Agency General Counsel

The work we do matters!

Hiring Agency:

Water, Energy, and Environment - Agency 84

Location:

Lincoln, NE

Hiring Rate:

$50.000

Job Posting:

JR2025-00018083 Agency General Counsel (Open)

Applications No Longer Accepted On (If no date is displayed, job is posted as open until closed):

08-19-2025

Job Description:

The Nebraska Department of Water, Energy and Environment (DWEE) is looking for dynamic and committed general counsel for the agency. This is an opportunity to manage a legal team, while working on a wide range of legal topics relating to the management, administration and enforcement of state water, energy, and environmental matters. This position oversees six attorneys, a paralegal, and two technical staff. Experience with state and federal water administration, energy, and environmental laws is preferred.

The DWEE Advantage:
• Exciting subject matter that is critically important in today’s world
• Work is generally limited to 40 hours/week
• Regular interaction with great clients
• Opportunity to help shape advance the mission of new agency into the future
Serve as the Agency Legal Counsel for the new Department of Water, Energy, and Environment (DWEE).

Fulfill and promote DWEE’s mission, vision, and goals, as set forth below:
Mission: The Nebraska Department of Water, Energy and Environment is committed to protecting and enhancing our state's water, energy, and environmental resources through science-based decision-making, strong partnerships, and cooperative efforts.
Vision: A Nebraska where water, energy, and environmental resources are sustainably managed and safeguarded through effective communications, collaboration, innovation, and stewardship —ensuring the prosperity of our communities and agricultural-based economy for future generations.
Values:
• CUSTOMERS: We will consider the impact to our customers in everything we do, customers can be internal and external to the agency.
• COMMUNICATION: We will effectively communicate throughout our organization and with our customers.
• CULTURE: We will create a proactive culture of excellence that promotes teamwork and collaboration with each other and our customers, agency & stakeholder integrity, resource stewardship, science-based decision making, and innovation.
• COLLABORATION: Proactively identifying effective solutions to support our customer’s needs.
• STEWARDSHIP: We are dedicated to the responsible management of Nebraska’s water, energy, and environmental resources—protecting these vital resources today so they remain abundant and productive for future generations.
• SCIENCE-BASED DECISIOIN MAKING: Utilizing the best available data and research to drive informed policies and practices.
• INNOVATION: We embrace new ideas and always ask, “How can we do this better?”

Benefits For You As A State Employee:
• 13 paid holidays
• Vacation and sick leave equating to 24 days your first year, accruing immediately
• Military leave
• 156% (that's not a typo!) state-matched retirement
• Tuition reimbursement
• Employee assistance program
• 79% employer paid health insurance plans
• Dental and vision insurance plans
• Employer-paid $20,000 life insurance policy
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF) through the Federal government
• Wide variety and availability of career advancement as the largest and most diverse employer in the state
• Opportunity to be part of meaningful work and make a difference through public service
• Training and development based on your career aspirations
• Fun, inviting teammates
• A safe and secure environment
• A new modern building in Fallbrook with free onsite parking
• Easily accessible from I-80
• Respected as a valued team member
• Business Casual Dress Code
• Monday – Friday – After a 6-month Original Probation Period - Flexible schedules and 10-hour workdays may be allowed with management approval

At the State, we stand by our core values of treating others with dignity and respect, acting ethically in all situations, and creating an environment where our customer is our top priority. Apply to join our team today!

For a complete listing of job duties, requirements and to apply go to statejobs.nebraska.gov
Location and address of position: 245 Fallbrook Blvd – Suite 100 – Lincoln, NE
Work schedule: Monday – Friday – 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Dress Code: Business Casual

 

This is a discretionary position that serves at the pleasure of the agency head.

Salary Range: $93,600-$130,000

Salary dependent on selected applicant’s qualifications and experience.

JOB DUTIES:

• Confers with the director’s office, other agency administrators, local government officials, assigned agency legal staff members, plaintiffs, defendants, and other interested parties to exchange and prepare information on the facts and status of a case or other legal/administrative actions or issues.
• Supervises and directs the work activities of assigned legal staff to facilitate the attainment of unit work goals and ensures the consistent application of administrative policies, procedures, standards, and legal requirements.
• Confers with and advises assigned legal staff members to exchange information and/or explain work policies, procedures, and standards and to identify the characteristics and impact of work problems and formulate possible solutions, to ensure adherence to legal standards.
• Trains assigned legal staff members in the policies and procedures of the agency legal services function to maintain and/or improve the performance level of employees through exposure to job knowledge and abilities necessary to perform the work in accordance with established performance standards.
• Directs legal research and case investigations to ensure information is collected for case preparation and to facilitate the administration and enforcement of agency statutory authority.
• Confers with representatives of the judicial, legislative, and executive branches of State government to share information on legal/program issues or activities and to elicit necessary support for agency priorities and goals.
• Advises agency management and other government officials on the stipulations of program legislation and the legal impact of agency plans and operations to participate in the attainment of agency goals and objectives with statutory requirements.
• Recommends draft legislation, agency policies, and procedural statements to provide legal or administrative options to agency management in the enforcement of agency statutory authority.
• Drafts correspondence, motions, pleadings, and findings of fact, conclusions of law, rules, orders, and other legal documents to provide legal guidance to other attorneys, agency management, or State officials.
• Represents the agency in administrative hearings related to the enforcement of agency statutes; represents the agency in District/Supreme Court as permitted by the State Attorney General's office or specific statutory authority.
• Prepares legal documents for use by the State Attorney General or County Attorney offices in prosecuting civil or criminal cases.

 

Requirements/ Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications: Five years of experience practicing law and providing legal services such as preparing and trying cases, advising clients, and/or interpreting laws and/or administrative policies.   Experience supervising staff or teams preferred.  

Legal Requirements: (These qualifications are mandated by federal/state laws, statutes, and/or regulations.)

In accordance with Section 7-101, Nebraska Revised, Reissued Statutes of l943, incumbents in this class must be admitted to the Nebraska Bar.

Other:

• Valid driver's license or ability to provide independent transportation
• Ability to travel overnight
• Ability to maintain regular and reliable attendance
• Submit a resume or list on the application specific detailed experience relevant to the position in years and months
• Submit a current list of at least professional references (previous employers) with valid telephone numbers

 

Benefits

We offer a comprehensive package of pay, benefits, paid time off, retirement and professional development opportunities to help you get the most out of your career and life. Your paycheck is just part of your total compensation.

Check out all that the State of Nebraska has to offer! Benefit eligibility may vary by position, agency and employment status. For more information on benefits, please visit: https://statejobs.nebraska.gov/index.html#benefits

Equal Opportunity Statement

The State of Nebraska values our teammates as well as a supportive environment that strives to promote diversity, inclusion, and belonging. We recruit, hire, train, and promote in all job classifications and at all levels without regard to race, color, religion, sex. age, national origin, disability, marital status or genetics.

Current employees of the State of Nebraska should NOT apply on this external career. Instead go to Workday and access the Jobs Hub - Internal Apply app from your home landing page.