General Counsel

Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services•Jackson, MS

57d•$101,626 - $152,592•Onsite

About The Position

The Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services (MDCPS) is committed to protecting and nurturing Mississippi's at-risk children and families. MDCPS offers a variety of positions statewide, including social work positions providing case management services and working with potential foster families, supervisor positions providing clinical and administrative support, and agency support positions such as policy development, human resources, information technology, program management, training, and budgeting/finance. Working with MDCPS will give you the chance to make a life-changing difference for Mississippi's most vulnerable children and families.

Requirements

Mississippi Bar license required.
Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite and related program software.
Demonstrate integrity.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Ability to adapt quickly.
Courteous.
Ability to maintain confidentiality.

Nice To Haves

10+ years of legal experience in Youth Court/Chancery Court.
Demonstrated interest in child welfare law.

Responsibilities

Serves as chief legal officer and is responsible for the Office of Legal Counsel.
Handles all legal matters affecting MDCPS’s operations.
Works with programmatic areas and senior leadership providing legal guidance and opinions on matters of law and policy related to programs and service delivery.
Coordinates with the Office of the Attorney General and outside counsel on litigation matters.
Assists in the identification of needed legislation and the preparation of proposed legislation under the direction of the Commissioner of MDCPS.
Responsible for the oversight and development of federally required program improvements plans, their implementation and required federal reporting, as well as the internal audit and internal investigation.
Provides direct supervision to the Administration Deputy.
Responsible for overseeing the legal aspects of the agency’s contracts/procurement work, including supervising the attorneys who draft scopes, contract provisions, and MOUs.
Supervises the attorneys who manage eligibility issues in cooperation with the Eligibility Unit.
Provides legal counsel on HR and employment matters.
Assists the General Counsel with issues related to federal regulatory compliance, including grants management.
Assists with policy/procedure work.
Assists with civil matters in which the Office of the Attorney General represents the agency.
Provides direct supervision to the Agency Representation Deputy General Counsel responsible for matters concerning child welfare in Youth and Chancery Courts.
Supervises attorneys who prepare social workers for courtroom testimony throughout the state.
Supervises attorneys who process public information requests and provide legal guidance regarding privacy and confidentiality.
Responsible for oversight and tracking of the Termination of Parental Rights processes.
Monitors and tracks adoption for the Pathways to Permanency initiatives within the agency.

Benefits

Health/Prescription Insurance (single or family coverage with affordable co-payments).
Wellness and health promotion program (annual benefits for certain services with first-dollar coverage with no deductible).
Life Insurance (actual term life insurance policy upon employment, coverage is two times the employee’s annual salary to a maximum of $100,000).
Optional Insurances (discounted premiums for dental, vision, and cancer insurance).
Flexible Spending Accounts (pre-tax spending accounts for childcare expenses and unreimbursed medical expenses).
Paid Personal Leave and Sick Leave (Full-time employees receive paid time off for personal needs and for sick leave. Leave begins accruing after one month of employment. Employees earn approximately 18 days of personal leave annually and 12 days of sick leave annually).
Military Leave (15 days per year for military training).
Holidays (up to 10 paid holidays).
Retirement Programs (Defined Benefit/Defined Contribution Retirement Program; employees become vested after 8 years of employment).
Deferred Compensation (voluntary retirement savings plan).
State Credit Union (eligibility to participate in the Mississippi Public Employees’ Credit Union).
Tuition Reimbursement (opportunities for employees to achieve higher education).
Career Development Training (management and administrative certification programs, professional development courses, technical training, and membership in professional organizations).
Promotional Opportunities (eligible for promotional opportunities within state government employment after 6 or more months of service).
Career Ladders (opportunities based upon attainment of competencies that can increase an individual’s salary).