Assistant Legal Director; Office​/On-Site

Assistant Legal Director (Office/On-Site)

Join to apply for the Assistant Legal Director (Office/On-Site) role at Connecticut Department of Administrative Services.

Are you an attorney with experience researching, developing, planning, and reviewing legislative and/or regulatory programs? Are you looking for an exciting new opportunity to serve your state? Join us as an Assistant Legal Director and make an impact today! The State of Connecticut, Department of Public Health (DPH) is currently seeking an Assistant Legal Director to join their team! Please note you must be a current State of CT employee to be considered for this position (see Selection Plan for additional details).

• Location:
  
  410 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT
• Work Schedule:
  
  Monday - Friday
• Work Shift:
  
  Full-time, First Shift
• Work Hours:
  
  40 hours per week
• Please note:
  
  Telework may be available after successful completion of probationary period, depending on the needs of the agency.

• Preside as hearing officer and will direct other hearing officers in the PHHO in administrative proceedings involving licensed healthcare practitioners and facilities, petitions for declaratory rulings, appeals of local health and involuntary discharge orders and other appeals, WIC reviews, and emergency medical services applications.
• Provide legal counsel and support to various licensing boards and commissions within DPH.
• Oversee the legal review of agency contracts, conduct legal research; interpret statutes and regulations.
• Perform other related duties as requested by the Agency Legal Director.

The Mission of the Department of Public Health (DPH) is to protect and improve the health and safety of the people of Connecticut by:

• Assuring the conditions in which people can be healthy
• Preventing disease, injury, and disability
• Promoting the equal enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health, which is a human right and a priority of the state.

DPH accomplishes this through the implementation of its Strategic Plan which outlines the actions that DPH is taking to accomplish its Mission.

In a large state agency, this class is accountable for assisting in the direction of legal staff engaged in the legal work of the agency and works closely with the Office of the Attorney General on all legal matters.

• Assists in directing staff and operations in a legal unit;
• Coordinates, plans and manages unit activities;
• Formulates program goals and objectives;
• Determines priorities and oversees and reviews work;
• Provides staff training and assistance;
• Conducts performance evaluations;
• In consultation with Office of the Attorney General performs a variety of difficult, complex and sensitive legal work;
• Researches and advises Commissioner on matters pertaining to legislation, regulations and administrative policy;
• Conducts and assists staff in preparation for administrative proceedings including preparation of administrative record;
• Prepares final decisions of Commissioner in contested cases;
• Assists staff and Office of the Attorney General in preparation for court cases;
• Interprets statutes and regulations and ensures conformance with statutory purpose and authority;
• Advises Commissioner concerning matters which require an opinion from the Office of the Attorney General and drafts requests for opinions;
• Acts as liaison between Commissioner and the Attorney General;
• Assists staff on matters relating to enforcement orders and civil penalties;
• Makes recommendations regarding agency program proposals, rules and policy;
• Assists in developing budget proposals for consistency with statutes and regulations;
• Drafts proposed legislation and regulations;
• Provides assistance to staff in implementing newly enacted legislation;
• Participates in the recruitment and hiring of staff, including outreach, interview and selection;
• May conduct legal seminars for department staff;
• Performs related duties as required.

• Considerable knowledge of:
  • Management principals and practices;
  • The ability to interpret relevant state and federal laws, statutes and regulations;
  • Relevant agency policies and procedures;
  • The Uniform Administrative Procedures Act and civil procedures;
  • Legal practices and procedures in state and federal courts.
• Knowledge of legislative process;
• Considerable interpersonal skills;
• Oral and written communication skills;
• Administrative ability.

Three (3) years of experience as an attorney with some responsibility for research, development, planning and review of legislative and/or regulatory programs.

• Experience presiding as hearing officer, or representing a party in hearings conducted under the Connecticut Uniform Administrative Procedure Act, or experience litigating matters in court.
• Experience drafting and/or reviewing legal contracts.
• Experience applying management principles and practices to improve the efficiency of legal…