Employment Law, Attorney 5 (PN 20035992)

Please note: Effective October 1, 2025, the Ohio Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services has transitioned to its new name-the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health. This change reflects our continued commitment to providing comprehensive, person-centered care that addresses the full range of behavioral health needs for Ohioans. All positions and services now fall under the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health as we move forward in serving individuals, families, and communities across the state.

The Ohio Department of Behavioral Health is seeking an experienced employment law attorney with strong discovery, research, and writing skills that can provide legal advice and representation regarding an array of employment and labor law matters impacting the Department of Behavioral Health statewide operations. This position will provide expert legal consultation, policy guidance, and leadership for complex and high-risk employment issues. In this role, you will work closely with staff across the agency and liaison with external stakeholders, federal, state, and local partners, and constituents. The ideal candidate is a licensed Ohio attorney who is motivated, detail-oriented, and interested in working within a collaborative and professional work environment.

Additional preferred qualifications: 3 years of employment litigation experience, 5 years advising and providing expert legal guidance, to include: analyzing complex legal issues, researching legislation, advising on legal rights, obligations, and potential liability.

What you'll do at DBH:

Employment & Labor Law Consultation

• Serves as lead legal consultant for statewide employment and labor matters, including discipline, investigations, collective bargaining, accommodations, EEO, ADA, FMLA, public records related to personnel, and workforce policy issues.
• Researches, analyzes, and interprets federal and state employment laws.
• Advises agency leadership, HR, and program administration on legal risk and compliance.

Statewide & Multi-Agency Initiatives

• Plans, directs, and coordinates legal activities for major departmental and system-wide initiatives.
• Serves as DBH legal representative on statewide and multi-agency workgroups and policy committees.
• Reviews and analyzes proposed legislation, administrative rules, and regulatory actions affecting employment and labor operations.

Lead Attorney & Legal Oversight

• Provides ongoing and project-based legal consultation to agency leadership.
• Directs preparation and reviews legal documentation, including legal opinions, memoranda, correspondence, and contracts.
• Exercises independent judgment on complex legal issues and serves as liaison with the Ohio Attorney General's Office on assigned employment and labor matters.
• Coordinates with the agency's legislative liaison regarding employment-related statutory and rule changes.

Litigation & Administrative Proceedings

• Assists the Chief Legal Counsel and Legal Office Chief with employment-related litigation and administrative proceedings, including matters before the Ohio Court of Claims and Federal and state courts.
• Participates in pre-trial conferences; reviews case documentation; assesses legal risk; and develops recommendations regarding settlement, resolution, or appeal.
• Ensures consistency with agency policy and DAS standards in the development and management of case materials.

This is an hourly position and is exempt from the bargaining units, with a pay range of 15 on the E1 Exempt Pay Range Schedule. Normal working hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm (Flexible Schedule).

Unless required by any applicable union contract and/or requirements of the Ohio Revised Code, the selected candidate will begin at Step 1 of the pay range schedule listed above, with an opportunity for pay increase after six months of satisfactory performance and then a yearly raise thereafter.

Additional Salary / Appointment Information:

This position is unclassified per 124.11 (A) (9), Ohio Revised Code.

Admission to Ohio Bar pursuant to Section 4705.01 of Revised Code; 18 mos. exp. as licensed attorney; 6 mos. exp. in supervisory principles/techniques.

Job Skills: Attorney/Legal