GENERAL COUNSEL-DOEA - 65000023

Requisition No: 843226 

Agency: Elder Affairs

Working Title: GENERAL COUNSEL-DOEA - 65000023

 Pay Plan: SMS

Position Number: 65000023 

Salary:  $9,583.34 MONTHLY 

Posting Closing Date: 12/27/2024 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

DEPARTMENT OF ELDER AFFAIRS

OFFICE OF GENERAL COUNSEL

ANTICIPATED VACANCY

*****OPEN COMPETITIVE*****

ATTENTION CANDIDATES

Candidate Profile (application) must be complete in its entirety.

• Include supervisor names and phone numbers of all periods of employment.
• Account for and explain any gaps in employment so that the hiring process is not delayed. Gaps of employment for 3 months or more MUST be addressed on application.
• Experience, education, training, knowledge, skills, and/or abilities as well as responses to pre-qualifying questions must be verifiable to meet the minimum qualifications.  
• It is unacceptable to use the statement “See Resume” in place of entering work history.
• Periods of employment should be entered with the most recent/current listed first.
• If you are a retiree of the Florida Retirement System (FRS), please contact the FRS to determine if your current benefits may be affected if you are reemployed with the State of Florida in an FRS-covered position.  Your current retirement benefits may be canceled, suspended, or deemed invalid depending upon the date of your retirement. 

• If claiming Veteran’s Preference, candidates MUST attach supporting documentation (DD214).
• If claiming Right to First Interview, candidates MUST attach a copy of your official layoff letter when applying.
• All documentation is due by the close of the vacancy announcement.

If you experience problems applying online, please call the People First Service Center at (877) 562-7287.

PAPER APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED BY THE AGENCY. APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED THROUGH THE PEOPLE FIRST SYSTEM.

Mission Statement: To promote the well-being, safety, and independence of Florida’s elders, their families, and caregivers.

Vision Statement: For all Floridians to live well and age well.

We are seeking an enthusiastic attorney with a desire to share our Agency’s mission to promote the well-being, safety, and independence of Florida's seniors, their families, and caregivers, and the vision for all Floridians to live well and age well.  If you have good judgment, a desire to enrich the lives of others, and share our mission and vision, please consider joining our team.

Where You Will Work:

The Department of Elder Affairs is located in the Southwood Office complex in Tallahassee, Florida’s Capital City.  Lined with rolling hills, oak trees, and canopied roads Tallahassee combines traditional charm with a modern pace of life. Home to two major universities, Tallahassee has a vibrant art and music scene, stately gardens, as well as a vast number of nature trails for those who love the outdoors.  Tallahassee is a highly desirable location for both those seeking their first job and those ready to enter the next exciting chapter in their career.  Also, with no state income tax, Florida is a great place to work regardless of where you are on the career ladder. For more information about Tallahassee, please visit:  https://www.talchamber.com/visit-tallahassee/.

Benefits of Working for the State of Florida:

Working for the State of Florida is more than a paycheck. The State’s total compensation package for employees features a highly competitive employee benefits including:

• State Group Health Insurance Coverage (over 90% paid by employer);
• $25,000 Life Insurance Policy (100% paid by employer);
• Dental, vision, and other supplemental insurance options available;
• Annual and Sick Leave benefits,
• 10 paid holidays each year;
• Retirement plan options, including employer contributions (For more information, please click www.myfrs.com);
• Flexible Spending Accounts; and
• Tuition waivers to attend State of Florida community colleges, colleges, and universities!

For a more complete list of benefits, click https://www.mybenefits.myflorida.com/.

Pay: $115,000.08 ANNUALY 

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

In the capacity of the General Counsel, the individual filling this position represents the Department in all litigation and administrative proceedings and advises the Secretary of Elder Affairs and staff on legal matters.  Provides legal counsel and advice to the Secretary, Chief of Staff, and other administrative/managerial employees on matters relating to the Department’s programs, activities, employees, and volunteers.  This is a highly professional policy-making and managerial position reporting directly to the Secretary.

Supervises general counsel staff, including organizing, recommending selection, training, assigning, and evaluating work, counseling, disciplining, and recommending termination.  Evaluates, develops, and modifies the workflow of general counsel assignments.

Responsible for planning, organizing, budgeting, supervising, and directing the development, implementation and coordination of all legal services necessary to properly support all program and administrative functions of the Department of Elder Affairs.

As required by the Older Americans Act, Section 731 (42 U.S.C. 3058j), the General Counsel serves in the capacity of the Department’s state legal assistance developer, and the dedicates services of other personnel, sufficient to ensure:

(1) State leadership in securing and maintaining the legal rights of older individuals;

(2) State capacity for coordinating the provision of legal assistance;

(3) State capacity to provide technical assistance, training, and other supportive functions to area agencies on aging, legal assistance providers, ombudsmen, and other persons, as appropriate;

(4) State capacity to promote financial management services to older individuals at risk of conservatorship;

(5) State capacity to assist older individuals in understanding their rights, exercising choices, benefiting from services and opportunities authorized by law, and maintaining the rights of older individuals at risk of guardianship; and

(6) State capacity to improve the quality and quantity of legal services provided to older individuals.

Medicaid Program – Serves as principal legal advisor for the Department to ensure compliance with Medicaid related inter-agency agreements, and the administration of Medicaid funded program.  Provides counsel with regards to Medicaid Programs laws, policies and procedures.  Such counsel also includes rules and statutory interpretation, personnel legal issues and any other assistance of legal nature directly related to Medicaid;

Renders legal opinions on specific relevant inquiries from within and outside the Department.  Conducts extensive legal research into legal questions concerning the statutory duties of various Department programs;

Researches legal questions arising under the various department programs, both state and federal, including consideration of state and federal legislative acts, court decisions, and administrative rules and regulations as they relate to departmental programs;

Prepares and reviews legal instruments, such as contracts, grants, inter-agency agreements, memoranda of understanding and  leases for the Department;

Oversees all rule-making proceedings, initiates or reviews drafts, public notices, and required filings for proposed administrative rules for the Department;

Provides agency oversight of any foundation, commission, or task force affiliated with the agency and ensures the relationship comports with legal requirements; and

Performs other duties as assigned by the Secretary of the agency.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES REQUIRED:

Extensive knowledge of Florida Statues and legal procedure.

Knowledge of legal terminology.

Skill in reading comprehension, analysis, research, and organization. 

Ability to provide legal counsel.

Ability to interpret state and federal legislation, laws, and rules. 

Ability to employ legal reasoning and to foresee possible legal problems. Ability to communicate effectively and concisely verbally and in writing. Ability to take action in situations which lack clear direction.

Ability to take initiative on independent research projects. Ability to plan, organize, and coordinate work assignments.

Ability to use independent judgment when releasing information to the public. Ability to collect and analyze data.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.

Ability to conduct meetings and to make presentations.

Ability to perform legal writing and prepare various legal documents.

Ability to research legal documents and legal references.

REQUIREMENTS:

Must be a member of the Florida Bar and in good standing.

Ability to Travel

BACKGROUND CHECKS:

A Successful completion of a Level 2 Criminal History Background Check is required for all applicants selected for this position.

APPLICANT INFORMATION:

Applicants should apply on-line via the People First Website https://peoplefirst.myflorida.com by 11:59 p.m. (EST) on the closing date of the position vacancy advertisement but are strongly encouraged to apply by 6:00 p.m. on the closing date to avoid any system down times or any other complications that may arise.

If you have problems applying on-line, call the People First Service Center at 1-877-562-7287. Paper applications will not be accepted by the agency.

The Department of Elder Affairs is an "older worker-friendly" employer and also lists vacancies on the Silver Edition website, found at http://silver.employflorida.com, that connects persons age 50 and older with other businesses/volunteer organizations/employers who specify they are "older worker-friendly."

The Department of Elder Affairs is an E-Verify employer and will provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with information from each New Employee’s I-9 Form to confirm work eligibility.

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer, and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.