New England Conservatory of Music · 4 months ago
Chief Legal Officer and Special Advisor to the President
Boston, MA, US
Full-time
Onsite
Lead/Staff, Director/Executive
$170K/yr - $180K/yr
5+ years expNew England Conservatory (NEC), a global leader in music education, seeks an experienced and strategic Chief Legal Officer and Special Advisor to the President. This role involves providing comprehensive legal guidance and acting as a key strategic partner to ensure the organization operates in a safe, ethical, and legal manner, while also addressing compliance and risk management across the institution.
EducationMusic
Responsibilities
Serve as the in-house legal advisor to the President, Executive Council, Chief Officers, and Board of Trustees, frankly and fully advising on all matters impacting risk management and legal compliance, including emerging and developing law and agency guidance
Anticipate and identify potential legal risks, developing and implementing effective and timely strategies to mitigate them
Identify, oversee, and manage outside counsel relationships as needed, including the effective management of budgets in legal assignments and oversight of litigation matters to ensure efficiency and economy in external counsel’s representation
Bring legal expertise and perspective to enterprise risk management, actively participating in risk identification, assessment, and mitigation efforts across the institution, including all necessary policy implementation and associated training of NEC personnel
Draft and review contracts and institutional policies and procedures
Play a central role in emergency planning and management, ensuring legal considerations are understood and integrated into all preparedness and response protocols
Provide legal expertise and guidance on compliance matters related to federal and state statutes and regulations, including Title VI, Title VII, Title IX, ADA/Section 504, FERPA, and all related state statues, as well as laws and regulations impacting academic freedom, data privacy and security, advancement directives, and non-profit governance
Oversee NEC’s Coordinator for Title IX and Title VI
Act as a trusted legal advisor to the President on sensitive and high-priority institutional strategy and initiatives
Support the President, Executive Council, and Chief Officers in developing and implementing policies and procedures that align with NEC's mission and legal obligations
Advise on and support government relations initiatives, monitoring federal and local, legislative, and regulatory developments impacting higher education
Coordinate special projects/initiatives as assigned by the president
Qualification
Required
Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an ABA-accredited law school
Active license to practice law in Massachusetts or ability to gain admission within a reasonable timeframe
Minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible legal experience; in-house counsel experience within a higher education institution or a relevant non-profit organization preferred
Demonstrated expertise in a broad range of legal areas, including higher education law, contract negotiation, intellectual property, and employment law
Proven ability to provide strategic legal and business advice to executive leadership
Exceptional analytical, communication (written and verbal), and interpersonal skills
Ability to build strong relationships and collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders
High degree of integrity, professionalism, and discretion
Commitment to the mission of New England Conservatory
Preferred
Membership and Participation in the National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA) is not required, but will be assessed in the evaluation of credentials
Experience with enterprise risk management and emergency planning preferred
Company
New England Conservatory of Music
New England Conservatory educates and trains musicians of all ages from around the world, drawing on the talent and deep reservoir of experience of our distinguished faculty.
201-500 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Growth StageLeadership Team
Adam Calus
Director of Partnerships for Expanded Education
Grace Allendorf
Administrative Director of Community Performances and Partnerships
Recent News
2025-10-07
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