Paralegal/Office Manager

Position Overview

The Paralegal/Office Manager is responsible for the general management of the Office of the General Counsel, coordination of external legal counsel, litigation management, and ensuring the efficiency of the services rendered by the Office of the General Counsel.  Additionally, the Paralegal/Office Manager is responsible for coordinating the attorneys’ review and response to requests for legal services including but not limited to legal review of contracts, records requests, litigation requests, investigations, etc.

The Paralegal/Office Manager is responsible for the day to day management of the office, which requires complex office management functions and high level administrative support, researching and investigating technology which will increase the efficiency of the Office and to ensure communication with the constituencies the office serves.  The Paralegal/Office Manager must have a strong professional demeanor, be reliable and trustworthy, especially when managing confidential and sensitive material and information. 

Primary Responsibilities:

• Assist in the day-to-day operations of the Office of the General Counsel. 
• Provide administrative support to the attorneys in the Office of the General Counsel. This includes scheduling for, communication with, and clerical support.
• Maintain the Office’s legal matter/contract management and legal document filing systems.
• Coordinating contract in-take and basic review, including communication with campus departments regarding inquiries about the review process and status of contracts, and maintenance of a basic database to track in-take of proposed contracts and status of review and responses.
• Analyze and prioritize administrative work flow for the Office and coordinate special projects as assigned, including research, preparation and management of various employee training programs, and implementation of policies and procedures for the College.
• Assist in investigation of internal complaints, responses to subpoenas and court orders, and review of discovery information and production documents.
• Act as a liaison between the Office of the General Counsel and other departments of the College, external attorneys, and organizations.
• Review and process claims with insurers, and coordinate coverage of same. 
• Basic legal research regarding areas of employment, higher education, non-profit management, and tax law. 
• Manage and process confidential information with discretion, and execute the highest level of customer service.
• Assist in the management of litigation holds.
• Archive and organize historical college documents.
• Prepare a variety of legal documents, letters, memoranda, reports, presentations and materials; proofread for accuracy.
• Monitor and reconcile Office’s budget, prepare reports and ensure budget related documents meet deadlines and compliance guidelines.
• Process purchase requisitions, check requests, invoices and contracts to ensure timely payment.
• May be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically delineated in this summary.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required, paralegal certificate a plus, with three years of administrative office experience within legal environment or in higher education administration.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills.
• Proficiency with MS Office Suite.
• Proficiency with contracts and records management software/tools.
• Demonstrated strong professional demeanor and an ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Must work well under pressure and under deadline.
• Must be highly organized and detail oriented with the ability to multitask.
• Must be able to adjust to changing job requirements and priorities in order to meet dynamic needs and workflow.
• Ability to take initiative and assume responsibility for assigned tasks.
• Excellent customer service skills.
• Must be able to interact with many different levels of authority and process confidential materials and information with the highest degree of discretion.

Licensing: 

• MA Notary preferred.
• Paralegal certificate a plus. 

Application Materials Should Include:

• Resume
• Cover letter stating motivation and interest in the position, citing experience relevant to the qualifications and including experience with, and commitment to, our Catholic Augustinian mission, our values, and our desire to be a more diverse, equitable and inclusive institution of higher learning.

This position is subject to the successful completion of a criminal background check.

Vaccinations and Remote Work 

This is an on-campus position as employees are essential in order to provide a fully on-campus, residential college experience for our students and the community.

The COVID-19 vaccine and booster for which an individual may be eligible are highly recommended for students, faculty and staff. Merrimack College does not require proof of COVID vaccination for enrollment, employment or to be a guest on our campus. 

Statement on Our Mission

Merrimack College is a Catholic Augustinian institution of higher education committed to building a culturally and racially diverse community. Our mission is to enlighten minds, engage hearts and empower lives and is inspired by our Catholic faith and the Augustinian tradition of seeking truth through inquiry and dialogue.

Merrimack College seeks candidates who understand, respect and can contribute to Merrimack’s Catholic and Augustinian mission and values and advance our work in the area of diversity, equity and inclusion. We strongly encourage applications from members of underrepresented groups. All candidates should describe in their application previous experience related to equity, diversity, and inclusion, as well as how they will engage in fostering a culture that supports our Catholic and Augustinian mission and our values of diversity, equity and inclusion.

About Merrimack College

The only Catholic, Augustinian institution of higher education in New England, Merrimack College is a private, independent, coeducational institution with more than 4,000 undergraduate and some 1,400 graduate students from 32 states and 37 countries. The College features more than 100 career-focused undergraduate, professional and graduate programs, all taught by exceptional faculty who are passionate about their subject and student success. The College comprises five schools: liberal arts, science and engineering, nursing and health sciences, the Winston school of education and social policy, and the Girard school of business. The College’s suburban 240-acre campus is approximately 25 miles north of Boston in the towns of North Andover and Andover, Massachusetts. Merrimack is a Master’s Colleges and Universities/Larger Programs (M1) institution in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Merrimack is one of the fastest growing educational institutions in the country and has steadily climbed up in the U.S. News & World Report’s ranking of Best Colleges, coming in 34th out of 175 schools ranked in the Regional Universities North category in 2022. Merrimack also ranked 3rd in the Most Innovative Schools category. Merrimack is a NCAA Division I athletic institution.

Merrimack College is an Equal Opportunity Employer.