Deputy General Counsel - General Counsel 1

About the role

The work you'll do is more than just a job. At the State of Minnesota, employees play a critical role in developing policies, providing essential services, and working to improve the well-being and quality of life for all Minnesotans. The State of Minnesota is committed to equity and inclusion, and invests in employees by providing benefits, support resources, and training and development opportunities. We offer a dynamic team‑oriented environment where everyone's contribution is key to successful outcomes. You will be part of a strong team dedicated to the Department of Employment and Economic Development’s (DEED) mission to empower the growth of the Minnesota economy for everyone. The Deputy General Counsel provides the Department with leadership and legal expertise to support the Department's compliance with state and federal laws. This position is telework eligible, based out of the St. Paul office, full‑time, and is a temporary unclassified appointment anticipated to last up to one (1) year.

Responsibilities

• Conduct legal research, writing, and analysis, and provide legal advice to the Department, including but not limited to the Department’s economic development division, on a variety of complex and/or novel legal topics. Such topics include, but are not limited to, complex agreements/commercial lending transactions and other complex finance deal structuring in which these transactions often include multiple creditors, securitization, abnormal collateral, loan workouts, Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) filings, and loan enforcement actions.
• Assist the General Counsel in coordinating and managing legal work throughout the Department.
• Provide legal direction regarding the Department's litigation, tort claims, worker's compensation matters, and administrative appeals.
• Assist with the Department’s rulemaking activities.
• Collaborate with other Department staff concerning implementation of legal policies and best practices.
• Provide legal training on a variety of topics to Department staff.
• Assume the duties of the General Counsel in case of absence.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Five (5) years of legal experience as a practicing attorney, which must include conducting legal research, writing, and analysis.
• Juris Doctorate (J.D.) from an ABA accredited law school.
• Must be licensed to practice law in the State of Minnesota and current with continuing legal education requirements.
• Commercial lending transactions and other complex finance deal structuring experiences including but not limited to multiple creditors, securitization, abnormal collateral, loan workouts, UCC filings, and loan enforcement actions.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in one (1) or more of the following areas or closely related field as determined by the hiring agency: employment law, government grants/contracts/acquisitions, rulemaking, tort claims, worker's compensation matters, civil litigation as lead counsel or co‑counsel.
• Knowledge of the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act and ability to analyze data, determine classification of data, and provide protection of not public data.
• Experience handling issues related to state and federal laws as they relate to DEED programs and services.
• Experience planning and delivering complex legal training to non‑legal audiences.
• Experience working with and/or at the Minnesota Attorney General's Office and/or State/Federal government agencies.
• Our employees are dedicated to ensuring cultural responsiveness. Preferred candidates will have a 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 to provide support for your family in the event of death
• Short‑term and long‑term disability insurance that can provide income if you are unable to work due to illness or injury
• Tax‑free expense accounts for health, dental, and dependent care
• Resources that provide support and promote physical, emotional, social, and financial well‑being
• Support to help you reach your career goals: training, classes, and professional development
• Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (some positions may qualify)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for work/life support
• Daily Living/Convenience Services: chore services, home repair, trip planning, child/elder care

Pay

Salary Range: $51.89 - $74.31 / hourly; $108,346 - $155,159 / annually

Schedule

Work Shift/Work Hours: Day Shift, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM; Days of Work: Monday - Friday