Deputy General Counsel

General Statement of Duties and Responsibilities:


The Deputy General Counsel (DGC) position will provide oversight and direction to ensure the agency is adhering to applicable laws, regulations and/or policies.


The DGC will report to the General Counsel (GC) and, in collaboration with the GC, will provide oversight and supervision to staff within the Office of the General Counsel (OGC), including but not limited to attorneys, hearing examiners, and program coordinators, as well as the staff of the Life Sentence Unit.


The OGC serves as the legal advisor to the Parole Board providing legal advice and guidance on all matters which affect the agency. The OGC represents the Parole Board in all litigation matters affecting the agency in the state's trial courts and represents the agency in labor and employment matters. It further develops agency regulations and policies and monitors and drafts parole-related legislation as well as contracts and memoranda of understanding. The OGC responds to discovery requests and public records requests, as well as reviews life sentence decisions, processes and reviews termination petitions, reviews requests for reasonable accommodations and makes any necessary referrals consistent with its obligations under the Americans with Disabilities Act. The OGC also thoroughly reviews and processes petitions for executive clemency and sends recommendations from the Advisory Board of Pardons to the Governor's Office.


In order to assist in carrying out the duties of the OGC, the DGC will often confer with members of the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, the Attorney General's Office, District Attorneys' Offices, the Committee for Public Counsel Services, the courts, the media, incarcerated individuals, and the public. The DGC will not only supervise and provide guidance to OGC and Life Sentence Unit staff but will also carry their own caseload including civil litigation matters. The DGC will also respond to union grievances, subpoenas, and inquiries from other agencies. The DGC will work to resolve any conflicts so as to ensure efficient operations including reviewing and updating policies and procedures.


The DGC will be responsible for ensuring that the agency abides by the necessary deadlines set by statute, regulation, and policy with a particular emphasis on life sentence matters. The DGC will also serve as the primary liaison for all attorneys and/or third-party individuals relative to matters pertaining to Life Sentence Hearings.


The DGC will perform other related duties, as assigned by the GC.


The DGC will be familiar with the theories, principals, and practices of parole including the applicable statutes and the Parole Board's regulations and policies.


Additionally, the DGC will have knowledge of the Commonwealth's laws, familiarization with the court system, particularly civil litigation, and public records law, knowledge of the CORI laws and their applicability to discovery and public records requests, knowledge of employment law including collective bargaining and labor law.


The DGC will have the ability to anticipate difficult personnel situations and resolve conflicts effectively, the ability to maintain harmonious working relationships with others while providing management, guidance, and oversight, the ability to exercise sound judgment, and the ability to communicate effectively and lead multiple project teams simultaneously.

Qualifications:
MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS:


Applicants must have at least (A) six (6) years of full-time or, equivalent part-time, professional, administrative, supervisory, or managerial experience in a particular specialty (i.e. scientific, professional, or technical) and must possess current license and/or registration requirements established for the performance of the position, of which (B) at least two (2) years must have been in a project management, supervisory or managerial capacity or (C) any equivalent combination of the required experience and substitutions below.


Substitutions:


I. A certificate in a relevant or related field may be substituted for one (1) year of the required (A) experience.


II. A Bachelor's degree in a related field may be substituted for two (2) years of the required (A) experience.


III. A Graduate degree or higher in a related field may be substituted for three (3) years of the required (A) experience.


IV. A Doctorate degree in a related field may be substituted for four (4) years of the required (A) experience.


Comprehensive Benefits


When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future.


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An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer. Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.


The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.