Chief Legal Officer

The New England Conservatory, an independent not-for-profit institution, is recognized internationally as a leader among music schools, educating and training musicians of all ages from around the world. With approximately 750 music students representing more than 40 countries, NEC cultivates a diverse, dynamic community for students, providing them with performance opportunities and high-caliber training by 225 internationally esteemed artist-teachers and scholars. NEC pushes the boundaries of making and teaching music through college-level musical training in classical, jazz, and Contemporary Improvisation. It offers unique interdisciplinary programs such as Entrepreneurial Musicianship and Community Performances & Partnerships that empower students to create their own musical opportunities. As part of NEC's mission to make lifelong music education available to everyone, the Division of Expanded Education delivers training and performance opportunities for children, pre-college students, and adults.

New England Conservatory (NEC), a global leader in music education, seeks an experienced and strategic Chief Legal Officer. Jointly reporting to the President and Chief Executive Officer, this position will serve as an active contributor in Executive Council + Chief meetings and serve as a critical resource for the institution.  The Chief Legal Officer will provide comprehensive legal guidance and act as a key strategic partner to ensure the organization operates in a safe, ethical, and legal manner, adhering to a wide range of federal and state statutes, controlling judicial rulings, regulations, and guidance documents, implementing internal policies to ensure compliance with all applicable legal obligations. 

This role requires a forward-thinking and collaborative legal professional who can navigate complex challenges, display strong interpersonal skills while interacting with NEC’s leadership and community, mitigate risks, and contribute to the Conservatory's continued success and stability in the fulfillment of its mission.

Key Responsibilities:

• In-House Counsel:

  • Serve as the in-house legal advisor to the Executive Council, Chief Officers, and Board of Trustees, providing candid, independent, and practical advice

  •  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. 

  • Advise on and monitor federal, state, and local, legislative, and regulatory developments impacting higher education.

  • Advise on employment, labor, benefits, faculty and staff relations, workplace investigations, executive employment matters, and other issues affecting NEC’s workforce.

  • Manage and advise on litigation, administrative proceedings, claims, investigations, subpoenas, legal holds, and other disputes involving the institution.

  • 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.
    

• Compliance and Risk Management:

  • 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 statutes, 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 Civil Rights.

Qualifications:

• 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 8 years of progressively responsible legal experience; in-house counsel experience within a higher education institution or a relevant non-profit organization 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.

• Demonstrated expertise in a broad range of legal areas, including higher education law, contract negotiation, intellectual property, and employment law.

• Demonstrated proficiency in using artificial intelligence tools effectively and responsibly for legal research, analysis, drafting, and other professional tasks; ability to evaluate and verify AI-generated work; and experience advising on the legal, ethical, privacy, intellectual property, and institutional implications of AI use.

• 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.

• Experience with enterprise risk management and emergency planning preferred.

• Commitment to the mission of New England Conservatory.

NEC is an Equal Opportunity Employer that recruits and hires qualified candidates without regard to race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, disability, or veteran status.

Annual Clery Report

In accordance with the federal Clery and Campus SaVE Acts, New England Conservatory of Music (NEC) commits to providing all current and prospective students and employees with access to the annual Campus Security and Fire Safety Report. This report will provide the reader with a record of statistics regarding crimes that were reported in the NEC community during the previous three years as well as College policies and procedures, in compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act. This report may be accessed here. A paper copy can be requested by contacting NEC's Director of Public Safety at 290 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115.