Job Location: This position is in scenic downtown Jefferson City, Missouri at the Harry S Truman State Office Building, across the street from the Missouri State Capitol and a block from the Missouri Supreme Court.
Why you’ll love this position:The Office of Administration (OA) is the administrative and managerial arm of the Governor’s Office which provides services and support to state executive agencies in a broad range of areas. OA is seeking a highly skilled and experienced legal counsel to join the legal team. This position will play a critical role in providing expert legal advice and guidance to the department senior leaders, supporting a wide range of legal matters essential to the administration of statewide government functions. These areas include information technology, accounting, facilities management, personnel administration, procurement, budgeting, fleet management, and more.
- Work collaborativelywith the OA legal team, OA and statewide leadership to provide sound legal advice and interpretation related to both department and statewide government administration, including but not limited to employee matters, state budget law, open record laws, labor relations, construction and state purchasing law, prescription drug monitoring, and information technology.
- Collaborate with senior leaders to develop, review, and implement polices and procedures that align with state laws and promote efficient and effective government operations.
- Assist in managing and responding to subpoenas, discovery requests, open record requests, and other legal inquires. Provide support during litigation as required, which may include reviewing draft of potential pleadings filed by outside counsel, ensuring OA’s priorities are communicated during litigation, and making recommendations concerning any settlement offers or negotiations.
- Advise on labor relations issues, including negotiations, disputes, and personnel matters ensuring adherence to applicable union contract and state and federal law.
- Review contracts to ensure legal sufficiency and compliance with state procurement laws.
- Guide the department on issues related to open records, public meetings, and record retention laws to ensure appropriate responses to requests are made and the department maintains compliance with the law.
- Work closely with other state departments, agencies, and external partners to coordinate with legal strategies and provide unified legal guidance on statewide matters and legislation.
- Review proposed legislation to assess its potential impact on OA and state government operations. Provide legal analysis and recommendations to senior leaders. Draft or assist in drafting legislation that aligns with OA’s goals and ensures compliance with state laws and policies.
- Review and prepare responses for complaints or appeals directed to the Commissioner of Administration. Conduct a thorough analysis of the issues, apply relevant laws and policies, provide well-reasoned recommendations to support the Commissioner’s decision-making process.
- Conduct in-depth legal research on various issues impact OA and state government administration, and prepare comprehensive legal memos, memorandum of understandings (MOUs), and other legal documents. Ensure that all documents are clear, well-reasoned, and aligned with applicable laws and regulations.
- Draft administrative regulations and oversee their progress through the rule-making process. Ensure compliance with legal requirements, coordinate with relevant stakeholders including the Governor’s Office, and track regulations from initial drafting through final adoption, addressing any issues that arise during the review and approval stages.
- Maintain current knowledge of relevant legislation, case law, and administrative rulings as well as pending legislation and regulations pertinent to the operations of OA and state government.
- Other duties as assigned by the general counsel and deputy general counsel.
Minimum Qualifications - A Juris Doctorate from an accredited institution, a license in good standing to practice law in Missouri, and at least 5 years of experience practicing law.
- A successful criminal background check
Preferred Qualifications The candidate should be a thoughtful advisor with strong research skills who anticipates problems and identifies innovative ways to solve them; builds strong positive relationships within OA and with other state agencies; communicates clearly; is assertive but diplomatic; and is a good listener. Further, the candidate should have the ability to effectively prioritize work and get along well with all types of personalities.
The State of Missouri offers an excellent benefits package that includes a defined pension plan, generous amounts of leave and holiday time, and eligibility for health insurance coverage. Your total compensation is more than the dollars you receive in your paycheck. To help demonstrate the value of working for the State of Missouri, we have created an interactive Total Compensation Calculator. This tool provides a comprehensive view of benefits and more that are offered to prospective employees. The Total Compensation Calculator and other applicant resources can be found here .
