Legal Counsel - Labor and Employment (PUBLIC SERVICE ADMINISTRATOR)

State of Illinois•Springfield, MO

7d•Hybrid

About The Position

Under the direction and subject to the approval of the General Counsel, the Legal Counsel – Labor and Employment provides specialized legal guidance on labor and employment matters affecting the Illinois Department of Early Childhood (IDEC). The position engages directly with union business representatives throughout the grievance process, ensuring contractual obligations are met and using union partnership when appropriate. It conducts extensive and complex legal research on matters concerning the Office of Legal Services, including state and federal law, regulatory requirements, and IDEC policies and procedures. The role also serves as a secondary Office of Legal Services contact for Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, with primary responsibility for labor relations, personnel, and discrimination matters. Other duties may be assigned when reasonably within the scope of these responsibilities. The position is based at either the Springfield or Chicago headquarters and has an anticipated hybrid schedule of two to five days per week in the office, depending on operational needs. The listed work hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; work hours and schedule will be mutually agreed upon with the supervisor during onboarding. Overtime is a condition of employment and may be scheduled, unscheduled, or last-minute, potentially including evenings and weekends. Travel may be required, including overnight stays as appropriate. Employment is subject to criminal history and child abuse and neglect tracking system background checks, and requires a valid driver's license. The employee must be able to use and maintain state-issued equipment. Certain revolving-door restrictions apply, and the position requires annual Statements of Economic Interest and Supplemental Statements of Economic Interest.

Requirements

Graduate from an accredited school of law.
Possess a valid license to practice law in Illinois.
Have three years of progressively responsible administrative experience in the practice of law.
Successfully pass an Illinois State Police criminal history check.
Successfully pass a Child Abuse and Neglect Tracking System (CANTS) background check.
Be able to travel in the performance of duties, including overnight stays as appropriate.
Possess an appropriate, valid driver's license.
Be able to use and maintain state-issued equipment, such as a cell phone and laptop.
Be available to work overtime when requested or required, which may include evenings and weekends.
File required Statements of Economic Interest and Supplemental Statements of Economic Interest.

Nice To Haves

Experience representing clients in labor and employment matters, including handling discrimination charges before the Illinois Department of Human Rights, Illinois Human Rights Commission, or U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
Experience conducting workplace investigations, including interviewing employees and management, analyzing evidence, and preparing legally sound findings and recommendations consistent with policy, past practice, and collective bargaining agreements.
Knowledge of labor relations and experience in a unionized environment, including engaging with union representatives, supporting grievance processes, and fostering collaborative labor-management relationships.
Ability to conduct complex legal research and draft legal analyses, policies, or procedures involving state and federal laws, particularly labor, personnel, discrimination, or administrative law.
Experience responding to or advising on FOIA requests, particularly those involving labor, personnel, or discrimination matters, including reviewing and applying statutory disclosure and exemption requirements.

Responsibilities

Serve as Legal Counsel - Labor and Employment for the Illinois Department of Early Childhood, subject to management approval of the Deputy General Counsel.
Engage with union business representatives as needed throughout the grievance process, using them as a resource and involving them when contractually appropriate.
Conduct extensive and complex legal research on issues related to Legal Division functions, state and federal law, and IDEC policies and procedures.
Serve as the secondary Legal Division contact for FOIA requests, primarily involving labor, personnel, and discrimination matters.
Perform other duties reasonably within the scope of the position.