General Counsel (SENIOR PUBLIC SERVICE ADMINISTRATOR, OPT. 8L)

State of Illinois • Chicago, IL

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) is seeking to hire a General Counsel who will plan, direct, and evaluate all functions and activities of the HFS Office of General Counsel. The General Counsel will provide technical legal advice to the HFS Director, Deputy Directors, and other HFS staff, ensuring the legal integrity of all Agency systems and operations supporting the Illinois Medicaid Program as well as Illinois Child Support services. As the HFS General Counsel, you will serve as a member of the Director’s senior leadership team and Executive Staff, helping to shape agency legal strategy and key policy decisions. You will also build and maintain effective working relationships with the Governor’s Office, the Office of the Illinois Attorney General, and other federal, state, and local partners.

Requirements

• Requires knowledge, skill and mental development equivalent to completion of four years of college.
• Requires graduation from a recognized law school.
• Requires possession of a license to practice law in the State of Illinois.
• Requires prior experience equivalent to four years of progressively responsible administrative experience in the practice of law.
• Requires the ability to travel.
• Candidates must possess a license to practice law in the State of Illinois.
• Strategic thinking, excellent judgment, and the ability to collaborate as a member of the HFS senior leadership team
• A creative yet principled and ethical approach to problem solving
• The ability to quickly master complex legal and policy issues thoroughly
• Experience managing and developing staff

Nice To Haves

• Demonstrated interest or experience in healthcare and Medicaid policy and law (preferred but not required)

Responsibilities

• Serves as General Counsel for the Department of Healthcare and Family Services.
• Plans, directs, and evaluates all functions and activities of the Office of the General Counsel; develops and implements program policies and procedures; provides technical legal advice to the Director, the Assistant Director, Deputy Directors, and other administrative staff throughout the Department to ensure the legal integrity of all Agency systems; establishes program goals and objectives and monitors and evaluates program effectiveness
• Serves as a full line supervisor; assigns and reviews work; provides guidance and training to assigned staff, counsels staff regarding work performance; reassigns staff to meet day-to-day operating needs; establishes annual goals and objectives; approves time off; adjusts first level grievances; effectively recommends and imposes discipline, up to and including discharge; prepares and signs performance evaluations; determines and recommends staffing needs
• Confers with subordinate managers regarding potential legal problems; advises staff regarding hearings; directs and design and implementation of new program initiatives; defines areas of departmental operations requiring study/research and directs the development of alternative methods and resolutions
• Initiates and establishes policies, standards, and procedural guidelines for operations carried out through the bureaus and sections within the Office; directs the development of and approves all program changes; initiates and implements work methods and procedures; acts on behalf of the Director; formulates Agency policies and represents Agency interests to other State officials; establishes budget priorities for the Office and directs their implementation
• Serves as a member of the Director's planning committee and Executive Staff; keeps the Director advised on all matters, problems, and progress within areas of responsibility
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with the members and officials of the Illinois General Assembly, the Office of the Governor, the Attorney General, the Bureau of the Budget, and other state, federal, and local agencies; serves in a liaison capacity with private and professional organizations to promote and explain Agency investigations, inspections, and security initiatives; travels to attend meetings and conferences
• Assists the Director in the development, establishment, and revision of departmental policies, rules, and regulations; confers with subordinate administrators regarding their program responsibilities; aligns and integrates program operations on an intra-agency basis; promotes the most efficient utilization of resources assigned to the program area
• Performs other duties as required or assigned, which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above

Benefits

• Health, Life, Vision, and Dental Insurance
• Pension Plan
• Paid Parental Leave
• Deferred Compensation Program and other pre-tax benefit programs (Medical/Daycare)
• Employees earn (12) paid Sick Days annually.
• New Employees earn (10) paid Vacation Days their first year of service and can earn up to (25) paid Vacation Days annually.
• Employees earn (3) paid Personal Days annually.
• (13-14) paid holidays annually (based on start date)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees