PERSONNEL COUNSEL (PSA OPT. 8L)

POSITION SUMMARY

The Department of Central Management Services (CMS) Legal Services is looking for an experienced and self-motivated attorney to fill the position of Personnel Counsel. The ideal candidate is seeking a fast-paced environment that makes a positive impact on State government. This position represents CMS and other State agencies on matters of discrimination, harassment and retaliation before the Illinois Department of Human Rights and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. This position will also advise on other employment matters including interpretations of the Personnel Code, the Personnel Rules, and other federal and state employment statutes. We invite all individuals interested in meaningful work to apply for the position of Personnel Counsel and join the CMS Legal Services team.

POSITION ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Under administrative direction of the Deputy General Counsel-Personnel, provides legal representation for the Department of Central Management Services (CMS) and client agencies for discrimination complaints filed with the Illinois Department of Human Rights, the Illinois Human Rights Commission, and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

• Provides guidance and counsel to client agencies on Personnel Administration legal issues relating to interpretation and application of various other State and Federal statutes, laws, rules, and regulations including the Personnel Code, Personnel Rules, Pay Plan, etc.

• Serves as primary Legal services contact for client agencies with respect to questions of interpretation or implementation of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and its interaction with other relevant statutes, rules, or case law.

• Works with the CMS Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Officer on employment related FOIA requests

• Serves as the secondary Legal Services point of contact with respect to questions of interpretation or implementation of the Victim’s Economic Safety and Security Act (VESSA), the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA), and the Illinois Service Member Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (ISERRA), and their interaction with other relevant statutes, rules, or case law.

• Serves as the initial Legal Services point of contact with respect to questions of interpretation or implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act (ADAAA) and their interaction with other relevant statutes, rules, or case law.

• Conducts extensive, complex legal research on legal issues related to Personnel Administration matters.

• Performs other duties as required and assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Requires a law degree from a recognized law school and possession of a valid license to practice law in the State of Illinois.
• Requires prior experience equivalent to three years progressively responsible administrative legal experience in a public or business organization.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Prefers working knowledge of employment law.
• Prefers extensive knowledge of presenting orally and in writing, complex legal analysis to attorneys and non-legal persons.
• Prefers elementary knowledge of administrative law.
• Prefers elementary knowledge of litigation in State or Federal court.
• Prefers elementary knowledge of state policies, rules, and regulations.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

• This position requires the applicant to pass a background check.
• Overtime is a condition of employment, and you may be required/mandated to work overtime including scheduled, unscheduled, or last-minute overtime.
• Requires ability to travel in the performance of duties, with overnight stays as appropriate.
• Requires ability to attend seminars, conferences, and trainings to stay current on methods, tools, ideologies, or other industry related topics relevant to the job duties.
• The conditions of employment listed here are incorporated and related to any of the job duties as listed in the job description.