PUBLIC SERVICE ADMINISTRATOR - IMPLEMENTATION AND LITIGATION COUNSEL

State of Illinois•Springfield, IL

5d•$8,571 - $9,700•Hybrid

About The Position

The Illinois Department of Agriculture is hiring an Implementation and Litigation Counsel to join its legal team in a newly created leadership role. Reporting to the General Counsel, the position supervises an attorney and a paralegal and leads litigation support, policy implementation, and compliance initiatives. The counsel serves as the Department’s primary liaison to the Office of the Attorney General, oversees litigation-related matters, and guides operational changes prompted by new laws, audit findings, and court decisions. The position organizes and executes the legal framework supporting statewide programs established to administer new statutory mandates or programs assigned to the Department. It also drafts and proposes legislation and rules, coordinates contracts related to implementing new laws or rules, and conducts complex legal research. The role is a full-line supervisory position. Hybrid work may be available after successful completion of the probationary period, subject to operational needs; the anticipated schedule is three to five days per week in the office, depending on operational needs. The Department administers programs involving land and water conservation, animal health and welfare, fairs, regulation of seed, feed, and fertilizer products, grain dealers and warehouses, Illinois food and agricultural products, and horse racing. The position requires a valid Illinois law license, graduation from an accredited law school, and three years of progressively responsible administrative experience in the practice of law. Travel, including overnight travel, may be required. The role is a four-year term appointment, potentially renewable for successive four-year terms at the Director’s discretion, and is subject to a probationary period.

Requirements

Graduation from an accredited law school.
Possession of a valid license to practice law in Illinois.
At least three years of progressively responsible administrative experience in the practice of law.
Ability to travel for work; an appropriate, valid driver’s license is required, and overnight travel may be required.
Completion of a name-based background screening and self-disclosure of criminal history.

Nice To Haves

Two years of professional litigation support experience, including compiling administrative records, compiling and drafting discovery responses, and reviewing motions for accuracy.
Two years of professional experience implementing compliance with new or updated laws and policies.
Two years of professional experience reviewing proposed or newly passed legislation to evaluate its impact on an organization’s policies, rules, or statutes.
Two years of professional experience reviewing audit findings and recommending corrective action for non-compliance.
Two years of professional experience drafting policies, administrative rules, or similar regulatory guidelines.
Two years of professional experience conducting legal or legislative research.
Two years of professional experience monitoring federal laws or industry trends for their impact on an organization’s policies, rules, or statutes.

Responsibilities

Organize, plan, evaluate, and execute the legal framework supporting statewide programs established to administer new statutory mandates or programs assigned to the Department of Agriculture.
Draft and propose legislation and rules in response to industry practices, regulatory experience, and changes in laws and rules.
Prepare, review, and coordinate proposed contracts related to implementing new laws or rules, as assigned by the General Counsel.
Determine when extensive and complex legal research is required and conduct thorough research and prepare supporting documentation.
Serve as the Department’s Implementation and Litigation Counsel and primary liaison to the Office of the Attorney General.
Lead litigation support, oversee litigation-related matters, and guide policy implementation and compliance initiatives.
Supervise staff as a full-line supervisor, including an attorney and a paralegal.
Perform other duties reasonably within the scope of the listed responsibilities.