Position: Senior Associate General Counsel

Salary range: $42.31 – $62.75 / hourly; $88,343 – $131,022 / annually

Closing date: 08/21/2024

Contact: If you have questions about this position, contact Patty Atchison at patty.atchison@state.mn.us

For full job description, requirements, benefits, and how to apply, please visit the Minnesota State Career Website (https://mn.gov/mmb/careers) and search for Job ID: 78758.

Job Summary

This posting will be used to fill two Senior Associate General Counsel positions. These are new positions established to provide additional legal support to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Industrial Division. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (“Agency”) regulates environmental pollution through the authority of state and federal statutes, including the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, RCRA, CERCLA/MERLA, MEPA, and other state and federal laws and rules. The Agency’s Legal Services Unit (LSU) provides legal support to state environmental programs that issue permits, conduct compliance and enforcement, and oversee investigation and remediation of contaminated sites. As a Senior Associate General Counsel at the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), this position serves as an in-house staff attorney providing legal advice, counsel, and direction on complex legal matters to agency programs and staff, including senior and executive leadership. Further, the position will ensure that programs and policies are administered in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. You will research and interpret federal and state laws, regulations, and court cases; analyze laws, regulations, literature, and reports in order to develop and provide guidance for programs and procedures of the agency; develop and conduct technical training on legal matters associated with assigned agency programs and policies; assist the agency with rulemaking; and develop, draft and review legislation for the agency. This position will have an emphasis on specific program areas, including industrial facility permitting, and compliance and enforcement. The position will assume ability as legal and subject matter expert in core regulatory programs applicable to industrial division programs and to advise and support the agency on complex related issues and matters.

Minimum Qualifications

Candidates must clearly demonstrate the following qualifications:
• Juris Doctor Degree with four years of experience in the practice of law with working knowledge of administrative or regulatory law.
• Current license and in good standing to practice law in the State of Minnesota.
• Experience in the application of environmental laws and statutes, governmental organization, and legislative process.
• General knowledge of Minnesota Data Practices Act, Federal Freedom of Information Act, or other state law equivalents.
• General knowledge of records or document management and of Minnesota official records laws or other state law equivalents.
• Experience with or ability to develop, review, and analyze proposed legislation.
• Effective communication skills to work effectively with a wide range of people, including technical and scientific staff, and the ability to understand scientific and technical information and data.
• Self-motivated with ability to work collaboratively with other lawyers and program staff and to independently research and resolve legal and policy issues as they arise.
• The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency will not sponsor applicants for work visas. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced knowledge and experience advising clients on the application of federal and state environmental laws and regulations applicable to the work of the Agency.
• Experience with the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, Federal Freedom of Information Act, or other state law equivalents.
• Experience or knowledge of the legislative process as well as developing, reviewing, and analyzing proposed legislation and legislative policy.
• Experience resolving legal disputes through negotiated settlements, litigation, and appeals.
• Experience writing legal memoranda and other legal documents.
• Experience with management of large volumes of document and records.
• Experience with development of or participating in training programs.
• Experience with the Administrative Procedure Act and administrative process as it pertains to public participation, public hearing requirements and all other legal requirements.