Contracts Lawyer (Staff Attorney 2)

Hybrid

Recruitment #230811-0088AR-001

Location

Hartford, CT

Date Opened

8/15/2023 12:00:00 AM

Salary

$97,141 - $124,310/year (*New State Employees start at the minimum of the salary range)

Job Type

Open to the Public

Close Date

9/13/2023 11:59:00 PM

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Introduction

We invite qualified individuals to apply for the position of Staff Attorney 2 in the DSS Office of Legal Counsel, Regulations and Administrative Hearings as a Contracts Lawyer.

The State of Connecticut, Department of Social Services (DSS), has a mission that we, along with our partners, provide person-centered programs and services to enhance the well-being of individuals, families and communities.

What we can offer you:

The opportunity to work for a Forbes top company: 'Forbes' State of Connecticut Ranked One of the Best Employers of 2023 - State of CT Receives National Recognition for Offering Job Growth, Competitive Benefits, and Flexible Schedule.
NEW: A Platinum Healthcare Plan, the nation’s best for state employees and dependents, according to a report by Georgetown’s Center on Health Insurance Reform and article by Ellen Andrews, Ph.D., along with comprehensive benefit offerings
Extensive pension plan and supplemental retirement offerings.
Generous paid time off, including 13 paid holidays per calendar year.
Professional growth and development opportunities.
A healthy work/life balance to all employees.

What you will be doing:

Work with the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) as warranted and be responsible for providing legal support and advice to the Commissioner and others at the DSS.
Review Personal Service Agreements, Consultant Agreements, processes and polices relating to the issuance of permits, licenses, and other types of contractual arrangements.
Provide support to others within the Legal staff, as needed.
Work closely with the Agreements Unit at the DSS.
Perform complex legal analysis and legal research, interpreting policies, contracts, statutes, and regulations, understanding various grants and funding sources, determining issues of conflicting laws, and reviewing court decisions and case law. The focus of the Agreements are matters within the business of the DSS and relate to social services operations, projects, and initiatives.

The ideal candidate should have good organizational skills in order to efficiently and effectively handle a large volume of work. The candidate should be able to work collaboratively with others in and outside of the DSS.

Position highlights:

Work Hours Per Week: 40 hours; Monday - Friday
Work Shift: First
Location: Hybrid, Central Office at 55 Farmington Avenue, Hartford, CT.

Selection Plan

The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
Please note that DSS takes part in the E-Verify system, which is a web-based system that allows enrolled employers to confirm the eligibility of their employees to work in the United States.
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.
In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process.
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 question'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.
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, transcripts, diplomas, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency. Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications as indicated to apply for this position.
Please visit our Applicant Tips on How to Apply page.
Should you have questions pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Liz Pinette at elizabeth.pinette@ct.gov
This position will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules.
The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.
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.

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In a state agency this class is accountable for independently performing a full range of tasks in the legal work of the agency.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

Performs advanced and complex legal work of an agency; researches, interprets, analyzes and applies complex and conflicting laws and regulations, case law and legal principles; acts as hearing officer or represents agency in formal administrative and public proceedings on a full range of cases involving complex legal and technical issues; negotiates and drafts settlement agreements; drafts advisory opinions, rulings, decisions, recommendations, findings, legislation, statutes, regulations, publications and other related legal documents; assists in the preparation and presentation of trials and appeals; consults with the Office of the Attorney General on legal issues; researches complex legal issues; conducts investigations and enforcement proceedings; prepares comprehensive reports for use in administrative and court proceedings; prepares pleadings and other court papers; interprets and applies complex or conflicting laws and regulations, case law and legal principles; participates in the conduct of various educational activities; provides legal guidance when duly authorized; provides input into policy formation; may testify at or monitor legislative proceedings; may represent agency in court when authorized; reviews court decisions, new and proposed laws and regulations to determine impact on agency operations; prepares and maintains precedent manuals; reviews legal and other related documents for legal sufficiency; performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

Considerable knowledge of legal principles, practices and procedures in Connecticut; considerable knowledge of legal research techniques; considerable knowledge of the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act; considerable knowledge of and the ability to interpret and apply relevant state and federal laws, statutes, regulations and legislation; considerable knowledge of relevant agency policies and procedures; knowledge of the rules of evidence; knowledge of criminal and constitutional law and legislative process; considerable interpersonal skills; considerable oral and written communication skills; considerable ability to apply judicial decisions to the interpretation of statutes; considerable ability to comprehend, analyze and organize technical data and coordinate elements of legal cases.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

STAFF ATTORNEY 2: Two (2) years of experience in the practice of law.
STAFF ATTORNEY 3: Three (3) years of experience in the practice of law at the level of Staff Attorney 2 in the same state agency.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Experience drafting and negotiating complex contractual agreements and statements of work related to large data systems or professional services agreements in healthcare-related industries.
Experience drafting and negotiating licensing or software agreements.
Experience drafting or negotiating agreements involving the transfer of state and federal funding to contractual subrecipients.
Experience drafting and negotiating cooperative agreements, such as memoranda of understanding or memoranda of agreement.
Experience working with or supporting government or corporate contract or procurement units.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

1. Must be admitted to practice law in the State of Connecticut.
2. May be required to travel.

Conclusion

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.