SENIOR PERSONNEL COUNSEL

POSITION SUMMARY

The Department of Central Management Services (CMS) Legal Services is seeking to hire a Senior Personnel Counsel. This position represents CMS and other State agencies on matters of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation before the Illinois Department of Human Rights, the Illinois Human Rights Commission, the Illinois and US Department of Labor, and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. This position will also advise on other employment matters including interpretations of the Personnel Code, the Personnel Rules, and other federal and state employment statutes including FMLA, ADA, USERRA, and ISERRA. We invite all individuals interested in helping establish laws, policies, and practices for state employees to apply for the position of Senior Personnel Counsel and join the CMS Legal Services team.

POSITION ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Subject to administrative approval of the Deputy General Counsel of Personnel, serves as the Senior Personnel Counsel.
• Conducts and directs technical and specialized legal work in the areas of Personnel and related policy/regulatory matters, often highly sensitive and controversial, including coordinating comprehensive review of legal issues relating to Personnel with other Legal Services attorneys and with outside counsel.
• Researches legal matters and prepares and analyzes cases relative to Personnel, including FMLA, discrimination complaints, layoffs, geographical transfers, etc.
• Drafts rules, regulations, and interpretations and analyzes and provides advice regarding Personnel Administration issues, including interpretation and application of various state and federal statutes, laws, rules, and regulations including the Personnel Code, Personnel Rules, Pay Plan, etc.
• Serves as full line supervisor.
• Develops and conducts training seminars on FMLA, USERRA, and ISERRA, and other requested training for CMS and client agencies.
• Assists the Deputy General Counsel-Personnel in the preparation of legislation and conducts legislative reviews of proposed legislation that impact Personnel matters and the implementation of state and federal employment laws.
• Performs other duties as required or assigned that are within the scope of the duties enumerated above.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Requires a law degree and a license to practice law in the State of Illinois.
• Requires prior experience equivalent to four years of progressively responsible administrative experience in the areas of Personnel, Human Resources, or Employment law.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Prefers extensive knowledge of state and federal law, preferably focused in the areas of the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), employment discrimination, harassment, and retaliation.
• Prefers extensive knowledge of the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Act (USERRA), the Illinois Service Member Employment & Employment Rights Act (ISERRA).
• Prefers four (4) years of professional experience appearing before the Illinois Department of Human Rights, the Illinois Human Rights Commission, the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission (EEOC), the Illinois Depart of Labor, the U.S. Department of Labor, and the U.S. Department of Justice.
• Prefers extensive knowledge of presenting complex legal analysis to attorneys and non-legal persons both orally and in writing.
• Prefers two (2) years of professional supervisory experience.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

• Requires completion of a background check and self-disclosure of criminal history.
• Overtime is a condition of employment, and you may be requested or required/mandated to work overtime including scheduled, unscheduled, or last-minute overtime. This may require the ability to work evenings and weekends.
• Requires ability to attend seminars, conferences, and trainings to stay current on methods, tools, ideologies, or other industry related topics relevant to the job duties.
• Requires ability to travel in the performance of duties, with overnight stays as appropriate. Requires a valid driver’s license.
• Requires ability to use agency supplied equipment (i.e., mobile phone, laptop, etc.).
• This position has been found to meet the requirements in section 4A-101 of the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act requiring the occupant/employee to file a Statement of Economic Interest. The Illinois Governmental Ethics Act (5 ILCS 420/4A et seq.) requires certain state officials and employees to file annual Statements of Economic Interest with the Office of the Secretary of State that will be made available for examination and copying by the public. All employees required to file a Statement of Economic Interest are also required to file the Supplemental Statement of Economic Interest with the Executive Ethics Commission. (See Executive Order 15-09) Fines and penalties apply to untimely filings.

The conditions of employment listed above are incorporated and related to any of the essential functions/ job duties as listed in the job description.