General Counsel

Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt)

General Counsel

Academic
Career & Executive Search is pleased to assist
MassArt in its search for General Counsel.

For full
consideration, please apply by
June 8, 2026.

This is a remarkable opportunity to lead and shape the future during a
vibrant
period of accomplishment at Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt). The General Counsel joins MassArt at a time of strong
institutional momentum, with a dynamic leadership team, a revitalized branding initiative, and the launch of a refreshed Strategic Partnership Plan. Under the guidance of an inspiring President,
MassArt continues its trajectory of transformative growth while remaining steadfast in its mission to cultivate artists, designers,
educators, and makers from diverse backgrounds who shape communities, economies, and cultures for the common good. MassArt is the nation’s
only independent public college of art and design, serving over 2,000 undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education students.

The
General Counsel will serve as the University’s chief legal and compliance officer, providing strategic legal
guidance to the President,
Board of Trustees, President’s Cabinet, and senior leadership on a broad and complex range of matters. As a
collaborative partner, the
General Counsel promotes sound decision-making and mitigates institutional risk, ensuring policies and practices
align with legal
requirements and best practices in higher education. This is a highly engaged role requiring a proactive,
solutions-oriented approach and
the ability to advise across a wide range of institutional issues, from employment and labor relations to
free expression, student matters,
and emerging regulatory challenges. The General Counsel oversees the University’s compliance program,
centralized policy management system,
and Enterprise Risk Management process, while advising on employment matters, governance, contracts,
and regulatory compliance, and managing
relationships with outside counsel.

This role is highly visible
across the institution, serving as a trusted and accessible advisor
on sensitive and high-profile matters. The General Counsel will be a
proactive partner to campus leaders, known for sound judgment, strong
communication, and the ability to translate complex legal issues into
clear, practical guidance. The General Counsel works closely with
Human Resources, Equal Opportunity/Title IX, and other administrative
units to support compliance, resolve complex issues, and mitigate
risk. The General Counsel brings exceptional judgment, integrity, and
discretion, with the ability to navigate complex legal landscapes in
support of the University’s mission.

This position reports to the President and supervises the Executive Director of Equal
Opportunity and Title IX, as well as
co-supervision of the Administrative and Special Projects Coordinator.

This is a fully on-site
position and
offers a generous benefits package.

KEY
RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide legal counsel and strategic guidance to the officers of the institution and other senior
  management on all legal matters relevant to a public higher education institution, including personnel law, policies, procedures, rules, and
  regulations, and laws pertaining to students, purchasing contracts, grants, Memorandums of Understanding, worker compensation, liability and
  insurance matters, public monies and purchases, affirmative action, and other laws and regulations
• Serve as a proactive,
  solutions-oriented advisor to campus leaders, providing clear, practical guidance on complex and sensitive issues across all areas of the
  institution
• Advise and support the Human Resources team with matters related to employment law issues (Titles VI, VII, and IX, ADA,
  FLSA, and FMLA), employment policies, benefits administration, matters of compliance with state and federal regulations, and recommendations
  for corrective actions as needed
• Oversee the University’s collective bargaining agreements, providing counsel to the president,
  senior administrators, and human resources team on personnel actions, discipline, and grievances
• Advise and support the Equal
  Opportunity Office, providing oversight and guidance
• Perform legal research and analysis regarding a wide range of legislative,
  regulatory, and other institutional matters and presents findings to the President, Cabinet, and Board of Trustees
• Oversee
  enterprise risk management and compliance committee to ensure that the University is following federal, state, and local policies, and
  regulations
• Participate in the development, review, and updating of policies and administrative procedures, as needed
• Inform the President, Cabinet and staff of changes to legislation, Board Policy, Administrative procedures and other issues impacting
  operations
• Examine, create and maintain draft agreements and legal documents of College’s operations
• Maintain
  confidentiality of privileged information and adhere to applicable privacy laws.
• Demonstrate sensitivity, understanding and respect
  of diverse populations within the workplace
• Represent or oversee the representation of the institution and upper management in
  judicial and administrative proceedings, and in negotiations with other state agencies
• Build and maintain strong relationships with
  state agencies, peer institutions, and external partners to inform legal strategy and leverage available resources
• Ensure that the
  College’s commitment to Justice, Equity and Transformation is incorporated in all College processes and programming

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Ability to foster a cooperative work
  environment
• Ability to
  provide sound legal advice and counsel to senior university officials on a wide range of legal and policy
  issues
• Knowledge of the
  range of applicable laws and regulations which impact on all facets of university policy and
  operations
• Ability to analyze and
  interpret issues and to prepare legal opinions
• Ability to communicate and interact with
  officials at all levels of government

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Juris
  Doctorate (J.D.) from an accredited U.S. law school and current license
  to practice in the State of Massachusetts, or eligibility to apply
  for admission at the time of application
• Minimum of ten (10)
  years of progressive responsibility in higher education or
  public-sector law, or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Knowledge of and familiarity with applicable regulations,
  laws and statutes governing employment and higher education, including but not
  limited to Titles IV, VI, VII and IX, as well as ADA, FLSA,
  and FMLA
• Experience operating in a collective bargaining
  environment
• Strong skills in legal research and analysis
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability
  to organize work to meet established deadlines while maintaining
  attention to detail
• Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain
  positive and professional relationships with a diverse range of
  internal and external community members with differing education, ethnic and
  socio-economic backgrounds
• Proven ability to serve as
  a trusted advisor to senior leadership, exercising exceptional judgment and
  discretion in complex and sensitive matters with significant
  institutional impact
• Maintains required training, licensure and/or
  certifications

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Previous work experience with higher education or
  public sector law with
  specialization in employment law and contract review
• Current or previous experience in the Commonwealth of
  Massachusetts

About the Institution

Founded in 1873, Massachusetts
College of Art and Design (MassArt), is the nation’s first and only independent, free-standing
public college of art and design. MassArt
is an inclusive community of thinkers, doers, makers, educators, innovators, and leaders striving
to shape the future through art and
design. Located in Boston’s hub of arts and culture along the Avenue of the Arts, MassArt enrolls 2,000
students and offers a comprehensive
range of undergraduate and graduate degrees in 18 disciplines, as well as continuing education and youth
programs.

MassArt is a
diverse and inclusive campus community that prepares artists, designers, and
educators from diverse backgrounds to shape communities,
economies, and cultures for the common good. The College offers twenty-two areas of
concentration in fine arts, design and art education,
and awards one undergraduate degree, the Bachelor of Fine Arts, and graduate degrees
including the Master of Fine Arts, the Master of Art in
Teaching, Master of Education, Master of Design Innovation, and the Master of
Architecture. The college also offers certificate programs in
Communication Design, Fashion Design, Furniture Design, and Industrial Design.

The College is accredited by the New England
Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), the National
Architecture Accrediting Board (NAAB) and the Massachusetts Department of Elementary
& Secondary Education (DESE) and is a member of the
Association of Independent College of Art and Design (AICAD) the ProArts Consortium and the Colleges of the Fenway, a
collaboration of five neighboring Boston-based colleges in the Fenway
area.

Living in the Area

With a
population of nearly
700,000, Boston often feels like a small town with the perks of city life. It is a cosmopolitan city offering cultural
diversity, a rich
culinary and arts scene, and proximity to world-class schools, employers and health care. It is on the cutting edge of
medicine and
technology but traditional in its love of sports and the city’s deep history. With a modern, attractive, and completely
walkable downtown,
Boston is dotted with Revolutionary period historic sites along the Freedom Trail and preserved old streetscapes mixed in
with modern
commercial office buildings.  The scenic Charles River offers endless opportunities for outdoor activities.

Arts and
culture amenities in downtown Boston and the entire surrounding area are exceptional, and most, like the Boston Pops and the
Museum of Fine
Arts, are well known beyond the city limits.

The surrounding suburbs offer an excellent
alternative to city living with access to a
well-used commuter rail system. Each neighborhood has its own town center that is functional,
accessible by the rail system, and filled with
local businesses.

Education, at all levels, is outstanding
in Boston and the surrounding areas. Public schools are nationally
recognized and are a driver for people moving to the area. Additionally,
the entire Boston Metro area is centrally located near
everything Massachusetts and the Northeast has to offer – skiing in New Hampshire,
beaches in Cape Cod, and trips to New York City are all
only 2 to 3 hours away.

Why Work at
MassArt?

Massachusetts College of Art and Design offers a dynamic,
inclusive, and creative work
environment with a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Health Insurance:
  Medical insurance along with
  life insurance, and long-term disability through the Commonwealth’s Group Insurance Commission (GIC). MetLife
  Dental and vision coverage is
  also offered through MetLife
• Retirement Plans: Participation in the Massachusetts
  State Employees’ Retirement
  System and additional optional savings plans including 403b and 457b plans
• Flexible Spending
  Accounts: Healthcare
  spending account as well as a dependent care assistance program. Both are pre-tax annual use or lose programs
• Employee
  Assistance Program: AllOne Health is our EAP provider offering a variety of free confidential assistance
  to all our employees
• Generous Paid Leave: Vacation, sick, and personal
• Other Leaves:
  FMLA, PFML, and other state
  or federal programs
• Commuter Transit and Parking Benefits: Qualified transportation
  program allows use of pre-tax
  dollars to purchase passes, a monthly subsidy for non-drivers, and access to Longwood Medical Area shuttles
• Professional
  Development: Access to training, workshops, and creative resources
• Campus
  Perks: Free admission to the
  MassArt Art Museum (MAAM), cultural events, and employee discounts at local museums
• Work-Life Balance: Wellness
  programs and flexible scheduling options (where applicable)
• Collaborative
  Culture: Join a mission-driven community
  committed to equity, innovation, and the arts

To Apply

For full consideration, please apply by June 8, 2026.

To be viewed
by the search firm, you must
apply directly at: https://acesrch.applicantstack.com/x/detail/a21esjy9jm8r

Please apply through the application link and do not email applications.

Applications will be reviewed as they are received
and should include a cover letter and curriculum vita. Ideally cover letters should
not exceed two pages. All applications are treated
confidentially.

Inquiries, referrals, and nominations
are also treated confidentially.

Inquiries and
questions: Please send to MassArtGC@acesrch.com.

Nominations and
referrals: Please send the nominee’s name, title, and contact information if available to nominations@acesrch.com.

Salary range for this
position: $190,000-$200,000.

Institutional Information

MassArt provides equal employment
opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color,
religion, gender, gender identity or expression,
age, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, disability, military status, genetic
information, pregnancy or a pregnancy-related
condition, or membership in any other legally protected class. MassArt complies with all
applicable federal, state, and local laws governing
nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the college operates. This
policy applies to all terms and conditions of
employment.

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