Ethics Commission Investigations Counsel

State of North Carolina•424 N. Blount Street Wake, NC

4d•$91,249 - $117,671•Onsite

About The Position

The primary purpose of the State Ethics Commission ("the Commission") is to implement and enforce the State Government Ethics Act, Chapter 138A of the North Carolina General Statutes ("the Ethics Act"), Chapter 120C of the General Statutes ("the Lobbying Law") and other related laws, rules and regulations. The Commission pursues its mission through multiple means reflected in four units: I. Education: Education of persons subject to the Ethics Act and Lobbying Law and enforcement of the education requirement; II. SEI: Administration of statutorily required financial disclosure reporting for individuals subject to the Ethics Act, including the acceptance, individualized review and evaluation, and publication of over 6,500 covered officials; and enforcement of SEI filing requirements through the assessment of fines against untimely or noncompliant officials; III. Advice: Interpretation of the Ethics Act and Lobbying Law and advice to persons subject to those laws; and IV. Complaints: Enforcement of the Ethics Act’s gift ban, use of title restrictions, and conflicts of interest standards; and applicable Lobbying Law provisions through investigation of complaints alleging violations. The Investigations Counsel investigates confidential complaints filed by citizens against persons subject to the Ethics Act or Lobbying Law or which are initiated by the Commission. Those complaints proceed through a legal process overseen by the Commission and that may result in a public hearing before the Commission and proceedings before the Office of Administrative Hearings. The Investigations Counsel will conduct the investigation and represent the Commission through all stages of those legal proceedings. Requires frequent interactions with public officials, their counsel, and various witnesses. This position will report to the Executive Director.

Requirements

Experienced lawyer licensed to practice law by the North Carolina State Bar.
Considerable knowledge of case, statutory, regulatory, and common law, particularly the State Government Ethics Act, Lobbying Law, Open Meetings Law, and Public Records Act.
Demonstrated ability to conduct complex litigation before administrative agencies and trial and appellate courts.
Experience with interpreting and applying laws, constitutional provisions, statutes, administrative regulations, and court decisions.
Experience analyzing facts, evidence, and legal instruments.
Experience expressing legal concepts clearly and logically in oral and written form.
Ability to analyze legal problems and render formal opinions.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with agency personnel, high-level public officials, and members of the public.
Computer literacy, including intermediate knowledge of the Commission’s SEI database and word processing, calendaring, spreadsheet, presentation, and email software, including Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft PowerPoint.
Licensed to practice law by the North Carolina State Bar and three years of progressively responsible professional legal experience.

Nice To Haves

Ability to manage legal and professional staff.
Five years of progressively responsible professional legal experience.
A minimum of two years of management experience.
Experience in complex regulatory compliance at the state or federal level.
Investigative or prosecutorial experience.
Experience in the field of ethics and lobbying regulation and/or enforcement.
Experience in public speaking.

Responsibilities

Independently investigate confidential complaints filed by citizens or investigations initiated by the Ethics Commission against public officials subject to the Ethics Act, lobbyist and lobbyist principals subject to the Lobbying Law, and campaign finance investigations referred by the State Board of Elections.
Represent the Commission through all stages of legal proceedings, including presenting details of complaints to Commission Panels for determination of further investigation and violations of the law.
Conduct hearings before the Commission upon a probable cause finding in complaints filed against covered Executive Branch officials.
Provide individualized legal advice to agency General Counsels, Ethics Liaisons, and officials subject to the Ethics Act regarding the Act’s gift ban, conflict of interest, and use of title provisions.
Assist with the issuance of informal advisory opinions interpreting the Lobbying Law’s reporting and registration requirements.
Prepare formal advisory opinions interpreting the Ethics Act or Lobbying Law for consideration by the Commission.
Assist with SEI compliance, including statutorily required filing reminders, notices of potential fines, and presentation of fine recommendations to the Commission.