Senior Counsel

California Governor's Office of Emergency Services; Sacramento (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free Parking

On-site Gym

Excellent CalPERS pension

Generous leave

Health, dental & vision insurance

Job summary

California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) seeks a senior attorney to serve as Attorney III in the Legal Services Division. The role demands high-level expertise, independent discretion, and the ability to advise on complex legal issues affecting public safety and fiscal policy.

Under the Assistant Chief Counsel, you will lead complex cases, provide strategic governance, and support departments across Cal OES.

Qualifications

• Requires California State Bar License.
• Attorney III represents the lead, complex legal matters with minimal supervision.
• Experience in emergency management, homeland security, or public safety is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide complex program advice and legal opinions.
• Support policy makers with timely legal guidance.
• Provide personnel and administrative support within Legal Services.
• Support emergency response and recovery initiatives.
• Assist in litigation matters and related strategies.
• Ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

Skills

Advanced legal research

Litigation strategy

Contract review

Public policy understanding

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Tools

Westlaw/Lexis

Job description

Are you looking for an exciting and fast-paced career?

Join the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) and be part of an organization that serves as a leader in emergency management and homeland security through dedicated service to all. We are looking for enthusiastic and motivated individuals to join our team. If you are interested in a challenging opportunity in a high-energy, team-oriented environment, you are encouraged to apply.

Job Summary

Under the general direction of the Assistant Chief Counsel, Legal Services II Division the Attorney III independently performs the most complex and sensitive legal assignments and serves as the expert/lead attorney in the Cal OES Legal Services Division.

The position requires a high level of expertise on the demanding legal issues that affect Cal OES, ability to act with minimal supervision, and consistently exercise independent professional discretion on a diverse variety of problematic and complex legal issues and strategies. The legal advice provided may possibly have significant public safety, policy, and fiscal ramifications outside of the department and state government.

Essential Functions

• Complex Program Advice and Legal Opinions
• Support to Policy Makers
• Personnel and Administrative Support
• Emergency Response and Recovery Support
• Litigation Support
• Compliance

Physical Demands: The senior counsel must be able to negotiate effectively and conduct crucial litigation; work cooperatively with a variety of individuals and organizations and maintain the confidence and respect of others; and work effectively under pressure.

This position requires a California State Bar License.

You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.

Department Information

The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive culture by hiring and retaining individuals from a variety of backgrounds and personal experiences. Our employees are empowered with the tools and resources necessary to meet our mission, while continuing to expand equity and inclusion efforts at all levels of the organization. We are committed to the spirit and work required to ensure the safety and resilience of every community in California.

The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) is an emergency response, homeland security, and disaster recovery agency and as a result, is a dynamic and exciting place to work in a team-oriented environment. Cal OES provides training to enhance the understanding of emergency and incident management to all employees.

In the event of an emergency, employees may be contacted and requested to report to work in the event of an emergency. This contact may be outside of your normal working hours (evenings/nights, weekends, and holidays). This service may require irregular work hours, work locations other than the official duty location, and may include duties other than those specified in your official position description. Travel requirements in support of emergency operations may be extensive in nature (weeks to months), with little advance notice, and you may be required to relocate to emergency sites.

More information may be found here: https://www.caloes.ca.gov/office-of-the-director/policy-administration

Department Website: http://www.caloes.ca.gov

Desirable Qualifications

In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate:

• Experience in emergency management including planning, preparedness, prevention, response, and recovery.
• Experience with employment and labor law, including but not limited to employee counseling and discipline, reasonable accommodation, workers’ compensation, leaves of absence, and workplace investigations.
• Experience conducting administrative hearings, including but not limited to hearings before the State Personnel Board, the Department of Industrial Relations, and the Employment Development Department.
• Experience drafting, reviewing, and providing legal advice related to contracts and procurements.
• Experience drafting, reviewing, analyzing, negotiating, and/or editing legal documents including legal opinions, contracts, data sharing agreements, legislation, regulations, and legal notices.
• Experience interpreting and advising on the principles and applications of the California Public Records Act, the California Administrative Procedure Act, the Fair Political Practices Act, the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act, and related regulations and cases interpreting these laws and regulations.
• Experience handling or monitoring litigation.

Cal OES employees are eligible for a number of benefits and working for us is a great opportunity to join a committed team. Benefits include but are not limited to the following:

• Free Parking
• On-site Gym and Locker room
• Electric Carport
• Excellent CalPERS state pension plan
• 401(k) and 457(b) Plans
• Flexible Schedules
• Generous paid time off
• Health, dental & vision insurance for the employee or the employee's family
• Investment in careers development
• Located near many local eateries, financial institutions, and the Light Rail Station