Special Counsel (Senior Public Service Administrator, Opt. 8L)

The Illinois Department of Public Health is seeking a highly motivated individual to serve as Special Counsel for the Department. Provides legal technical counsel and representation within statutorily defined hearings within the Division of Legal Services. Serves as supervisor.

As a State of Illinois Employee, you will receive a robust benefit package that includes the following:

• Flexible and hybrid work schedules are available in many program areas (when available and dependent upon position)
• Competitive Group Insurance benefits including health, life, dental and vision plans.
• Pension plan through the State Employees Retirement System
• Deferred Compensation Program – voluntary supplemental retirement plan
• Optional pre-tax programs -Medical Care Assistance Plan (MCAP) & Dependent Care Assistant Plan (DCAP)
• 10-25 days of paid vacation time annually (10 days for first year of state employment)
• 12 paid sick days annually which carryover year to year
• 3 paid personal business days per calendar year (pro-rated dependent on start date)
• 13-14 paid holidays per year
• 12 weeks of paid parental leave
• Employee Assistance Program and/or mental health resources

These are just a few of the many perks available to all State employees. For more information about our benefits please follow this link: https://www2.illinois.gov/cms/benefits/Pages/default.aspx

• Serves as Special Counsel for the Department.
• Reviews and processes legal referrals from the Office of Health Care Regulation and Health Protection to the Office of the Attorney General and local State’s Attorney Offices.
• Provides professional general legal expertise on significant proposed legislation, amendments, and administrative rules, provides interpretations of case law and legal principles affecting the Department.
• Develops, prepares, and responds to inquiries on legal issues from the various offices and divisions; develops, prepares and provides in-service legal training to Department personnel.
• Serves as full-line supervisor as necessary.
• Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of those enumerated above.

• Requires knowledge, skill and mental development equivalent to the completion of four (4) years college.
• Requires prior experience equivalent to four (4) years professional experience in the practice of law.
• Requires possession of a license to practice law in Illinois.

• Thorough knowledge of common law, Federal and State laws and regulations pertaining to the agency programs.
• Extensive knowledge of judicial and quasi-judicial and administrative procedures and the rules at all judicial levels.
• Extensive knowledge of legal methods, practices and procedures in the agency.
• Four (4) years experience with the principles of management, including organization, controls and techniques used in dealing with management and procedures problems.
• Four (4) years experience planning, laying out, coordinating and reviewing the work of a technical or legal program or units.
• Four (4) years experience drafting complex and technical legal documents.
• Ability to develop and maintain effective professional and public contacts and satisfactory working relationships with others.
• Four (4) years experience analyzing and appraising facts, evidence and precedents in developing pertinent issues and applying fundamental principles to unusual, difficult and complex problems and giving full and complete, though brief, expression to such issues and facts, evidence and precedents pertaining to same.

• Requires ability to travel in the performance of duties.
• Requires appropriate, valid Driver's License.

*The conditions of employment listed here are incorporated and related to any of the job duties as listed in the job description.

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is tasked with the oversight of communities within Illinois to achieve and maintain optimal health and safety. With an annual budget of over $2 billion in state and federal funds, 6 regional offices, 3 laboratories and over 1,200 employees, IDPH is equipped to fulfill its mission of protecting the health and wellness of the people of Illinois through the prevention, health promotion, regulation and control of disease and injury.