General Counsel

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This position is in the DC Department of Employment Services (DOES), Office of the General Counsel (OGC). The General Counsel serves as the agency’s chief legal advisor, providing strategic and operational legal guidance on all matters affecting the agency’s programs and operations. Key practice areas include unemployment insurance law and policy, grants and federal funding compliance, First Source Law implementation and enforcement, wage and hour regulation, Labor and employment law, occupational safety and health, contracts and procurement, privacy and data sharing, and administrative law.

About the Role

As the General Counsel of DOES you will serve as the principal legal advisor to the Director of DOES and the executive leadership team on all legal, policy, and strategic issues.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the Office of the General Counsel; supervise staff attorneys, legal assistants, and interns.
• Provide authoritative legal counsel on unemployment insurance law and policy, including eligibility determinations, benefits administration, appeals, and compliance with U.S. Department of Labor requirements.
• Oversee legal strategy and litigation in unemployment insurance matters, First Source Law enforcement, wage and hour cases, and other agency programs, coordinating with the Mayor’s Office of Legal Counsel and the Office of the Attorney General.
• Direct the development, review, and negotiation of federal and local grants, including ensuring compliance with federal cost principles, Uniform Guidance, and District procurement regulations.
• Draft and review proposed legislation, regulations, policies, and rulemakings related to First Source Law, unemployment insurance, workforce development, and Labor standards to support the agency’s strategic initiatives.
• Provide counsel on the intersection of local and federal workforce policy, including the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and related federal Labor statutes.
• Advise on the legal sufficiency of contracts, memoranda of understanding, and other legal instruments.
• Provide timely and strategic guidance on high-profile or time-sensitive legal and policy issues, including interactions with the Mayor, the Council of the District of Columbia, federal agencies, the media, and key stakeholders.
• Advise on Labor-management relations, personnel matters, and employee discipline affecting agency staff.
• Ensure compliance with ethics, privacy, and government transparency requirements.

Qualifications

Licenses and Certifications

Pay range and compensation package

The pay range is $138,443.00 / yr - $209,220.00 / yr

Equal Opportunity Statement

The District of Columbia Government is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, family responsibilities, matriculation, physical handicap, or political affiliation.

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