Assistant General Counsel

This is a full-time, benefits-eligible position, and the hiring salary is $175,000 - $205,000 , contingent on experience and qualifications. Exempt (salaried) positions under FLSA are not eligible for overtime.

MBA degree

3+ years of experience in major, planned, and principal gift fundraising with an institution of higher education and/or a mission-oriented nonprofit organization

Ability to demonstrate good judgment in dynamic situations

High emotional intelligence and the ability to think strategically

Demonstrated experience with Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint)

Proficiency with a fundraising CRM and a strong data-driven orientation

Drafts complex pledge and gift agreements and liaises with RMC. Supports the work of development officers in closing complex gift arrangements and works with external advisors and Rice officials to complete gift documents. Drafts endowment agreements when donor interests or gift situations require unique or complex solutions, especially those involving restrictions on use or designation. Assists in responding to donor, advisor, and fundraiser questions regarding the Long-Term Pool, including the timing of additions, distributions, taxes and assessments, investment returns, and other related matters. Provides advice regarding fund accounting and reporting. Liaises with RMC regarding acceptance and appropriate liquidation strategies for gifts of complex business interests.

Supports the work of development officers in closing complex gift arrangements and works with external advisors and Rice officials to complete gift documents.

Drafts endowment agreements when donor interests or gift situations require unique or complex solutions, especially those involving restrictions on use or designation.

Assists in responding to donor, advisor, and fundraiser questions regarding the Long-Term Pool, including the timing of additions, distributions, taxes and assessments, investment returns, and other related matters.

Provides advice regarding fund accounting and reporting.

Liaises with RMC regarding acceptance and appropriate liquidation strategies for gifts of complex business interests.

Enhances campus-wide risk management as it relates to development activities. Oversees and manages a reputational risk assessment and review process. Creates, oversees, and manages a standardized gift agreement template and review process across the university.

Oversees and manages a reputational risk assessment and review process.

Creates, oversees, and manages a standardized gift agreement template and review process across the university.

Provides gift planning, estate, and trust administration support. Assists in drafting charitable remainder trust and charitable gift annuity agreements and related documents and negotiates those agreements with donors and their advisors. Provides advice regarding potential tax implications to donors and the university associated with gifts that have complex or unusual structures. Represents the university in routine probate and trust administration matters. Provides strategic advice for charitable trust and deferred-giving programs. Assists in developing, refining, and interpreting gift-planning guidelines and policies. Reviews marketing materials as needed to ensure technical accuracy and appropriate clarity regarding the role of gift planners versus professional advisors.

Assists in drafting charitable remainder trust and charitable gift annuity agreements and related documents and negotiates those agreements with donors and their advisors.

Provides advice regarding potential tax implications to donors and the university associated with gifts that have complex or unusual structures.

Represents the university in routine probate and trust administration matters.

Provides strategic advice for charitable trust and deferred-giving programs.

Assists in developing, refining, and interpreting gift-planning guidelines and policies.

Reviews marketing materials as needed to ensure technical accuracy and appropriate clarity regarding the role of gift planners versus professional advisors.

Leads the Gift Policy Committee. Conducts due diligence on proposed gifts of privately held assets and other intangible personal property. Assists the Real Estate Office in conducting due diligence on proposed gifts of real estate. Assists the Executive Director of Gift Planning with evaluating proposed gifts of life insurance, intellectual property, and outdoor objects.

Conducts due diligence on proposed gifts of privately held assets and other intangible personal property.

Assists the Real Estate Office in conducting due diligence on proposed gifts of real estate.

Assists the Executive Director of Gift Planning with evaluating proposed gifts of life insurance, intellectual property, and outdoor objects.

Works closely with colleagues in the Office of General Counsel (OGC). Successfully communicates and translates the interests of fundraising and alumni offices across campus to colleagues in OGC. Collaborates with colleagues in OGC to establish, review, and update university policies and procedures that affect development efforts, such as naming approval requirements, memorial gift policies, and gift acceptance and disposition procedures.

Successfully communicates and translates the interests of fundraising and alumni offices across campus to colleagues in OGC.

Collaborates with colleagues in OGC to establish, review, and update university policies and procedures that affect development efforts, such as naming approval requirements, memorial gift policies, and gift acceptance and disposition procedures.

Works closely with the Data Services team in DAR. Coordinates and oversees the drafting and revision of gift receipt templates and other donor-facing materials and assists in revising policies and procedures. Assists in determining how to receive, liquidate, record, value, and process gifts of complex assets.

Coordinates and oversees the drafting and revision of gift receipt templates and other donor-facing materials and assists in revising policies and procedures.

Assists in determining how to receive, liquidate, record, value, and process gifts of complex assets.

Collaborates regarding international fundraising. Provides advice to fundraisers regarding international gifts, identifying potential issues and solutions. Oversees the creation and management of appropriate entities and/or vehicles for the receipt of offshore gifts and oversees engagement with third parties to accept offshore gifts as needed.

Provides advice to fundraisers regarding international gifts, identifying potential issues and solutions.

Oversees the creation and management of appropriate entities and/or vehicles for the receipt of offshore gifts and oversees engagement with third parties to accept offshore gifts as needed.

Collaborates regarding fundraising campaigns. Drafts campaign-counting guidelines and interprets their application. Drafts matching gift rule sets.

Drafts campaign-counting guidelines and interprets their application.

Drafts matching gift rule sets.

Performs all other duties as assigned, including, for example, the negotiation, drafting, and revision of contracts and proposed contracts in the interest of the university.

Requires extensive contact within the university at all levels, including senior administration

Requires extensive contact outside the university with donors, alumni, parents, and friends of Rice University, as well as financial advisors, accountants, and attorneys

Some travel may be required, typically not exceeding 5% and very unlikely to exceed 10% of work time.