CHIEF LEGAL COUNSEL - 60000029

Requisition No: 856209 

Agency: Children and Families

Working Title: CHIEF LEGAL COUNSEL - 60000029

 Pay Plan: SES

Position Number: 60000029 

Salary:  $95,000 - $105,000 

Posting Closing Date: 07/27/2025 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

Chief Legal Counsel

Office of General Counsel

Department of Children and Families

9393 N. Florida Ave, Tampa, FL 33612

Open Competitive

Current employees will be compensated in accordance with the DCF salary policy.

What you will do:

• Under supervision of the General Counsel and Deputy General Counsel- represents, supervises, and coordinates all legal activities for the Department within the geographical boundaries of Suncoast Region (Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Sarasota, Desoto counties).
• The Chief Legal Counsel directs, plans, manages, implements, and operates the region legal services. The Chief Legal Counsel directly supervises Region Counsel and staff.
• The Cheif Legal Counsel advises region leadership staff about legal and policy decisions which affect the day to day activities of the region. This responsibility includes attending meetings as well as providing counsel and advice to staff concerning the legal ramifications of potential litigation, legislation, policy decisions, court decisions, and department legal opinions of statewide importance.
• The Chief Legal Counsel, through staff, implements the legal opinions and policies established and issued by the Department’s General Counsel.
• The Chief Legal Counsel is responsible for direct supervision and management of outside contract attorneys who represent the department in region legal matters.
• The Chief Legal Counsel prepares annual goals and objectives for the provision of legal services to the region and ensures necessary budgetary management.
• Provide legal advice to Departmental programs on the proper course of action.
• The Chief Legal Counsel is a select exempt service legal position which implements the delivery of professional legal services to the region pursuant to the policies, procedures and standards established for the Department and region.
• Serves as legal counsel in Region operations involving region policy as a member of the Region executive management team and planning, organizing, and directing the implementation of legal functions in the region.
• Represents the Department in legal matters as assigned.
• Provides advice and counsel to regional committees and sub-committees.
• Supervises or provides oversight and administrative assistance for all litigation functions relating to representing the Region in state and federal courts.
• Conducts varied trial litigation and pretrial discovery in both federal and state courts.
• Determines and conducts appeals of appellate cases in federal and state courts that arise in the region.
• Prepares written legal opinions involving federal and state statute interpretations, administrative rules, and court decisions.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Member of the Florida Bar

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 set of employee benefits including:

• Annual and Sick Leave benefits;
• Nine paid holidays and one Personal Holiday each year;
• State Group Insurance coverage options, including health, life, dental, vision, and other supplemental insurance options;
• Retirement plan options, including employer contributions

(For more information, please click www.myfrs.com);

• Flexible Spending Accounts;
• Tuition waivers;
• And more!

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

SELECTIVE SERVICE:  Male candidates born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion into an authorized position unless they are registered with the Selective Service System (SSS) before their 26th birthday or have a Letter of Registration Exemption from the SSS.  Verification of Selective Service registration will be conducted prior to hire.  For more information, please visit the SSS website: http://www.sss.gov.

BACKGROUND SCREENING REQUIREMENT: It is the policy of the Florida Department of Children and Families that any applicant being considered for employment must successfully complete a State and National criminal history check as a condition of employment before beginning employment, and also be screened in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 435, F.S., and, if applicable, Chapter 408, F.S.  No applicant may begin employment until the background screening results are received, reviewed for any disqualifying offenses, and approved by the Agency.  Background screening shall include, but not be limited to, fingerprinting for State and Federal criminal records checks through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and may include local criminal history checks through local law enforcement agencies.

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.

VETERANS’ PREFERENCE.  Pursuant to Chapter 295, Florida Statutes, candidates eligible for Veterans’ Preference will receive preference in employment for Career Service vacancies and are encouraged to apply.  Certain service members may be eligible to receive waivers for postsecondary educational requirements.  Candidates claiming Veterans’ Preference must attach supporting documentation with each submission that includes character of service (for example, DD Form 214 Member Copy #4) along with any other documentation as required by Rule 55A-7, Florida Administrative Code.  Veterans’ Preference documentation requirements are available by clicking here.  All documentation is due by the close of the vacancy announcement.