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Initial Posting Date:

11/02/2021

Application Deadline:

11/30/2021

Agency:

Judicial Department

Salary Range:

$8,286 - $13,494

Position Type:

Employee

Position Title:

Sr Staff Counsel (Assistant General Counsel, Contracts)

Job Description:

The policy of the Oregon Judicial Department requires all new employees, rehired employees and new temporary employees to initiate COVID-19 vaccination prior to hire and complete their COVID-19 vaccination series no later than 30 days post-hire, unless the employee receives a medical or religious exception/accommodation. New employees must submit vaccination documentation or be approved for an exception/accommodation prior to commencing employment. For more information email OJD.HRSD@ojd.state.or.us

Application Tips & Requirements

• Workday times out after approximately 15 minutes of inactivity.

• REQUIRED: A cover letter that demonstrates how you meet the Minimum Qualifications, Special Qualifications, and Requested Skills and Attributes , listed below.

• Prepare your cover letter before starting your Workday application.

• REQUIRED : a completed work history, either through your completion of the Job History (internal candidate) or Work Experience (external candidate) portion of your Workday profile, OR by attaching an updated resume.

• Your cover letter and work history must demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications, Special Qualifications, and Requested Skills and Attributes , listed below.

• You must follow all Instructions to be considered for this position.

• Failure to provide a completed work history and cover letter will result in your removal from consideration.

REMOTE POSITION

This position is currently remote and will remain mostly remote in the future. The person in this position should expect to occasionally attend meetings in person, both in Salem and elsewhere, as required.

UNDERFILL OPPORTUNITY

Note: This position may be filled at the Senior Staff Counsel level or as an underfill opportunity at the Staff Counsel level for attorneys who do not yet have the depth and breadth of experience at the Senior Staff Counsel level. Determination of the classification, with an offer of employment, will be made by the hiring manager and administrative authority. See the Filling this Position and Requested Skills & Attributes sections of this job posting for more details.

Office of General Counsel (OGC), part of the Office of the State Court Administrator ( OSCA ) within Oregon Judicial Department is hiring an Assistant General Counsel ( OJD Staff Counsel ).

OGC provides complex and comprehensive legal and policy advice to the Chief Justice, the State Court Administrator and all levels of the judicial branch of government on a statewide basis. OGC oversees, manages, and directs all aspects of legal advice, strategy and compliance particularly pertaining to court administration, OJD-related litigation, and contracting. OGC services promote statewide uniformity in judicial administration standards and policies in compliance with statutory and constitutional requirements. The person in this position will provide both contractual and bankruptcy expertise, including expertise in Oregon Public Contracting law.

Most of your time will be spent reviewing, analyzing, negotiating, and drafting a broad range of contract and transactional documents. These include purchase agreements, personal and trade services agreements, licensing agreements, real estate leases, construction-related documents, as well as intergovernmental agreements and their related amendments for the department (all OJD divisions and courts). You will also develop and maintain standard OJD contract templates.

You will also advise on public contracting law and policy, as well as on alternative contractual solutions to legal issues. You will manage and coordinate all legal aspects of pre- and post-contract administration, including solicitations and requests for proposals. You will identify potential contractual risks and determine legal approaches to limit that risk. You will advise OJD stakeholders of legal contractual obligations, and education and advise such stakeholders about how to best comply.

You will have other legal research, policy analysis, and legislative support tasks at the direction of the State Court Administrator, Oregon’s Chief Justice, and General Counsel.

Assigned tasks may be changed to accommodate workload and organizational needs. We welcome all candidates who are inspired by our work .

Instructions for Cover Letter, Work History or Resume

This recruitment requires a cover letter and complete work history tha t addresses the Requested Skills and Attributes. To be considered for this position, you must follow these instructions:

• Attach your updated resume in the Resume / CV / Cover Letter section of the application. OR Complete the Job History/Work Experience portion of your Workday profile if you are not using an updated resume.

• Attach your cover letter (not to exceed two pages) in the Resume / CV / Cover Letter section of the application.

• Address the cover letter “To the Hiring Manager.”

• In the body of your cover letter, please include responses to all eight (8) of the Requested Skills and Attributes (see below).

All application materials will be evaluated for consistency of information, and your letter will be evaluated for grammar, spelling, punctuation, and language use in addition to demonstrated experience.

Filling this Position

This position will be filled one of two ways:

• by appointment of an applicant who meets the minimum qualifications (as identified below) for an OJD Senior Staff Counsel or

• by developmental underfill of an applicant who meets the minimum qualifications (as identified below) for an OJD Staff Counsel.

OJD Senior Staff Counsel

If the successful applicant meets the minimum qualifications for the OJD Senior Staff Counsel classification, the successful applicant will immediately be appointed to the classification of OJD Senior Staff Counsel (salary range 29, $8,286 to $13,494 monthly).

Minimum Qualifications

The qualified candidate must have a minimum of five (5) years in the practice of law as a bar-licensed attorney, with considerable knowledge and experience: reviewing, analyzing, and negotiating contracts and managing risk; applying legal principles and precedents to particular facts; interpreting laws, rules, regulations, and statutes; performing comprehensive legal research and analysis; preparing and presenting complete and accurate oral and written reports, presentations and legal memoranda; and exhibiting excellent writing and communication skills.

AND

A juris doctorate degree from an accredited law school.

AND

Active Membership in good standing with the Oregon State Bar by start of employment.

OJD Staff Counsel

If the successful applicant does not meet the minimum qualifications for the OJD Senior Staff Counsel classification, they will be appointed to the classification of OJD Staff Counsel (salary range 26, $7,156 to $11,660 monthly).

Minimum Qualifications

The qualified candidate must have a minimum of one (1) year in the practice of law as a bar-licensed attorney, with knowledge and experience: reviewing, analyzing, and negotiating contracts and managing risk; applying legal principles and precedents to particular facts; interpreting laws, rules, regulations, and statutes; performing comprehensive legal research and analysis; preparing and presenting complete and accurate oral and written reports, presentations and legal memoranda; and exhibiting excellent writing and communication skills.

AND

A juris doctorate degree from an accredited law school.

AND

Active Membership in good standing with the Oregon State Bar by start of employment.

Requested Skills and Attributes

(These must be addressed in your cover letter for full consideration.)

• Experience providing legal advice and negotiation in contract law.

• Experience negotiating on behalf of an employer or client and conducting contract analyses.

• Experience assessing and managing risk.

• Skill and demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects concurrently.

• Experience performing complex research and analysis.

• Experience interpreting statutory, regulatory, and constitutional law as well as case law.

• Experience communicating orally and in writing complex concepts, alternative solutions, and potential outcomes.

• Knowledge and understanding of complex public contracts, business transactions and projects, public finance and bond requirements, and grant-supported projects in order to provide the necessary legal advice and contractual expertise related to such projects.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• This is a full-time position and the work schedule currently is 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. It is ineligible for overtime compensation for hours worked in excess of 40 per work week.

• Occasional after-hours or overtime work may be required.

• Frequent phone and in-person contact with people from diverse backgrounds.

• Frequent phone and in-person contact with people who may be facing challenging life circumstances or highly stressful situations.

• Regular use of the following equipment: telephone, personal computer with multiple monitors, copy machine, fax machine, and scanner.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Criminal Background Check
You will be subject to a criminal background check if you are a finalist. Adverse results are evaluated on a case-by-case basis and may result in disqualification if the circumstances are directly related to the duties and responsibilities of the position.
United States Employment Eligibility
OJD does not offer visa sponsorships. If you are hired, you will be required to fill out the US Department of Homeland Security’s I-9 form confirming you are able to work in the US.
Future Vacancies
Apply now if you are interested in this or future vacancies. This job announcement may be used to fill future vacancies in this class of work.
Veterans' Preference
Eligible veterans who meet the qualifications will be given preference in the recruitment process. To receive preference, veterans must attach the appropriate documentation after they receive an email in their Workday in box requesting the information to verify eligibility. The action item, asking veterans to attach their documentation, will arrive after they have submitted their initial application materials. Visit the Oregon job opportunities Veterans web page for additional details, information, and resources.
Conduct Expectations
Because of the Oregon Judicial Department's role in providing justice and upholding the rule of law, employees of the Department are required to meet the highest standards of professional conduct and ethics while on the job, and also to maintain those same high standards when taking actions in their personal lives that could reflect on the Department. As an employee, you will be expected to preserve the confidentiality of information received in the course of OJD employment.
Pay Equity
As an employer, the Oregon Judicial Department complies with Oregon’s pay equity law. We determine salary from applicable professional experience and education. For more information on pay equity,
Employee Benefits
Questions and Support

• If you require an alternate format to complete the application process, call 503-986-5930, or TTY: Oregon Relay Service 711 for the hearing impaired. Be prepared to describe the alternate format needed.

• Workday related information and resources are available at https://www.oregon.gov/jobs/Pages/index.aspx .

• For questions about a specific Oregon Judicial Department job posting, call 503-986-5930.
  

THE OREGON JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY, AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER COMMITTED TO WORK FORCE DIVERSITY.