Deputy General Counsel

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Agency:
Division of Emergency Management

Working Title:

Deputy General Counsel -

Pay Plan: SES

Position Number:

Salary:
Salary to Commensurate with Experience

Florida Division of Emergency Management

This position is located in Tallahassee, FL

The Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) plans for and responds to both natural and man-made disasters. These range from floods and hurricanes to incidents involving hazardous materials or nuclear power. FDEM is the liaison between federal, state, and local agencies. FDEM prepares and implements a statewide Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan, routinely conducts extensive exercises to test state and county emergency response capabilities, provides technical assistance to local governments as they prepare emergency plans and procedures, as well as conducts emergency operations trainings for state and local government agencies.

FDEM serves as the lead agency for the State Emergency Response Team (SERT), whose primary goal is the coordination of the state’s efforts during disaster response and recovery. This coordination is conducted within the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) in Tallahassee. Additionally, FDEM manages the State Watch Office; the 24-hour a day operation tasked with providing situational awareness to stakeholders statewide.

After a disaster, FDEM conducts damage assessment surveys and advises the Governor of the State of Florida on whether to declare an emergency and seek federal relief funds. It is against this backdrop that FDEM strives to demonstrate its mission of, “Coordinate, collaborate, and communicate with our community stakeholders for a resilient Florida”, along with our vision of “Leading the Profession in building prepared and resilient communities”.

This position serves as a Deputy General Counsel in support of and at the Direction of the General Counsel. Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Provide legal assistance and representation for FDEM, including the Executive Director, Deputy Directors, Bureau Chiefs, and other FDEM managers.
• Provide guidance and assistance to other governmental entities (state and local) and the public relating to chapter 252, F.S.
• Provide legal representation of FDEM in judicial and administrative proceedings and appeals.
• Provide legal research for FDEM staff.
• Provide legal assistance to the Executive Director of FDEM and managers/staff during activations of the SEOC.
• Perform legal review of procurements, grants, subgrants, contractual service agreements, contracts, memoranda of agreements, and other such agreements.
• Provide legal advice to FDEM staff regarding procurement and contracting procedures, federal and state statutes, federal and state regulations, rule making, and decisions determining the interests of third parties.
• Supervise or assist in office management and in supervising attorneys, law clerks, and staff in the Office of General Counsel (OGC).
• Provide guidance to help ensure that FDEM adheres to EOG/FDEM Code of Ethics. In addition, this position assists the General Counsel in reviewing and acting upon dual employment requests, reports of ethics violations, employee reports of gifts received and reports of racial, sexual, and disability discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.
• Assist in providing counsel for the State Emergency Response Commission and Local Emergency Planning Committee.
• As needed, is willing and able to represent the General Counsel in all capacities, including responding to calls and emails after hours from FDEM Executive staff and the Executive Office of the Governor.
• As needed, assists in…