General Counsel (Attorney VI)

State of South Carolina • Richland County, SC

6d • Onsite

About The Position

Under the direction of the Agency Head, the General Counsel serves as the senior legal advisor for SCDES. This role provides strategic and authoritative legal guidance to executive leadership and program areas, ensuring compliance with state and federal environmental, administrative, and regulatory requirements. The General Counsel oversees and directs operations of Office of General Counsel (OGC), Office of Internal Audits (OIA), and Compliance Office (CO). This executive-level attorney leads complex legal strategy, manages litigation, guides multidisciplinary teams, and ensures accountability across multiple divisions that support the agency’s regulatory mission.

Requirements

• Member of the South Carolina Bar in good standing
• Juris Doctor (or equivalent) from an accredited law school
• At least 10 years of experience as a practicing attorney (including judicial clerkships or time spent completing an LL.M)
• Demonstrated experience directing, overseeing, or providing authoritative guidance on the work of other practicing attorneys or complex legal matters, even without formal supervisory titles
• Expert-level knowledge of legal principles, state and federal law, and regulatory frameworks
• Ability to conduct complex legal research and oversee advanced litigation
• Strong legal writing, oral advocacy, negotiation, and communication skills
• Ability to interpret and apply laws, judicial decisions, and regulatory requirements
• Proven ability to lead attorneys, compliance professionals, auditors, investigators, and multidisciplinary teams
• Must adhere to state and federal law and agency policies
• Must exercise high-level independent judgment and discretion with minimal supervision
• In-state travel and occasional overnight travel required
• Must be able to perform routine legal and managerial job functions
• Will lead divisions that require consistent accountability, staff development, and sound supervisory practices

Nice To Haves

• Experience in environmental, administrative, or regulatory law
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex litigation and advise executive leadership
• Experience leading multidisciplinary legal, compliance, audit, or enforcement teams
• Three (3) years of formal supervisory experience managing attorneys, including: Accountability and documentation, Assigning and monitoring workloads, Applying basic employment and supervisory practices, Leading teams through complex legal and regulatory matters

Responsibilities

• Directs operations of OGC, OIA, and CO to ensure coordinated legal, audit, enforcement, and compliance functions across the agency.
• Provides strategic legal guidance to executive leadership and program directors on emerging issues impacting SCDES.
• Provides written and oral legal opinions, interpretations, and training on statutes, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Conducts advanced legal research supporting agency initiatives, enforcement actions, and regulatory interpretations.
• Oversees litigation from inception through appeals in administrative tribunals and state and federal courts.
• Coordinates with external counsel, law enforcement entities, other state agencies, and regulatory bodies interacting with SCDES.
• Drafts, reviews, and finalizes complex legal documents to ensure accuracy and adherence to legal standards.
• Collaborates with program staff to ensure legal sufficiency of agency documents, enforcement actions, and regulatory records.
• Represents the agency in meetings, negotiations, legislative discussions, and stakeholder engagements.
• Responds to inquiries from the regulated community, counsel, legislators, regulatory partners, and media regarding legal matters.
• Performs additional responsibilities as assigned or approved by the Agency Head.

Benefits

• Health, dental, vision, long-term disability, and life insurance for employees, spouse, and children.
• 15 days annual (vacation) leave per year
• 15 days sick leave per year
• 13 paid holidays
• Paid parental leave
• S.C. Deferred Compensation Program available
• Retirement benefit choices: State Retirement Plan (SCRS) or State Optional Retirement Program (State ORP)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive