff. Our values of excellence, innovation, community, balance, and communication create a work environment in which everyone feels confident and appreciated. Our organization and team members do more than just talk about our values; we live them and rely on them to be the foundation of everything we do.

We Value Veterans

Chapter 295, Florida Statutes, sets forth certain requirements for public employers to accord preferences, in appointment, retention, and promotion, to certain veterans and certain family members of eligible veterans who are Florida residents. The relevant portions of the law apply to “the state and its political subdivisions.” School districts are subject to the requirements of Chapter 295 and preference will be given accordingly.