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General Counsel - Job ID 65744

Make a difference in the lives of Minnesotans.
The work you’ll do is more than just a job. Join the talented, engaged and inclusive workforce dedicated to creating a better Minnesota.

Job Summary
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency strives for clean air and water, sustainable lands, a better climate, and a thriving economy. We work with regulated parties, businesses, governments, organizations, and Minnesota’s 11 tribal nations to develop innovative, community-centered approaches that protect our natural resources, improve human health, and foster strong economic growth.

The General Counsel for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency manages a team of attorneys and other professional staff who provide legal advice and other legal services to the agency. The position is responsible for the development and implementation of strategies to effectively coordinate and integrate the agency's legal services to achieve the agency objectives. The General Counsel provides legal advice and counsel, legal direction, strategic planning services and leadership to the Commissioner’s Office and the Senior Management Team. These functions include the oversight, direction, and coordination of the Department’s litigation, legal advice, contracts, data privacy functions, administrative law functions, legal policies, negotiations and settlements, and legal compliance activities. The incumbent will provide legal analysis of multiple specialized areas of law. Work requires extensive and substantial familiarity with current and developing legal issues, the regular use of professional legal principles and practices, statutes, case law, and rules.

Minimum Qualifications
JD degree from an ABA accredited law school.
Current license and in good standing to practice law in Minnesota.
Seven (7) years as a practicing attorney in environmental law or closely related area of law that includes experience managing litigation; and
At least three (3) years of leadership or management experience in a legal environment. Please describe relevant leadership experience in your cover letter.
Experience providing legal advice to senior management or executives.
Communication skills to work effectively with a wide range of people, including technical and scientific staff, and the ability to understand scientific and technical information and data.

Preferred Qualifications
Knowledge of the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act and ability to analyze data, determine classification of data, and provide protection of not public data
Experience working with the Minnesota Attorney General's Office and/or State government agencies
Experience in litigation practices and techniques, assessment of legal risk, knowledge of negotiation and settlement strategies and techniques, and legal considerations related to settling or compromising lawsuits and claims
Demonstrated project management and organizational skills
Demonstrated experience working with various environmental laws or programs.
Experience with or knowledge of the legislative process as well as developing, reviewing, and analyzing proposed legislation and legislative policy.
Experience with developing and presenting training programs.
Experience with the Administrative Procedure Act and administrative process as they pertain to public participation, public hearing requirements and other legal requirements.

Additional Requirements
In addition to applying to the Job ID with your resume, please also attach your cover letter that describes relevant leadership experience.

How to Apply
Select “Apply for Job” at the top of this page. If you have questions about applying for jobs, contact the job information line at 651259-3637 or email careers@state.mn.us. For additional information about the application process, go to http://www.mn.gov/careers.
If you have questions about the position, contact Patty Atchison at patty.atchison@state.mn.us
To receive consideration as a Connect 700 Program applicant, apply online, email the Job ID#, the Working Title and your valid Proof of Eligibility Certificate by the closing date to Patty Atchison at patty.atchison@state.mn.us

About Pollution Control Agency
Our mission is to protect and improve the environment and human health. We work with many partners (citizens, communities, and businesses, all levels of government, environmental groups and educators) to prevent pollution, conserve resources, and to help ensure polluting does not have disproportionate impact on any groups of people. We emphasize work-life balance with flex schedules, compressed schedules, and options to telework for some positions.

Why Work for Us
Diverse Workforce
We are committed to continually developing a workforce that reflects the diversity of our state and the populations we serve. The varied experiences and perspectives of employees strengthen the work we do together and our ability to best serve the people of Minnesota.
A recent engagement survey of State of Minnesota employees found:
  • 95% of employees understand how their work helps achieve their agency’s mission
  • 91% of employees feel trusted to do their jobs
  • 88% of employees feel equipped to look at situations from other cultural perspectives when doing their job 87% of employees report flexibility in their work schedule

Comprehensive Benefits
Our benefits aim to balance four key elements that make life and work meaningful: health and wellness, financial well-being, professional development, and work/life harmony. As an employee, your benefits may include:
  • Public pension plan
  • Training and professional development
  • Paid vacation and sick leave
  • 11 paid holidays each year
  • Paid parental leave
  • Low-cost medical and dental coverage
  • Prescription drug coverage
  • Vision coverage
  • Wellness programs and resources
  • Employer paid life insurance
  • Short-term and long-term disability
  • Health care spending and savings accounts
  • Dependent care spending account
  • Tax-deferred compensation
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
  • Tuition reimbursement
  • Federal Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness Program
  • Programs, resources and benefits eligibility varies based on type of employment, agency, funding availability, union/collective bargaining agreement, location, and length of service with the State of Minnesota.