SENIOR ATTORNEY-SES - 65000076

Requisition No: 852882 

Agency: Elder Affairs

Working Title: SENIOR ATTORNEY-SES - 65000076

 Pay Plan: SES

Position Number: 65000076 

Salary:  $5,833.34-$7,500.00 MONTHLY 

Posting Closing Date: 05/23/2025 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

DEPARTMENT OF ELDER AFFAIRS

OFFICE OF GENERAL COUNSEL

*****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.
• Candidates are requested to include a cover letter, explaining their interest in the advertised position.
• 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.

The Department of Elder Affairs is seeking a highly skilled and motivated Senior Attorney to join our Office of the General Counsel. This pivotal role provides legal guidance and representation across a wide range of areas, including contract review and procurement, administrative rulemaking, public records, personnel matters, and more. The position offers the opportunity to work closely with program staff, helping ensure compliance with state and federal laws impacting Florida’s elder population.

The Department is dedicated to promoting the well-being, safety, and independence of Florida's seniors, their families, and caregivers. Its vision is for all Floridians to live well and age well.

If you're a detail-oriented legal professional committed to public service and ready to make a meaningful impact, we encourage you to apply.

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;
• $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: Salary will be commensurate with experience and qualifications, ranging from $70,000.08 to $90,000.00, annually.

WHAT YOU WILL DO:

• Contract Review, Drafting and Procurement. Develops, drafts, and reviews contracts and contract amendments. Reviews procurements for legal sufficiency.  Professionally addresses all legal issues related to contract procurement. Prepares, reviews, or approves contracts, leases, and other legal instruments as appropriate and necessary. Familiarity with Chapter 287, Florida Statutes, and 2 CFR 200, or a willingness to learn is required.
• Rulemaking. Reviews proposed rules for both substantive and legal sufficiency consistent with Chapter 120, Florida Statutes. Assists divisions with drafting or revising rules as needed.  Participates in rule development, rule workshops and rule hearings. Responsible for moving proposed rules through the statutory rulemaking process. Counsels, assists and guides Department staff on all aspects of rulemaking with the Bureau of Administrative Code, Office of Fiscal Accountability and Regulatory Reform (OFFAR), and the Joint Administrative Procedures Committee (JAPC). Supervises the handling of all rule-making activities of the Department.
• Public Records. Reviews public records requests with the public records coordinator, identifies the appropriate records custodians within the Department, works with the records custodians to be sure all responsive documents are collected, assembled, and appropriately redacted, identifies and addresses any fees issues, and finalizes the requests. Assists in the formulation of Department public records policies and develops and tracks requests as necessary. Familiarity with Chapter 119, Florida Statutes, or a willingness to learn is required.

This position may include other duties as described below:

• Personnel.  Counsels and advises the Department on personnel matters. Represents the Department in personnel litigation and professionally addresses other legal issues that arise from Department personnel matters. 
• Policy and Procedure Review.  Assists in reviewing and updating Department policies and procedures as needed.
• Legal Research.  Conducts legal research in a thorough and professional manner on highly complex problems involved in the various functions of the Department.  In conducting legal research, takes the time and effort to explore any underlying facts with appropriate Department staff. Stays well-informed of litigation and court decisions which might affect statutes and rules under which the Department carries out its responsibilities. Reviews and interprets statutes, regulations, rules, and operating procedures as necessary.
• Legislation. Develops, drafts, reviews, monitors, and implements proposed legislation, prepares bill analyses, and reviews existing statutes for proposing any needed legislation. Monitors legislative activities for impacts on the Department.
• Litigation. Represents the Department in litigation in various forums to include state trial and appellate courts, federal trial and appellate courts, and state and federal administrative forums. Department litigation includes federal and state challenges to the Department’s programs and policies, enforcement actions, and contract and real estate matters.
• Public Hearings, Workshops, Meetings, and Conferences. Conducts or supervises the handling of public hearings, workshops, meetings and conferences. Prepares and files, as requested, notices in the Florida Administrative Register for public hearings, workshops, meetings, and conferences.
• Fair Hearings. Represents the Department in Fair Hearings in person, by video conference, and by audio conference.  Analyzes Medicaid legal issues and provides legal advice and guidance. Provides training to Department staff as needed on fair hearings and procedures.
• Background screening and Exemption cases. Advises the Department on background screening issues including but not limited to reviews of the results of Level 2 criminal history background screening checks, determinations on whether criminal offenses are disqualifying offenses, if the offense(s) are disqualifying offenses, determinations on whether the applicant meets the requirements to receive an exemption from the disqualifying offense(s), and finally, determinations on the merits of granting or denying the exemption application.
• HIPAA: Professionally addresses legal inquiries regarding HIPAA and its applications to Department programs and operations.
• Counsel and Advice.  Assists the General Counsel in providing legal counsel and advice to the Secretary, Chief of Staff, and other administrative / managerial employees on complex legal issues relating to the Department’s programs and activities. Anticipates potential legal problems of new plans or programs and advises the Department of legal and administrative alternatives 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Extensive knowledge of Florida Statues and policies and the ability to express ideas and information orally and in writing, including Chapters 119, 120, and 287, Florida Statutes.
• Ability to determine work priorities, organize, assign and coordinate work, and ensure proper completion of work assignments. Ability to follow written and oral directions and instructions.  Problem-solving skills, work well with individuals and groups; multi-task, manage multiple assignments and deadlines.  Plan and organize to ensure work is completed in accordance with regulations relating to eligibility and timeliness.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.  Ability to communicate with others to obtain and verify information concerning eligibility.
• Ability to demonstrate a professional and courteous demeanor to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with the public and staff.
• Possess strong written and oral communication skills, including correct grammar, punctuation, and spelling.  Be detail oriented and able to enter data accurately into a computerized system.  Navigate multiple computer screens and applications.  Proficiency in Microsoft Windows Operating environments and Office Suite products to include Word, Excel, Outlook, OneDrive, Power Point, and SharePoint. Prepare clear, concise, and accurate records and other documentation in a logical format. 
• Analyze and interpret written, numerical, and verbal data from various sources.  Type and prepare reports and memorandums accurately and timely.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality as required. 

REQUIREMENTS:

• The candidate must have obtained a juris doctorate degree, be an active member in good standing with the Florida Bar and have a minimum of 2 years legal experience in the practice of law.
• This position will likely require more than 40 hours of work a week.
• Ability to travel as necessary.

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.