General Counsel

Closing Date: 25th May, 2024

Description:

Job Description:
This position will be located in Oklahoma City, OK.
Basic Purpose
Positions in this job family serve as the primary legal counsel for the agency, board, or commission for the state of Oklahoma. Incumbents in these positions will provide legal guidance, support, and assistance to the executive director, senior-level staff, and the organization and oversee a wide range of legal issues ranging from real estate, tax, transactions/anti-trust, regulatory compliance, intellectual property, employment/labor, ethics, litigation, contract and contract negotiations, and other agency-related legal matters. Positions in this job family manage and supervise the organization's Legal department.
Major Work Duties

• With a high level of expertise, provides legal advice and guidance to OSBI employees regarding legal issues that directly impact the services performed by the Bureau, is able to respond to requests for legal guidance competently and timely. Provides input for issues related to criminal law, employment law, the legislative process, and civil law as appropriate and necessary. Represents the agency, commission, and employees in litigation and before boards, commissions, or the courts. (Directed by Title 74 O.S. 150.21.)
• Works in partnership with the OSBI's Executive Staff (especially the PIM) in interacting with the Oklahoma legislature. Monitors bills that could impact the OSBI and offers changes or modifications that are appropriate; drafts legislation requested by the OSBI; and presents information to the legislature at informal meetings, formal meetings, committee meetings, etc. when requested.
• Participates as a member of the OSBI's Executive Staff. Actively engages in meetings and participates in strategic planning for the agency. Works directly with our partner agencies when necessary to further the agency's mission.
• Drafts and promulgates administrative rules, statutory proposals, policies and procedures that impact the OSBI and/or OSBI Commission. Produces educational/informative material for internal and external users. Presents material at OSBI training events as requested.
• Supervises the OSBI's legal team. Assists in the proper staffing of the unit, recruiting, and hiring employees for the unit, and developing members of the unit.

Typical Functions:

• Responsible for the administration and completion of all activities and functions of the agency's legal department.
• Collaborates with internal stakeholders to identify and mitigate legal risks.
• Provides legal guidance and counsel to the Executive Director, other senior-level executive staff, and others in matters of agency programs, operational and administrative programs and processes.
• Answers questions concerning agency policies, programs and reports.
• Assists director with the implementation and administration of program changes in state and federal regulations.
• Oversees external legal counsel and represent the organization in legal proceedings when necessary.
• Drafts and reviews legal documents, and ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
• Prepares all administrative reports detailing departments performance status.

Level Descriptor

• Level I: This position serves as the agency's primary legal counsel for an agency, board, or commission that is limited in size, scope, and complexity. This is the leadership level for an agency's Legal department where incumbents are at a senior manager or director level. The incumbent will have responsibility for the direction and supervision of all legal matters, legal staff, managers, supervisors or individual contributors within the department. This position has responsibility and oversight of all administrative management responsibilities, such as budget, human resources, and other administrative management functions, programs, or operations. The incumbents are responsible for or the oversight of the planning, distribution and reviews of subordinate tasks as well as their performance evaluation, training and time off approvals. Position is provided with technical and administrative freedom to plan, develop and organize all phases of the work necessary for its completion within broad program guidelines.
• Level II: This position serves as the agency's primary legal counsel for an agency, board, or commission that is moderate in size, scope, and complexity. This is the leadership level for an agency's Legal department where incumbents are at a senior manager or director level. The incumbent will have responsibility for the direction and supervision of all legal matters, legal staff, managers, supervisors or individual contributors within the department. This position has responsibility and oversight of all administrative management responsibilities, such as budget, human resources, and other administrative management functions, programs, or operations. The incumbents are responsible for or the oversight of the planning, distribution and reviews of subordinate tasks as well as their performance evaluation, training and time off approvals. Position is provided with technical and administrative freedom to plan, develop and organize all phases of the work necessary for its completion within broad program guidelines.
• Level III: This position serves as the agency's primary legal counsel for an agency, board, or commission that is large in size, scope, and complexity. This is the leadership level for an agency's Legal department where incumbents are at a senior manager or director level. The incumbent will have responsibility for the direction and supervision of all legal matters, legal staff, managers, supervisors or individual contributors within the department. This position has responsibility and oversight of all administrative management responsibilities, such as budget, human resources, and other administrative management functions, programs, or operations. The incumbents are responsible for or the oversight of the planning, distribution and reviews of subordinate tasks as well as their performance evaluation, training and time off approvals. Position is provided with technical and administrative freedom to plan, develop and organize all phases of the work necessary for its completion within broad program guidelines.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Level I: Knowledge Skills and Abilities required at this level include knowledge of applicable state and federal statutes and regulations relating to the agency's operations; the Oklahoma Constitution; constitutional law; trial and administrative hearing procedures; investigatory procedures; conducting legal research; and supervisory practices and principles. Skills required at this level include skill in performing in a fast-paced environment; writing valid legal documents; applying legal concepts, precedents, and laws to agency legal matters; in managing a diverse department of legal issues, staff, and clients effectively to meet agency needs; and to effectively negotiate. Abilities required at this level include ability to conduct legal research; read and understand complex legal data from a variety of sources; write valid legal documents providing sufficient detail as required; apply critical thinking to issues both complex and basic to make sound decisions; communicate all legal issues from simple to complex in an effective and persuasive manner in written and verbal form; prioritize work of the legal department to meet required deadlines; and effectively manage legal staff to ensure cohesive work environment.
• Level II: Knowledge Skills and Abilities required at this level include knowledge of applicable state and federal statutes and regulations relating to the agency's operations; the legislative, administrative, fiscal processes and procedures of the agency and Oklahoma state government; and management and supervisory practices and principles. Skills required at this level include skill in applying legal concepts, precedents, and laws to agency legal matters; in managing a diverse department of legal issues, staff, and clients effectively to meet agency needs; identifying and addressing pertinent facts in legal issues; and resolving legal issues through negotiations or the administrative process to avoid litigation. Abilities required at this level include ability to read and understand complex legal data from a variety of sources; apply critical thinking to issues to make sound decisions; anticipate changing legal, agency, or program statutes or rules governing agency operations; and provide leadership to legal staff and the agency.
• Level III: Knowledge Skills and Abilities required at this level include knowledge of applicable state and federal statutes and regulations relating to the agency's operations; the legislative, administrative, fiscal processes and procedures of the agency and Oklahoma state government; leadership and managerial practices and principles; and formulating and implementing strategic plans for the legal department. Skills required at this level include skill in managing a legal department with diverse programmatic and administrative legal issues; resolving legal issues through negotiations or the administrative process to avoid litigation; and anticipating legal responses to changing programmatic and administrative statutes, laws, rules, processes, and procedures. Abilities required at this level include ability to provide guidance on complex legal data from a variety of sources; and provide leadership to legal staff and the agency in a changing culture or environment.
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