Description
The University of Toledo (UToledo) seeks a driven, innovative, and highly skilled Vice President for Legal Affairs and General Counsel (GC) to lead the Office of Legal Affairs. The University of Toledo is at a strategic inflection point, welcoming 19th President Dr. James Holloway effective July 15, 2025. The positive momentum of new leadership and recent achievements across the university offer an exciting opportunity for the next GC to participate in leading UT to new heights of success.
Founded in 1872, The University of Toledo became a member of the state university system of Ohio in 1967 and merged in July 2006 with the Medical University of Ohio (formerly Medical College of Ohio). UToledo is one of 14 state universities in Ohio, offering full and part-time courses of studies as well as day, evening, and online programs at the associate, bachelor, graduate, and doctoral levels. UToledo achieved Carnegie R1 research status in 2025 through innovative basic and applied research addressing the challenges of today and tomorrow while engaging students in research from the first year of undergraduate education through advanced graduate studies.
With beautiful main and health sciences campuses set within an urban environment, UToledo sets the stage for community members to feel connected and empowered personally, academically, and professionally. UToledo serves over 14,000 students within eight distinct academic colleges offering more than 200 undergraduate, graduate, professional and online degree programs. UToledo is recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a nationally ranked public institution and is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission.
The next GC will provide strategic legal advice and guidance to senior leadership, the Board of Trustees, and other stakeholders. Reporting directly to the President and serving on the President's Cabinet, the GC plays a critical role in safeguarding the University’s legal interests, ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations, while mitigating legal risks across all aspects of University educational, research, and clinical enterprise operations. As a highly visible member of the senior leadership team, this executive will be responsible for a wide range of legal, regulatory, compliance, labor, employment, insurance, and risk management matters, and manage internal and external legal resources in support of the overall priorities of the organization. The GC will be expected to provide a proactive and collaborative approach to the legal issues associated with a dynamic organization committed to shaping the future of higher education and community engagement.
The individual selected for this position will be a highly strategic, proactive attorney who is well-versed in the business dynamics and regulatory environment of higher education and healthcare practice. The GC will be innovative and entrepreneurial, capable of creating solutions that facilitate the University’s mission, vision, and strategies to ensure the success and growth of the organization. Working with the Board of Trustees, President, senior leadership and the legal, compliance, insurance, and risk management teams, the GC will be an active stakeholder and agent in continuously improving the structures and processes that advance the University of Toledo's objectives and opportunities.
The new GC will be an active practitioner of law. As such, they will lead and further develop the strong legal team in place at UToledo. It is important that the GC be a credible and visible University-wide leader who exhibits high integrity and the skills of listening effectively and partnering collaboratively. This is an outstanding opportunity to further develop and lead a strong legal team committed to the success of a robust learning community at an exceptional institution.
Candidates must bring a distinguished record of achievement and senior leadership experience. The successful candidate must have excellent academic credentials and a law degree from an ABA-accredited school of law, membership in the Ohio State Bar, or eligibility to practice law within the State of Ohio within one year of employment. They must have a significant breadth of legal experience in higher education and/or other non-profit entities gained in-house or through working closely with higher education, healthcare or not for profit clients.
All applications, nominations and inquiries are invited. Applications should include, as separate documents, a CV or resume and a letter of interest addressing the themes in the leadership profile available at https://wittkieffer.com/positions/201142.
WittKieffer is assisting The University of Toledo in this search. For fullest consideration, candidate materials should be received by September 5, 2025.
Application materials should be submitted using WittKieffer’s candidate portal at https://apptrkr.com/6370094.
Nominations and inquiries can be directed to:
Werner Boel, LL.M and Tyler Workman
UToledoGC@wittkieffer.com
The University of Toledo does not discriminate in its employment practices or in its educational programs or activities on the basis of race, color, religion, sex/gender, age, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, military or veteran status, the presence of a disability, genetic information, familial status, political affiliation, or participation in protected activities in its provision of employment and educational opportunities.
The University of Toledo provides reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you require accommodation to complete an application or for testing or interviewing, please apply online for an accommodation request at https://www.utoledo.edu/offices/accessibility-disability/.