DEPUTY GENERAL COUNSEL OF BUSINESS,TRANSACTIONS, AND INNOVATION

For UCOP internal applicants, please login to the internal candidate gateway at: Jobs at UCOP as well through the Caldwell link in job description below.

position Base: Oakland

Location: UCOP – Franklin Building

The University has retained Caldwell Partners, a national executive search firm, to assist with this search.

UC OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

At the University of California (UC), your contributions make a difference. A world leader producing Nobel and Pulitzer Prize recipients with over 150 years of groundbreaking research transforming the world. Choose a career where you can leverage your knowledge, skills and aspirations to inspire and support some of the greatest minds in the world, and those who will follow in their footsteps. Working at the University of California is being part of a unique institution, and a vibrant and diverse community. At the University of California, Office of the President, we propel our mission through impactful work locally, in government centers and systemwide. We are passionate people, serving the greater good.

The University of California, one of the largest and most acclaimed institutions of higher learning in the world, is dedicated to excellence in teaching, research and public service. The University of California Office of the President is the headquarters to the 10 campuses, six academic medical centers and three national laboratories and enrolls premier students from California, the nation and the world. Learn more about the UC Office of the President

DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW

UC Legal supports the University’s teaching, research and public service mission through the timely delivery of ethical, cost efficient and high-quality legal services. These legal services include providing advice, interpretation of laws, regulations and policies, and assisting with the development of effective business compliance and risk mitigation strategies to facilitate the University’s complex operations; serving as a strategic business partner to UC’s clients; drafting and negotiating agreements, affiliations, commercial and real estate transactions; prosecuting and defending litigation.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Deputy General Counsel for Business, Transactions and Innovation (DGC-BTI) reports directly to General Counsel and Senior Vice President – Legal Affairs (GC) and is a member of the UC Legal leadership team. UC Legal is a systemwide division, which is headquartered in UC’s Oakland-based Office of the President (UCOP).

The DGC-BTI is a hands-on leader offering strategic guidance, thought partnership and substantive expertise across a wide array of legal practice areas. Through three Managing Counsels and a team of 26 experienced attorneys, the DGC-BTI provides leadership and supports the legal needs of UC’s Board of Regents, President, 10 campuses, six medical centers and three affiliated national laboratories in the following practice areas: business and corporate structures; procurement and public contracting; public finance and bond offerings; investments; energy; technology transfer, intellectual property and commercialization; international initiatives and collaborations; non-profit organizations, charitable giving; competitive bidding; natural resources and land use permitting/regulatory compliance; environmental health and safety; real estate; national laboratory contract management.

UC is central to many innovative research, business and legal issues facing academia, technology and industry. The successful candidate will be a problem solver navigating these advances and will support the University’s mission by empowering the legal team to develop a strategic and collaborative service and business model within the legal and University’s operating and business teams.

Responsibilities

55% Leadership & Innovation

• Evaluates whether a program or activity impedes or advances the University’s goals and develops strategies to support the University’s best interests and add value.
  Collaborates and makes recommendations in long range strategic direction for UC Legal Initiatives, programs and services.
• Establish the mission and strategic goals and objectives for legal service areas under their purview, in support of UC Legal’s strategic goals.
• Ensures goals and objectives are in compliance with regulatory and University requirements and are consistent with systemwide objectives and initiatives.
• Participates with UC Legal Leadership in Oakland and systemwide, and makes recommendations in long-range policy development, communications and high level analyses of new program development.
• Renders opinions to The Regents and senior management with respect to the legal implications of establishing or changing policy.
• Ensures effective performance standards and metrics are in place to assess and motivate staff, encourages an environment of individual growth and career development, recognizing and utilizing skills of others through clear, specific and timely performance feedback.
• Monitors, assesses, and identifies trends and emerging areas of law that impacts the University and ensure adequate staffing and legal support are defined and deployed.
• Recruits, mentors, and retains talented managers and employees; provides effective coaching, delegates effectively, and rewards superior performance.
• Develops and recommends creative and innovative approaches to addressing challenges and problems. Drives change initiatives by defining measurable outcomes, energizing others at all levels, and ensuring continuing commitment when faced with new initiatives.
• Drives change initiatives at all levels and across legal specialties.
• Collaborates to address and resolve concerns of various stakeholders.
• May lead a variety of administrative and/or management initiatives within UC Legal.
• Identifies and tracks metrics demonstrating continuous improvement.

30% Client Service

• Understands that UC is a large, complex organization with many internal and external clients.
• Carries out UC’s organizational philosophy to provide the best possible services in support of its mission (i.e., teaching, research and public service).
• Execution of goals and objectives that support the overall success of the local and systemwide strategic objectives including compliance with applicable regulatory and University requirements. Adheres to University principles of transparency and openness in working with all constituents.
• Demonstrates a proactive approach to establishing effective relationships with key internal (local and systemwide) and external constituencies; understands the diverse needs and agendas of various stakeholder groups; creates and fosters an environment that ensures collegiality and information sharing, while recognizing the need for timely decision making.
• Effectively communicates with administrators, students, faculty and staff.

15% Resource and Financial Management

• Develops strategic goals and objectives to achieve accountability and efficient stewardship of University resources (operational, financial, and human), in a manner consistent with systemwide objectives and initiatives.
• Participates in annual budget planning, leverages resources and forecasts operational needs in legal service areas under their purview.

Required Qualifications

• 15 or more years of complex, high level experience after receiving law degree spending a substantial portion of time practicing in the area.
• Experience in areas of policy and program, ethics and compliance. Fiscal and people management skills and experience necessary to assist the General Counsel in optimizing the personnel and resources required to respond to and anticipate the legal issues facing a large and complex enterprise.
• Experience providing counsel on, negotiating and documenting complex business transactions and combinations, and familiarity with the various tax, intellectual property, governance, financing and jurisdictional issues (particularly with regard to international transactions/alliances) associated with such matters.
• Experience in major law firm and/or in-house experience with a highly complex legal department.
• Demonstrated people leadership skills with the capacity to motivate a professional team to meet high client service expectations; ability to identify and develop the talents in others.
• Demonstrated integrity through the ability to make and communicate hard decisions; ability to influence others to obtain support for those decisions.
• Judgment, tact, and diplomacy to partner with senior teams to help them achieve their strategic objectives.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills to interact effectively and develop and maintain productive working relationships with an array of diverse interests, individuals, and constituencies.
• Strong commitment to customer service.
• Outstanding verbal and presentation skills, including the ability to communicate clearly, logically, and persuasively during interactions and utilize active listening skills.
• Outstanding written skills as defined by the ability to compose a variety of concise, informative written materials appropriate to a particular audience. Exceptional ability to draft accurate, complete and persuasive legal documents, such as pleadings, legal responses, affidavits, position statements and briefs.
• Ability to represent institutional concerns persuasively to internal and external parties.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with a team as defined by contributing to the successful outcome of initiatives, accountabilities, and operations of others.
• Proven ability to maintain confidentiality with regard to sensitive issues and information and exercise discretion in dealing with sensitive or potentially sensitive topics.
• Demonstrated understanding of ethical issues in a University setting.

Preferred Qualifications

• Three or more years of management experience of three or more attorneys/direct-reports.

education

• Advanced degree required.
• J.D. from an accredited law school preferred.

License/Certifications

• Must be a member in good standing of the California State Bar Association or pass the California State Bar if relocating from another state or jurisdiction within one year of employment required.
• Current California State Bar Association admission is strongly preferred.

Travel: May require business travel up to 50% of the time.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

The person hired will be required to reside within California and report to work on-site at UC’s Office of the President (UCOP) located in Oakland, CA on a regular basis. Current policy requires that a new employee work on-site at least three days per week on Tuesday and Wednesdays (“anchor days”), plus one additional day. In exceptional circumstances, approved by the General Counsel, candidates residing in or willing to relocate to California may be considered for a fully remote work arrangement.

SALARY AND BENEFITS

Salary: $401,500 – $474,000 annual, commensurate with experience

Benefits: For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University visit: Benefits of Belonging

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

HOW TO APPLY

The University has retained Caldwell Partners, a national executive search firm, to assist with this search.

Application information can be found at: caldwell.thriveapp.ly/job/1254. Applications should include a cover letter and resume.

For UCOP internal applicants, please login to the internal candidate gateway at Jobs at UCOP in addition to connecting directly to Caldwell Partners through the link noted above.

Please email confidential inquiries, nominations, or referrals to: UCOPDGCBTI@caldwell.com.

APPLICATION REVIEW DATE

The first review date for this job is October 5, 2025. The position will be open until filled.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Background Check Process: Successful completion of a background check is required for this critical position. Background check process at UCOP

Smoke Free Work Environment: The University of California, Office of the President, is smoke & tobacco-free as of January 1, 2014. UC Smoke & Tobacco Free Policy

As a condition of employment, you will be required to comply with the University of California Policy on Vaccination Programs, as may be amended or revised from time to time. Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.

As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct, are currently being investigated for misconduct, left a position during an investigation for alleged misconduct, or have filed an appeal with a previous employer.

• “Misconduct” means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant’s previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer.
  • UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
  • UC Anti-Discrimination Policy for Employees, Students and Third Parties
  • APM – 035: Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment

EEO STATEMENT

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.

The University of California, Office of the President, strives to make this job board accessible to any and all users. If you have comments regarding the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process, please contact us at: Accessibility or email the Human Resource Department at: epost@ucop.edu.