Assistant Deputy General Counsel - Staff Attorney 3

About the role

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) General Counsel’s Office is hiring a senior advising attorney to support the work of DCYF’s Child Safety and Permanency Administration. This position will provide legal expertise in the substantive work of the administration and become the primary contact for its legal needs. The overarching goal is to ensure that Child Safety and Permanency programs are developed and administered consistent with applicable state and federal law and to explore creative legal solutions to support the administration’s role in advancing DCYF’s mission, vision, and values.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal research and advice on applicability and interpretation of all aspects of state and federal law relevant to Child Safety and Permanency programs.
• Provide legal analysis and legal advice with respect to the application of state and federal statutes, rules, and case law to fact situations.
• Conduct legal analysis and provide legal advice and practical assistance to staff and General Counsel’s Office to develop grant programs that include program integrity aspects enforceable by Department program integrity staff including the Compliance Office and Office of Inspector General.
• Advise, negotiate, and draft professional and technical contracts, master contracts, work order contracts, annual plans, amendments to contracts, requests for proposals, interagency agreements, and joint powers agreements as needed.
• Serve as the Minnesota Government Data Practices designee.
• Provide legal analysis, legal advice, and practical assistance to all aspects of rulemaking.

Minimum Qualifications

• JD degree from an ABA accredited law school.
• Current license and in good standing to practice law in Minnesota.
• One year of experience in a leadership role.
• Five years of experience as a practicing attorney (up to one year of which may be as a judicial clerk).
• Experience developing legal strategies and providing legal advice to executive level leadership.
• Experience with the legislative process and federal and state laws.
• Experience with Minnesota Government Data Practices Act or equivalent state or federal privacy laws.
• Litigation experience, which may include direct litigation experience, judicial clerking, and case adjudication as a criminal, civil, or administrative law judge.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of the Child Safety and Permanency administration’s programs, including but not limited to the child welfare system, Title IV-E, adoption and kinship assistance, ICWA/MIFPA, permanency supports, or the underlying federal and state laws for the administration’s programs.
• Experience working in a county/community/tribal social service agency.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with a range of stakeholders including government entities, advocacy groups and the public.
• Ability to adapt to new situations and a willingness to consider different perspectives.
• Variety of experiences working effectively with others from different backgrounds and cultures.

Benefits

• Paid vacation and sick leave.
• 12 paid holidays each year.
• Low-cost medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug plans.
• Fertility care, including IVF.
• Diabetes care.
• Dental and orthodontic care for adults and children.
• 6 weeks paid leave for parents of newborn or newly adopted children.
• Pension plan that provides income when you retire (after working at least three years).
• Employer paid life insurance.
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance.
• Tax-free expense accounts for health, dental, and dependent care.
• Resources that provide support and promote physical, emotional, social, and financial well-being.
• Training, classes, and professional development.
• Tuition reimbursement.
• Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program eligibility (may qualify for some positions).
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for work/life support including mental health, relationship challenges, grief and loss, finances, and legal issues.
• Daily living/convenience services including chore services, home repair, trip planning, and child/elder care.

Programs, resources and benefits eligibility varies based on type of employment, agency, funding availability, union/collective bargaining agreement, location, and length of service with the State of Minnesota.

Pay & Schedule

• Salary Range: $43.69 - $64.80 / hourly; $91,224 - $135,302 / annually.
• Work Shift: Day Shift (8:00 AM - 4:30 PM).
• Days of Work: Monday - Friday.
• Telework Eligible: Yes, 50% (within Minnesota or neighboring states).
• Travel Required: No.
• Location: St. Paul.
• Full/Part Time: Full-Time.
• Regular/Temporary: Unlimited.

This response is AI-generated, for reference only.