General Counsel​/Deputy Commissioner

General Counsel/Deputy Commissioner

About the Organization:
The Division of Occupational Licensure (DOL), an agency within the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation (OCA ), protects consumers by making sure the professionals they hire comply with state licensing laws. DOL oversees 26 boards of registration, which license and regulate more than 500,000 individuals and businesses to practice over 100 trades and professions. DOL also licenses and regulates the Office of Public Safety and Inspections (OPSI), and the Office of Private Occupational Schools.

The mission of DOL is to protect the public health, safety and welfare by licensing qualified individuals and businesses to provide services to consumers. In addition, it is the duty of the DOL to ensure fair and consistent enforcement of the licensing laws and regulations. DOL seeks to promote consumer protection, a fair and competitive marketplace, and education and outreach.

The Division of Occupational Licensure is committed to creating and sustaining a work culture that is welcoming, inclusive, and mutually respectful to all its employees regardless of race, color, age, creed, religion, national origin, ethnicity, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, veteran or disability status. The Division of Occupational Licensure values inclusiveness and diversity within all facets and levels of their agency.

Within our community we strive to create and maintain working and learning environments that are inclusive, equitable, and welcoming. The Division of Occupational Licensure is committed to ensuring a diverse and inclusive workplace where all employees feel respected, valued, and empowered to maximize their skills and talents to serve our citizens.

About the Role:

The General Counsel and Deputy Commissioner's (GCDC) primary role is to assist the DOL Commissioner in the development and coordination of public policy. The GCDC is the liaison with the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation, the Executive Office of Economic Development and other agencies on legal matters to ensure coordination of DOL and agency priorities, monitoring agency initiatives and communicating with others within the administration or through various external channels.

The GCDC represents DOL as needed to the industry and consumers. Under the supervision of the DOL Commissioner, the GCDC manages the day-to-day legal operations of DOL, including the direct supervision of the Deputy General Counsel for Enforcement, the Deputy General Counsel for Boards and Regulations, the Assistant General Counsel for Public Affairs, and the Director of Background Checks. The incumbent provides legal services in the form of oral and written legal opinions to DOL staff regarding regulatory issues that arise from time to time in the ordinary course of business, and regarding information sought by the public to ascertain their legal rights as consumers.

The GCDC also handles correspondence between the agency and third parties regarding legal matters. The GCDC is ultimately responsible for the agency's compliance with all of its statutory and other legal obligations, for providing advice on consumer issues, and for drafting proposed legislation and regulations, as well as handling both formal and informal inquiries from the Legislature regarding legislation. Responses to public records requests received by the agency are also coordinated by the GCDC.

The GCDC serves as a liaison with the Attorney General's Office in connection with suits brought against the agency.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Lead and Manage the Agency's Legal, Enforcement, and Regulatory Functions Direct and manage the legal functions of DOL, including Enforcement, Boards and Regulations, Public Records, and Background Checks, through the supervision of the Deputy General Counsel for Enforcement, Deputy General Counsel for Boards and Regulations, Assistant General Counsel for Public Affairs, and Director of Background Checks. Establish agency-wide legal and operational priorities, expectations, standards, and practices;

monitor workload, timeliness, quality, significant matters, and organizational risk; and ensure accountability across assigned units. Provide leadership to subordinate managers and legal staff, including setting priorities, resolving significant or complex matters, developing staff, addressing performance and resource issues, and promoting effective coordination across legal, enforcement, regulatory, and operational functions. Formulate and implement legal, enforcement, regulatory, and operational policies that support DOL's mission, strategic priorities, and effective administration of the Agency's statutory responsibilities.

Participate as a member of Senior Management in agency-wide planning, policy formulation, priority setting, and executive decision-making. Serve as Chief Legal and Strategic Advisor to the Commissioner and Senior Management Serve as the…