Agency Legal Director

The State of Connecticut, Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) mission is to promote public safety and regulate drivers, their motor vehicles, and certain vehicle-related businesses, through the delivery of exceptional customer service to internal and external customers.

The DMV is currently recruiting for a full-time Agency Legal Director in our Legal Division. This position is responsible to perform legal functions related to the legislative process for the Department of Motor Vehicles. They are responsible to review all bills that are submitted to legislature on a daily basis to evaluate their possible impact to the agency.

This is a full-time, 40 hours per week, Monday through Friday position located in Wethersfield, CT.

*This salary range shall increase effective July 1, 2022.

To Apply:

• In order to be considered for this job opening you must be a current State of CT employee of the agency listed above for at least six (6) months of full-time service or full-time equivalent service, absent any applicable collective bargaining language, and meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening. You must specify your qualifications on your application.
• The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
• Ensure that your application is complete and detailed before submitting it. In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process. You will not be able to make revisions once your application is submitted into the JobAps system.
• All application materials must be received by the recruiting agency by the time specified on the job opening for the position for which you are applying. Late applications may not be submitted and will not be considered. Exceptions are rare and limited to documented events that incapacitate a candidate during the entire duration of the job posting time period. It is the candidate’s obligation and responsibility to request an exception and provide a legally recognized justification to accommodate such exception. Requests should be made to DAS.SHRM@ct.gov.

Important Information After You Apply:

• This posting may require completion of additional referral questions (RQs). You can access these RQs via an email that will be sent to you after the posting's closing date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section). Your responses to these RQs must be submitted by the questionnaire's expiration date. Please regularly check your email and JobAps Personal Status Board for notifications. Please check your SPAM and/or Junk folders on a daily basis in the event an email provider places auto-notification emails in a user's spam.
• Although applicants will receive correspondence via email, as a backup they are also encouraged to sign on to their Personal Status Board on a daily basis to monitor their status, view all emailed notices and complete tasks required in the recruitment process.
• Note: At any point during the recruitment process, applicants may be required to submit additional documentation which support their qualification(s) for this position. These documents may include: a cover letter, resume, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency.
• Interviews will be limited to candidates whose experience and training most closely meet the requirements of the position.
• The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.

Connect With Us:

Due to the large volume of applications received, we are unable to provide confirmation of receipt or status during the recruitment process. Updates will be available through your JobAps portal account. Should you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment, please contact jennifer.neumann@ct.gov.

In a state agency this class is accountable for directing the legal staff of the agency and acting as legal advisor to the Commissioner, in consultation with the Attorney General's office on complex legal issues.

Directs staff and operations of the agency's legal division; coordinates, plans and manages division activities; formulates program goals and objectives; develops or assists in development of related policies; interprets and administers pertinent laws; evaluates staff; prepares or assists in preparation of division budget; maintains contacts with individuals both within and outside of division who might impact on program activities; in consultation with the Attorney General's office, directs the research of legal issues or researches complex legal issues relating to the agency; examines potential litigation and makes recommendations to agency Commissioner; drafts legal memoranda, legal opinion letters or declaratory rulings; participates in the drafting and review of all proposed legislation, regulations and agency policies and guidance documents; oversees the drafting and administrative review of all agency contracts and agreements; may manage all FOIA requests for the agency; conducts investigations as required; may act as agency legislative liaison; may testify before legislative committee; performs related duties are required.

Considerable knowledge of and ability to apply management principles and techniques; considerable knowledge of relevant state and federal laws, statutes and regulations; considerable knowledge of the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act; considerable knowledge of relevant agency policies and procedures; considerable knowledge of and ability to interpret relevant State and Federal laws, statutes and regulations; considerable knowledge of legal practices and procedures in federal courts and state venues; considerable knowledge of legislative processes; considerable interpersonal skills; considerable oral and written communication skills.

Five (5) years of experience as an attorney with some responsibility for research, development, planning and review of legislative and/or regulatory programs.

Two (2) years of the General Experience must have been in a supervisory or managerial capacity.

NOTE: Managerial experience is defined as formulating program goals and objectives, developing and implementing program procedures, initiating program policies and developing and/or monitoring a budget.

• Experience with Department of Motor Vehicles services laws, and regulations.
• Experience with leading, managing and/or supervising legal staff.
• Experience providing legal analysis and/or statutory interpretation.
• Experience with managing litigation, including at the trial and appellate levels.
• Experience with managing a large volume of work and prioritizing effectively to achieve results in a set timeframe.
• Experience performing legal research and writing.
• Experience in handling or providing oversight of administrative/procedural hearings.

Must be admitted to practice law in the State of Connecticut.

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.