Division Director – Government Counsel and Accountability
Government Counsel & Accountability Division
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- Santa Fe
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Open until filled
Job Type: Full-time
Salary: $140,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Santa Fe, NM
Job Description:
The New Mexico Department of Justice is seeking a dynamic and experienced attorney to join our team as the Division Director for Government Counsel and Accountability. The director serves a critical role managing a team of attorneys and staff who are involved in an extremely wide range of legal issues and subject areas across the state. The Director will oversee management of the division and is responsible for coordinating client assignments, standardizing scope of representation expectations, and ensuring the Department of Justice is fulfilling its statutory obligations to represent state government clients with competent representation. The Director will build and lead a team of attorneys and staff with diverse backgrounds and workloads who serve together as an invaluable resource supporting policymaking bodies and other parts of state government. This team is also leaned on to support internal projects at the Department of Justice and work with public and nonprofit organizations on common issues involving good government and public transparency.
Responsibilities
Responsibilities:
- Division Management – oversee day-to-day operations of the division and implement policies and procedures focused on streamlining and improving outcomes for client representation, litigation, government complaints, training, and other projects in the office.
- Personnel Management – oversee personnel matters and employee development with the support of human resources and provide direct supervision and leadership to a deputy director and attorney and staff positions in the division.
- Representing State Governments: serve as assigned legal counsel to several state public bodies, work closely with staff and officers between meetings, represent clients in legal proceedings, conduct research and provide written and verbal legal guidance, training, and support.
- Government Accountability: oversee the review and investigation of alleged misconduct and noncompliance with government transparency and accountability laws, increase public outreach through trainings and other means, and build relationships with government and other groups necessary to improve compliance and promote government accountability.
- Training: oversee internal and external training as needed, including mentorship and professional training for employees as well as training programs for represented clients and the general public on government transparency laws.
Qualifications
The ideal candidate will have a passion for public service and a history of leadership providing competent legal advice with some or all of the following experience or skills:
- Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school.
- Admission to the New Mexico State Bar and in good standing, or the ability to acquire a limited law license.
- 6 years experience of legal practice, with 3 years of management experience preferred.
- Familiarity with public law and policy, including administrative law, rulemaking, adjudications, and appeals; as well as reading, interpreting, and applying or drafting statutes and regulations.
- Experience working with or for a public body or other organization that follows parliamentary procedures to discuss business, formulate policy, adopt rules, and vote to issue decisions, including experience following the New Mexico Open Meetings Act, Inspection of Public Records Act, Governmental Conduct Act, Procurement Code and related laws.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, proficient in learning and implementing new technology, and the ability to independently multi-task in a high-volume environment.
- Demonstrated experience effectively communicating with diverse groups of people, mentoring other staff, and conducting trainings is highly preferred.
- Familiarity with areas of law that affect the Division’s clients, which include but are not limited to: health and professional licensing; finance and property; environment and natural resources; cultural affairs; personnel appeals; public safety; and human rights.
- Supervisory or other demonstrated leadership experience, including evaluating, setting goals, addressing accountability, motivating and developing others.
