Legal Counsel

Overview

Under the general direction of the Business Committee, the Sr Legal Counsel - Deputy General Counsel supports the tribe in overseeing all legal functions of the organization. This role involves implementing short- and long-term strategies impacting the organization's legal function, providing legal advice and counsel, serves as legal advisor to the Tribe and various boards and commissions; represents the Tribe before governmental agencies to promote the interest of the Tribe; performs complex and important legal work including litigation and appeals and ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

Responsibilities

• Drafts, reviews, and approves ordinances, resolutions, contracts, deeds, leases, and other legal documents.
• Attends and provides legal counsel at meetings of the Tribal Council, advisory boards, and commissions as requested.
• Represents the Tribe before governmental bodies and agencies to promote the Tribe's interests.
• Provides legal advice to Tribal officials and departments.
• Prepares cases for trial and represents the Tribe in litigation and appeals.
• Recommends and oversees services provided by outside legal specialists.
• Hires, trains, develops, empowers, coaches, counsels, conducts performance and salary reviews, resolves problems, provides open communication vehicles, disciplines, and recommends terminations as appropriate.
• Conducts legal research and prepares legal opinions for the Tribal Council, Tribal departments, boards and commissions.
• Ensures compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
• Builds a work environment that promotes teamwork, partnership, recognition, mutual respect, collaboration, performance feedback/management, and Team Member satisfaction while role modeling the company values, behaviors, and culture of One.Team.Chumash.
• Performs other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor Degree from a recognized law school and membership in a Bar Association.
• Ten years of previous experience in Native American Law or related field.
• Computer proficiency utilizing Microsoft applications, email, and Internet
• Native American hiring preference applies.
• External (Strategic) Awareness: Having the ability to put things in context and think broadly. Involves consideration and understanding of future business needs within a changing (external) environment (social, political, economic, and related industries, and technology), how process, methods, and resource requirements might be affected by future trends and developments, and developing long-term goals and strategies extending over a significant time span (i.e. 3-5 years).
• Functional Expertise and Usage: Acquiring and applying functional knowledge in an area of specialty that is not technical.
• Accountability: Accepting responsibility that results in anticipation/prevention of problem areas from actions, and problem solving inside and outside the department/organization.
• Oral Communication : Shaping and expressing ideas and information in an effective manner.
• Written Communication : Expressing ideas and opinions clearly in properly structured, well organized, and grammatically correct reports or documents; utilizing language and terminology that is understandable for the reader.

Location

100 Via Juana Drive

Minimum Pay Rate

$237,282 annually

Maximum Pay Rate

$296,603 annually