SENIOR COUNSEL, EMPLOYEE BENEFITS (RET) - 72002483

Requisition No: 847617 

Agency: Management Services

Working Title: SENIOR COUNSEL, EMPLOYEE BENEFITS (RET) - 72002483

 Pay Plan: SES

Position Number: 72002483 

Salary:  $87,550.06 

Posting Closing Date: 03/10/2025 

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Senior Counsel – Employee Benefits Practice Group (Retirement)

Office of General Counsel

State of Florida Department of Management Services

This position is located in Tallahassee, Florida

Our Organization and Mission:
Under the direction of Governor Ron DeSantis, Secretary Pedro Allende and DMS’ Executive Leadership Team, the Florida Department of Management Services (DMS) is a customer-oriented agency with a broad portfolio that includes the efficient use and management of real estate, procurement, human resources, group insurance, retirement, telecommunications, fleet, and federal property assistance programs used throughout Florida’s state government. It is against this backdrop that DMS strives to demonstrate its motto, “We serve those who serve Florida.”

The Work You Will Do:

DMS’ Office of General Counsel is seeking a Senior Counsel to primarily handle litigation for the Division of Retirement (Division), which includes the complex statutes, rules, and regulations affecting all facets of the Florida Retirement System (FRS) and other statewide retirement plans administered by the Division. The FRS is the fifth-largest public state retirement system in the nation, comprised of more than one million active and retired employees. 

This Senior Attorney must develop a proficiency in state and federal laws affecting the program area. This position will:

• Represent and defend the Division in administrative litigation, including providing representation in formal and informal hearings;
• Represent and defend the Division in civil litigation, including providing representation at hearings or trials;
• Represent and defend the Division in appellate litigation, including drafting briefs and handling oral arguments; 
• Assist in drafting proposed legislation and administrative rules intended to carry out the policies and statutory functions of the Division; and
• Perform other duties as assigned by the General Counsel, Deputy General Counsel, managing attorney, and/or executive leadership. 

How You Will Grow:

This position provides the opportunity to develop an expertise in both state and federal laws affecting the Florida Retirement System (FRS). This area of the law often involves complex issues related to the overlap between federal and state governance, and the attorney will have ongoing exposure to experts in the federal taxing arena to assist in this highly technical work. This attorney will also have the opportunity to assist the Division in reviewing and refining work processes to ensure the FRS continues to be operated in a legal, and highly ethical, manner.

The Office of General Counsel also supports attorney development by providing Continuing Legal Education opportunities and allowing its attorneys to gain exposure to other areas of the law that the office assists with by promoting collaboration and cross-training in these highly specialized areas (e.g., real estate, employment and labor relations, information technology, and health care). Ultimately, this position will allow the right candidate the opportunity to grow professionally while working alongside a team of talented and professional attorneys in a collegial atmosphere.

The Benefits of Working for the State of Florida:

Work-Life Balance

DMS does not have a billable hour requirement for its attorneys and encourages employees to maintain a healthy work-life balance. On day one, and then on each annual anniversary date, the attorney will receive 176 hours of discretionary leave and 104 hours of sick leave.

Health Insurance

State of Florida employees enjoy top-tier benefits offerings including comprehensive health coverage to meet the needs of you and your family while maintaining low deductibles and low monthly out-of-pocket contributions totaling only $8.00 per month for individual coverage and $30.00 per month for family coverage. 

Retirement Options

State employees enjoy the option of selecting between the FRS Pension Plan and the FRS Investment Plan for retirement. 

Continuing Education

As an additional benefit, state employment affords you the opportunity to take part in the tuition waiver program within the state university and community college systems.

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

Pay Range:

$87,550.06, commensurate with experience.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of laws, rules, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, and agency policies and procedures or ability to thoroughly research such.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and/or as part of a team.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
• Ability to use logic and analysis to identify the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches.
• Ability to plan, organize, coordinate, and timely complete work assignments.
• Ability to collect, evaluate, and analyze data.
• Basic proficiency in office information technology. 

Minimum Qualifications:

• A juris doctor from an accredited law school.
• At least one year of experience as a licensed attorney.
• Ability to sit or stand for extended periods of time.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with administrative litigation is highly desired.
• Experience with civil litigation is highly desired.
• Experience with bill analyses is highly desired.
• Experience with Florida’s Sunshine Law is highly desired.

Special Notes:
DMS is committed to successfully recruiting and onboarding talented and skilled individuals into its workforce. We recognize the extensive training, experience, and transferrable skills that veterans and individuals with disabilities bring to the workforce.  Veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to contact our recruiter for guidance and answers to questions through the following provided email addresses:
DMS.Ability@dms.fl.gov
DMS.Veterans@dms.fl.gov
An individual with a disability is qualified if he or she satisfies the skills, experience, and other job related requirements for a position and can perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation. Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must contact the DMS Human Resources (HR) Office at (850) 488-2707. DMS requests applicants notify HR in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.
Successful completion of background screening will be required for this position.

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.