Assistant General Counsel - OCTIC

Job Posting Title

Assistant General Counsel - OCTIC

Agency

585 DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY

Supervisory Organization

Dept. of Public Safety

Job Posting End Date

Refer to the date listed at the top of this posting, if available. Continuous if date is blank.

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the day prior to the posting end date above.

Estimated Appointment End Date (Continuous if Blank)

Full/Part-Time

Full time

Job Type

Regular

Compensation

Compensation: $65,000-$90,000, commensurate with experience.

Job Description

APPLICATION MATERIALS: Please provide a resume and a legal writing sample that demonstrates your analytical and written-advocacy skills.

WHY YOU’LL LOVE WORKING HERE

The legal division provides a full range of legal services to the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety (DPS) and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP). We take a practical, service-oriented approach to advising clients across the agency. On any given day, our attorneys may counsel a division director or member of the OHP command staff, respond to a trooper calling from the roadside, advise on policy or legislation, or handle an administrative or litigation matter. We value sound judgment, responsiveness, teamwork, and clear communication—and we pair challenging, meaningful work with an excellent work-life balance. Our day-to-day experience is best described as “Never a Dull Moment.”

The legal division’s practice spans general counsel services; employment and administrative law; administrative rules, policy, and legislative matters; contracts; litigation and adversarial proceedings; training; and agency-wide projects. The breadth of the practice gives attorneys substantial opportunities to develop new skills, assume responsibility, and grow into new practice areas over the course of a career.

We know benefits matter. Eligible employees receive a competitive benefits package that includes:

• Generous state-paid benefit allowance to help cover insurance premiums
• A wide choice of insurance plans with no pre-existing condition exclusions or limitations
• Flexible spending accounts for health care expenses and/or dependent care
• A Retirement Savings Plan with a generous match
• 5 days of paid vacation and 15 days of sick leave for full-time employees the first year
• 11 paid holidays a year
• Paid maternity leave for eligible employees
• Employee discounts with a variety of companies and vendors
• A longevity bonus based on years of service

JOB SUMMARY

The DPS legal division seeks an attorney for a role dedicated to supporting the Oklahoma Counter Terrorism Intelligence Center (OCTIC), Oklahoma’s fusion center. OCTIC acts as a central information hub for federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial agencies to share information relative to all-threats, and all-hazards, in particular threats from terrorism, targeted violence, transnational organized crime, organized crime, and other homeland security threats.

Under the direction of the General Counsel and Deputy General Counsel, this role will provide advice and counsel to OCTIC; assist OCTIC with protecting privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties; assist OCTIC with compliance issues concerning federal and state laws and regulations; review intelligence products disseminated by and through OCTIC; assist OCTIC with the development of policy and procedure; support OCTIC in the development and maintenance of key relationships with federal, state, local, tribal and territorial partners; assist OCTIC with grant development and management; and support OCTIC leadership in the management of key projects.

Though this position will adhere to a standard work week, the successful candidate will be subject to receiving after-hours calls on a 24/7/365 basis. The successful candidate may spend time working from an office at the DPS headquarters and from an office within the State Capitol Park.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Though this role is allocated to supporting OCTIC, the successful candidate will have a well-rounded background and interest in a breadth of legal services, to include:

• Analyzes factual and legal issues; conducts legal research
• Advises agency leaders and personnel on federal and state law, administrative rules, agency policies and procedures, and other legal or regulatory requirements affecting agency operations
• Drafts, reviews, and advises on agency policies and procedures
• Drafts, reviews, and advises on proposed legislation, administrative rules, and regulatory changes
• Prepares legal opinions, memoranda, and other written guidance for the agency
• Develops and presents legal training for civilian and law enforcement personnel
• Collaborates with other counsel and agency stakeholders to evaluate legal issues, strategies, and recommendations
• Represents the agency in administrative hearings and, as assigned, litigation and other adversarial proceedings
• Writes briefs, motions, orders, and other documents in preparation for or incidental to a matter in litigation or administrative adjudication
• Supports and, as assigned, leads agency projects requiring legal, organizational, or cross-functional coordination
• Performs related work as required and assigned
• Provides training, guidance, and support to agency personnel, as assigned

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of

• Methods and techniques for conducting legal research
• Legal principles and their application
• Civil procedure and rules of evidence
• Trial and hearing procedure

Strong Skills in

• Critical thinking
• Conducting legal research
• Written and oral communication
• Microsoft 365 applications
• Using technology effectively in legal practice and agency operations
• Attention to detail
• Project management

Ability to

• Analyze, interpret, and apply various laws, rules, regulations, agency policies, and procedures
• Clearly and logically articulate legal analysis and recommendations in written and oral form
• Present statements of fact and law
• Develop briefings, presentations, and reports
• Represent the division and agency with professionalism and integrity
• Solve problems collaboratively in a team environment
• Advocate persuasively while exercising sound professional judgment
• Build consensus among stakeholders with differing perspectives

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school
• A license to practice law in the State of Oklahoma
• Active membership in the Oklahoma Bar Association
• Ability to obtain a secret-level security clearance

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Prior experience in a prosecutorial or law enforcement role
• Prior experience with federal civil rights laws

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Ability to sit and stand for extended periods of time. Exhibit manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination to operate a computer, keyboard, photocopier, telephone, calculator and other office equipment. Ability to see and read a computer screen and printed material with or without vision aids. Ability to hear and understand speech at normal levels, with or without aids. Ability to communicate clearly. Physical ability to lift up to 15 pounds, to bend, stoop, climb stairs, walk and reach. Duties are normally performed in an office environment with a moderate noise level.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Travel may be required for this position. Applicants must have reliable transportation and be willing and able to perform all job-related travel. Possession and maintenance of a valid Oklahoma State Driver’s License is also required.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Successful applicants must be willing to submit to a drug screen, polygraph examination, and a thorough background investigation. Certain events automatically disqualify an applicant, such as, felony conviction; admission of an undetected crime that, if known, would have been a felony charge; failure to pay federal or state income tax; positive confirmed drug urine test; illegal use of a controlled substance within certain time frames. Any job offer will be conditioned on successfully completing this process as well as successfully qualifying for a minimum of a federal secret security clearance.

Equal Opportunity Employment

The State of Oklahoma is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of genetic information, race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, or disability.

Current active State of Oklahoma employees must apply for open positions internally through the Workday Jobs Hub.

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