Legal Counsel - Labor and Employment (PUBLIC SERVICE ADMINISTRATOR)

Legal Counsel - Labor and Employment (PUBLIC SERVICE ADMINISTRATOR)We continually strive for a workforce that reflects the growing diversity within the State of Illinois. A variety of employee backgrounds, perspectives, ideas and experiences are crucial to our ability to most effectively serve the public. Bilingual skills welcome. Reasonable Accommodation Statement The State of Illinois is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to people with disabilities. Further, federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job, interview for a job, or for any other activity related to the hiring process. Examples of reasonable accommodation include, but are not limited to, making a change to the application process (if possible), providing documents in an alternate format, using a sign language interpreter, or using specialized equipment. To be provided a Reasonable Accommodation during the hiring process, you will need to provide a certification of disability from a physician, psychiatrist, school official or an Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS) Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Counselor. Supporting documentation should be uploaded under My Documents ? Additional Documents section for each application. Any questions on Reasonable Accommodations can be directed to Central Management Services Disability Resource Center at View email address on click.appcast.io or call View phone number on click.appcast.io for further information and to request or discuss an accommodation. Sponsorship for Employment The State of Illinois does not provide sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g. H-1B visa status), nor is the State able to provide extensions of optional practical training (OPT) under the STEM-designated degree program for F-1 students. To be considered for permanent employment with the State of Illinois, applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. Disclosure of Salary Information In compliance with the Illinois Equal Pay Act, 820 ILCS 112/1 et seq., the State does not seek, request, or require a job applicant's wage or salary history. Employment decisions are not made based on an applicant's wage or salary history. To that end, please do not include wage or salary information in your resume or other profile or application materials.Date: Oct 20, 2026 Location: Springfield, IL, US, 62701 Opening Date: 10/20/2026 Closing Date: 11/03/2026 Agency: Department of Early Childhood Class Title: PUBLIC SERVICE ADMINISTRATOR - 37015 Skill Option: Special License - Illinois Law License Bilingual Option: None Salary: Anticipated Starting Salary $8,571 - $10,000 per month ($102,852 - $120,000 per year) Job Type: Salaried Category: Full Time Number of Vacancies: 1 Bargaining Unit Code: None Merit Comp Code: Confidential (Management Bill) Exclusion from RC010 Collective Bargaining Coverage Work Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30am-5:00pm Anticipated Hybrid Work Schedule Availability: 2 to 5 Days per week in office, depending on operational needs Headquarter Location: 4800 Wabash Ave, Springfield, Illinois 62711 or 115 S Lasalle St, Chicago, Illinois, 60603 Work County: Sangamon or Cook Agency Contact: View email address on click.appcast.io A resume is highly encouraged to evaluate your qualifications and skills as part of your application. Please attach a DETAILED Resume/Curriculum Vitae (CV) to the MY DOCUMENTS section of your application if you decide to provide one.Why Work for Illinois? Working with the State of Illinois is a testament to the values of compassion, equity, and dedication that define our state. Whether you're helping to improve schools, protect our natural resources, or support families in need, you're part of something bigger—something that touches the lives of every person who calls Illinois home. No matter what state career you're looking for, we offer jobs that fit your life and your schedule—flexible jobs that provide the gold standard of benefits. Our employees can take advantage of various avenues to advance their careers and realize their dreams. Our top-tier benefits and great retirement packages can help you build a rewarding career and lasting future with the State of Illinois.Position Overview: Under the direction and subject to the approval of the General Counsel, the Legal Counsel – Labor and Employment for the Illinois Department of Early Childhood (IDEC) provides specialized legal guidance on labor and employment matters impacting the department. This position engages directly with union business representatives throughout the grievance process, ensuring contractual obligations are met and leveraging union partnership as appropriate. The Legal Counsel conducts extensive and complex legal research related to all functions of the Office of Legal Services, including state and federal statutes, regulatory requirements, and IDEC policies and procedures. In addition, the position serves as the secondary Office of Legal Services contact for Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, with primary responsibility for matters involving labor relations, personnel issues, and discrimination. The Legal Counsel performs other duties as assigned that are reasonably within the scope of responsibilities outlined above, supporting the overall mission and operations of IDEC's Office of Legal Services.If you are interested in contributing to the mission of a growing state agency dedicated to Early Childhood initiatives, we encourage you to apply for the Legal Counsel – Labor and Employment position with IDEC! Illinois Department of Early Childhood offers a robust benefit package including:Monday-Friday scheduleHealth, life, vision, and dental insurancePaid Parental leavePension PlanDeferred Compensation, and other pre-tax benefit programsEmployees earn (12) paid sick days annually(10-25) paid vacation days (based on years of service)Employees earn (3) paid personal days (pro-rated based on start date)(13-14) paid state holidays annuallyWork hours and schedule will be mutually agreed upon by supervisor during the onboarding process.Essential Functions:Serves as the Legal Counsel - Labor and Employment for the Illinois Department of Early Childhood (IDEC)Engages with Union business representatives as needed throughout the grievance processConducts extensive, complex legal research on legal issues related to all Legal Division functions, State and Federal Law, and IDEC Policy and ProceduresServes as secondary Legal Division Contact regarding Freedom of Information Act requests with a primary focus on labor, personnel, and discrimination requestsPerforms other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated aboveMinimum Qualifications:Requires graduation from an accredited school of lawRequires possession of a valid license to practice law in IllinoisRequires three (3) years of progressively responsible administrative experience in the practice of lawPreferred Qualifications:Experience providing legal representation in labor and employment matters, including handling discrimination charges before entities such as the Illinois Department of Human Rights, Illinois Human Rights Commission, and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionProven experience conducting thorough workplace investigations, including interviewing employees and management, analyzing evidence, and preparing legally sound findings and recommendations consistent with policy, past practice, and collective bargaining agreementsKnowledge of labor relations and experience working within a unionized environment, including engaging with union representatives, supporting grievance processes, and fostering collaborative labor-management relationshipsDemonstrated ability to conduct complex legal research and draft legal analyses, policies, or procedures involving State and Federal laws, particularly in areas related to labor, personnel, discrimination, or administrative lawExperience responding to or advising on Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, especially those involving labor, personnel, or discrimination matters, with the ability to review, analyze, and appropriately apply statutory disclosure and exemption requirementsConditions of Employment:Requires the ability to successfully pass a criminal history check through the Illinois State PoliceRequires the ability to successfully pass a Child Abuse and Neglect Tracking System (CANTS) background checkRequires ability to travel in the performance of duties, with overnight stays as appropriateRequires appropriate, valid driver's licenseRequires the ability to use and maintain state-issued equipment, such as a cell phone, laptop, and other necessary equipment as requiredOvertime is a condition of employment, and you may be requested or required/mandated to work overtime including scheduled, unscheduled, or last-minute overtime. This may require the ability to work evenings and weekendsCertain provisions of the revolving door restrictions contained in 5 ILCS 430/