Chief Legal Counsel [Deputy Director]

Ohio Department of Administrative Services•Columbus, OH

About The Position

As the Chief Legal Counsel, you will serve as the primary legal advisor to the Director, providing high-level counsel to Deputy Directors, Superintendents, and agency administrators. You will lead the Division of Legal Services and the Bureau of Records & Sentence Computation, ensuring that all agency operations, policies, and youth-related decisions are grounded in legal integrity and constitutional standards. The Ideal Leader: We are seeking a licensed attorney in the State of Ohio with a proven track record of executive leadership and an unwavering commitment to the ethics of public service.

Requirements

Admission to Ohio Bar pursuant to Section 4705.01 of Revised Code.
Job Skills: Attorney/Legal

Responsibilities

Strategic Legal Advisor
Executive Counsel: Provide advice and counsel to the Director, executive leadership, and agency staff on legal, ethics, and operational matters; guide enterprise legal strategy; and serve as executive risk manager.
External Liaison: Serve as the agency’s primary representative in legal matters with the Attorney General’s office, outside counsel, juvenile court judges, prosecutors and local law enforcement.
Litigation Management: Oversee litigation in federal, state, and local courts, including supervising settlement negotiations for pending litigation.
Policy, Compliance, and Advocacy
Regulatory Oversight: Interpret federal and state statutes to design, develop, and execute legal policy that aligns with agency goals.
Chief Ethics Officer: In addition to providing advice and counsel to agency leadership and staff, DYS Chief Legal Counsel is responsible for facilitating agency’s compliance with the Ohio Ethics Laws (R.C. Chapter 102; 2921.42/2921.43) and acting as a liaison with the Ohio Ethics Commission.
Juvenile Justice Research: Manage ongoing research into youth rights and juvenile justice legislation to ensure agency directives remain compliant with current laws.
Constitutional Integrity: Monitor the delivery of legal services to youth committed to DYS to ensure all constitutional requirements are met.
Administrative & Youth Records Leadership
Sentence Computation: Direct the development and implementation of policies used for youth sentence calculations and respond to legal inquiries regarding release dates.
Public Records Management: Oversee complex public records requests, ensuring compliance with Ohio law and managing required documentation.
Chief Records Officer: Oversee agency records management and retention, including youth records.