Senior Counsel

Job Description and Duties

Under general direction of the Assistant Chief Counsel, the Attorney IV serves as Senior Counsel and independently performs the department’s most complex, sensitive, and high-risk legal work requiring exceptional legal expertise, strategic judgment, and discretion. The incumbent serves as a senior legal advisor to executive leadership on matters involving significant operational, fiscal, regulatory, employment, litigation, and policy impact. Assignments involve novel legal theories, evolving areas of law, precedent-setting matters, and issues of statewide significance. The Attorney IV serves as lead counsel on major legal matters and provides legal strategy, consultation, mentoring, and subject matter expertise to attorneys, executives, and program leadership.

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Interviews will be scheduled once a significant candidate pool has been received. The application review will occur in stages, based on the following cutoff dates:

1st Cutoff Date: 8/16/2026

2nd Cutoff Date: 9/1/2026

3rd Cutoff Date: 9/16/2026

Applications received after a cutoff date may be considered in subsequent review periods until the position is filled.

Effective July 1, 2025, specific Bargaining Units and associated Excluded State employees are subject to a salary reduction between 2% - 4.62% in exchange for Personal Leave Program 2025 (PLP 2025) hours each month. For more details about  PLP 2025 , visit the California Department of Human Resources ( CalHR ) website.

This posting may be used to fill future vacancies in accordance with 2 CCR §249.3

You will find additional information about the job in the .

Working Conditions

Working location: 10601 Bear Hollow Dr, Rancho Cordova, CA 95670

Visa Sponsorship: CMD is not an E-Verify employer and does not offer visa sponsorship. All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of appointment.

Special Requirements

• The position(s) require(s) a(n) California State Bar License. You will be required to provide a copy of your license prior to being hired.

Employment History on the STD 678 must be complete and include dates, accurate hours per week, total time worked, duties and responsibilities, and contact names and phone numbers of supervisors.

Real ID Act: Effective May 31, 2025, and in accordance with the Real ID Act of 2005, access to all military installations will require a REAL ID compliant driver’s license or identification card issued by the DMV. Individuals who do not have a REAL ID must present one of the following acceptable alternative documents: a valid U.S. passport, a certified birth certificate, or an active or retired military ID.

For more information about the Real ID Act of 2005, visit  Congress.gov For details on how to apply for a REAL ID, visit  DMV.ca.gov .

Desirable Qualifications

In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate:

• Legal knowledge and experience related to California State Contracting, State Personnel, capital outlay, construction and building code, legislative affairs, military operations, and emergency response operations highly desirable.
• Litigation experience and management of litigation matters are highly desirable.
• Knowledge and experience working cases with investigators, administrative judges and arbitrators from various judicial bodies, including, but not limited to, the State Personnel Board, Office of Administrative Hearings, Superior Courts of California, California Courts of Appeal and Federal District and Appellate Courts.
• Experience as an Ethics Advisor.
• Must be able to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
• Juris Doctor Degree from an ABA accredited law school desired.

Benefits

Headquarters also offers:

• Free gated on-site parking.
• Free on-site gym
• On-site Café, Deli, and Grill

CMD offers a competitive pay schedule and a work-life balance for all its employees. The State of California provides comprehensive benefits packages determined by the employee’s bargaining unit and conditions of employment. Some benefits include:

• Alternative work schedules
• Flexible work hours
• Remote work options
• Lodging & Camping
• Medical benefits, including health, dental and vision insurance
• Paid holidays and a defined benefit retirement program
• More than four weeks of vacation/sick leave for leaders
• More than three weeks of vacation/sick leave for staff
• Health insurance in retirement
• Employee Assistance Program

Employees from the University of California (UC) or California State University (CSU) may be eligible to transfer prior service credit to State of California employment through CalPERS.

Benefit information can be found on the  CalHR website and the  CalPERS website.

Additional Application Requirements

Possession of Minimum Qualifications (MQ) will be verified prior to interview and/or appointment. If you are meeting MQ’s with education, you must include your unofficial transcripts/diploma for verification. Official transcripts may be required upon appointment. If it is determined an applicant does not meet the MQ’s, the candidate will be withheld from the eligibility list, rendering them inactive and ineligible to be hired for the position. Candidates who have been withheld may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board.

Applicants who completed their education outside of the US (with foreign degrees/transcripts) must obtain and submit verification of U.S. course/degree equivalency. Foreign education credential evaluation services can be found at  NACES | National Association of Credential Evaluation Services.

Required Application Package Documents

The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:

• Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
• Resume is required and must be included.