Item 9.B-November 4, 2011
ADMINISTRATIVE FACULTY POSITION DESCRIPTION QUESTIONNAIRE
To expedite and facilitate the PDQ review process, please send the PDQ and Org Chart electronically to
marshag@unr.edu for discussion and for initial review before routing PDQ for approval signatures.
Questions - call UNR Faculty HR at 682-6114
INSTRUCTIONS: See http://www.unr.edu/vpaf/hr/compensation/placement.html for complete instructions.
Incumbent(s) Name (if applicable):
Position #(s): 16629
Current Title: Assistant General Counsel, UNSOM
Current Range: 5
(JCC:77531;1C;CM3502;CC210;E)
Department: UNSOM General Counsel
College/Division: University of NV School
of Medicine / VP Health Sciences
Account #(s): 1201-119-001D; 1108-119-5031; 1201-119-2113
Action Proposed: (check all that apply)
( ) New position: Proposed Range:
Proposed Title:
( ) Title Change, Proposed Title:
( ) Proposed Reassignment from Range
to Range
(X) Revised PDQ only (no change in range or title)
JCC (Current
( ) Line of Progression (show titles below)
or new HR
Range:
assigned):
I certify that the statements in this description are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge.
____________________________________________________________
Employee’s Signature
__________________
Date
I/we have reviewed the statements in this form and they accurately reflect the job assignments.
____________________________________________________________
Immediate Supervisor’s Signature
__________________
Date
____________________________________________________________
Director/Chair/Dean
Thomas Schwenk
Vice President, Health Sciences / Dean, UNSOM
__________________
Date
Approved for Salary Placement Committee review.
____________________________________________________________
__________________
Pres / Vice Pres / Vice Prov Signature Jannet Vreeland
Date
Vice Provost and Secretary of University
Action Approved by the President (Completed by Faculty HR):
Position #: 16629
EEO Code: 1C
CUPA Code: CM3502
Exempt: Yes or No Census Code: 210
Job Class Code: 77531
Range: 5
Effective Date:
Approved Title:
ASSISTANT GENERAL COUNSEL, UNSOM
____________________________________________________________
__________________
Employee Signature
Date
(Employee signs and sends to HR for personnel file after PDQ has been “final” stamped for approval)
Rev: 12/1/2008
Position Description – Assistant General Counsel, UNSOM
Page 2
1. Summary Statement: State the major function(s) of the position and its role in the
university. Attach an organizational chart with positions, ranges, and names for the division
which reflects the position in it as well as those supervised in the department. (This section is
used for advertisement of the position.)
The Assistant General Counsel, University of Nevada School of Medicine (UNSOM), reports
administratively to the General Counsel of the School. The Assistant General Counsel assists in
providing advice and counsel to senior academic and administrative officers of the School concerning
the legal rights and obligations of the School and the Clinical Practice Corporations. The scope of the
role includes litigation, administrative and regulatory matters related to health care, whether in the
courts of the State of Nevada or the United States and in all federal and state administrative agencies.
The Assistant General Counsel conducts legal research and advise UNSOM officers on matters
pertaining to compliance with the state and federal laws affecting the School with particular emphasis
on litigation, contracts, business and health care law, employment law and dispute resolution, student
rights, and public/private partnerships. The position consults with the Chief of Compliance as needed
to resolve difficult legal compliance issues. The position is also responsible for other such legal or
administrative duties as may be assigned by the General Counsel. Concurrent private practice is
precluded.
2. List the major responsibilities, including percentage of time devoted to each. Provide
enough detail to enable a person outside the department to understand the job (percentage
first with heading and then bulleted information).
20% - Advising/counseling
 Issue timely advice and counsel
 Apply changing laws and regulations to changing facts using a high level of knowledge,
experience and judgment
30% - Research and Compliance
 Perform legal research and provides advice to UNSOM officials on matters pertaining to
compliance with state and federal laws that affect the School (emphasis on health
care/litigation/contracts/employment law/dispute resolution/student rights/public-private
partnerships)
20% - Litigation
 Conduct litigation which requires immediate decisions and actions without the ability to consult
with colleagues or supervisors
10% - UNSOM Legal Activities
 Assist in planning, organizing, and guiding the School’s legal activities
20% - Legal Documents
 Produce timely written legal documents which are subject to scrutiny by judges, the opposition,
the public and the press
3. Describe the level of freedom to take action and make decisions with or without
supervision and how the results of the work performed impact the department, division and/or
the university as a whole.
Level of Freedom:
The individual is expected to provide leadership in the performance of the responsibilities of the
position in order to insure the success and credibility of UNSOM’s general counsel office and the
Position Description – Assistant General Counsel, UNSOM
Page 3
reputation of UNR and NSHE. Decisions are made in consultation with the Vice President/Dean and
General Counsel, UNSOM. Recommendations must reflect research, legal expertise and
consideration of liabilities.
Impact:
Decisions and judgments made by this position are critical to all departments, divisions and the
School as a whole because employees of UNSOM seek and rely on advice and legal analysis of
counsel in making day-to-day operational decisions. Appropriate legal interpretations of federal and
state law and Board of Regents Code and Policy are essential to ensure that laws and policies are
adhered to and to protect UNSOM, the Clinical Practice Corporations, and staff for liability.
The decisions and judgments, if followed, can have a financial impact and enhance the School of
Medicine and the clinical practice groups’ ability to provide patient care medical education and
training. This may also affect the public perception of the institution and the system.
Erroneous advice, if followed, could have adverse financial or public impact on the institutions or the
system. It may also impact UNSOM’s and the practice groups’ ability to practice medicine and limit
their ability to provide medical education and training.
4. Describe the knowledge, skills (to include cognitive requirement and verbal and written
communication), and abilities (to include task complexity, problem solving, creativity and
innovation) essential to successful performance of this job (in bullet format).
Knowledge in:
 State and federal law, with particular emphasis on physician-patient relationships and
regulations related to the practice of medicine
 Nevada Board of Regents policies and procedures
 Bylaws, policies, procedures, and organization of the School of Medicine and the abovereferenced clients
 Litigation, federal and state law
Skills:
 Effective written and oral communication skills
 Legal analysis and research
 Must possess personal and professional integrity, excellent relationship-building skills and
political acumen
Ability to:
 Look at all aspects of a problem both practical and legal and arrive at an effective solution
 Interact with a wide diversity of individuals
5. Describe the type of personal contacts encountered in performing the duties of the job.
Explain the nature and purpose of these contacts: i.e., to provide services, to resolve
problems, to negotiate.
Internal
Vice-President and Dean, Senior
Associate Deans and
Department Chairs
Reason for Contact
To provide frequent advice, counsel, and problem resolution
Presidents (Practice
Corporations)
To provide frequent advice, counsel, and problem resolution
Position Description – Assistant General Counsel, UNSOM
Page 4
Chief Financial Officer, Director
of Contracting, Chief of
Compliance and Director of
Human Resources
UNSOM Faculty/Physicians and
administrative staff
Other employees
To provide frequent advice, counsel, and problem resolution
External
System Administration Legal
Staff and institutional counsel
Contracting parties and partners
Opposing counsel
Court staff and judges
Reason for Contact
To frequently provide coordination of legal services
To provide frequent advice, counsel, and problem resolution and
to discuss personnel issues and preparation of contracts
To provide frequent conduct of litigation (witnesses and litigation)
and to resolve problems
To discuss issues
To frequently conduct litigation and solve problems
To frequently conduct litigation
6. Indicate the minimum qualifications which are necessary in filling this position should it
become vacant. Please keep in mind the duties/responsibilities of the position rather than the
qualifications of the incumbent.
a.
Minimum educational level, including appropriate field, if any.
Bachelor’s degree and a law degree from a regionally accredited institution
b.
Minimum type and amount of work experience, in addition to the above required
education necessary for a person entering this position.
Bachelor’s Degree and a law degree plus seven years of experience in civil litigation,
including jury trials
Preferred Licenses or Certifications: None
c.
Indicate any license or certificate required for this position.
Must be licensed to practice law in the State of Nevada and admitted to
practice in federal courts