Description
What you’ll do at Department of Behavioral Health (DBH):
Employment & Labor Law Consultation
Serves as lead legal consultant for statewide employment and labor matters, including discipline, investigations, collective bargaining, accommodations, EEO, ADA, FMLA, public records related to personnel, and workforce policy issues.
Researches, analyzes, and interprets federal and state employment laws.
Advises agency leadership, HR, and program administration on legal risk and compliance.
Statewide & Multi-Agency Initiatives
Plans, directs, and coordinates legal activities for major departmental and system-wide initiatives.
Serves as DBH legal representative on statewide and multi-agency workgroups and policy committees.
Reviews and analyzes proposed legislation, administrative rules, and regulatory actions affecting employment and labor operations.
Lead Attorney & Legal Oversight
Provides ongoing and project-based legal consultation to agency leadership.
Directs preparation and reviews legal documentation, including legal opinions, memoranda, correspondence, and contracts.
Exercises independent judgment on complex legal issues and serves as liaison with the Ohio Attorney General’s Office on assigned employment and labor matters.
Coordinates with the agency’s legislative liaison regarding employment-related statutory and rule changes.
Litigation & Administrative Proceedings
Assists the Chief Legal Counsel with employment-related litigation and administrative proceedings, including matters before the Ohio Court of Claims and Federal and state courts.
Participates in pre-trial conferences; reviews case documentation; assesses legal risk; and develops recommendations regarding settlement, resolution, or appeal.
Ensures consistency with agency policy and DAS standards in the development and management of case materials.
Requirements
Admission to Ohio Bar pursuant to Section 4705.01 of Revised Code; 18 mos. exp. as licensed attorney; 6 mos. exp. in supervisory principles/techniques.
Additional preferred qualifications: 3+ years of employment litigation experience, 5+ years advising and providing expert legal guidance, to include: analyzing complex legal issues, researching legislation, advising on legal rights, obligations, and potential liability.
This position is unclassified per 124.11 (A) (9), Ohio Revised Code.
