Closing Date: 26th September, 2025
Description:
Job Description and Duties:Are You the Dynamic Legal Senior Leader We're Seeking?
State Compensation Insurance Fund is searching for a Deputy Chief Counsel to join the senior leadership team of our fast-paced, statewide in-house workers' compensation defense practice.
If you are a strategic thinker with a passion for innovation, a talent for inspiring teams, and a proven ability to drive change in a complex environment, we want to hear from you.
As a member of our Claims Legal Deputy Chief Counsel team, you will work collaboratively with the Chief Counsel and other leaders to shape Claims Legal strategy and operations for our organization. In addition you will be:
- Providing Senior-Level Guidance: Act as a key advisor to the Chief Counsel and other executive leaders on complex legal matters and strategic initiatives.
- The successful candidate will provide oversight to multiple regional legal offices; lead and/or sponsor technology projects, process improvements and statewide projects and initiatives, contributing to the overall mission and success of the organization.
- The successful candidate will lead and mentor a dedicated team of legal managers, supporting them to effectively lead their respective regional teams.
Only the most qualified candidates will be selected for an interview.
Salary: Commensurate with experience.
Location: This is a Statewide recruitment and may be headquartered in any State Fund legal office. Those offices include Bakersfield, Eureka, Fresno, Glendale, Oxnard, Pasadena, Pleasanton, Redding, Riverside, Rohnert Park, Sacramento, Salinas, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, San Luis Obispo, Santa Ana, and Stockton.
Please review the Desirable Qualifications section of this posting prior to completing your statement of qualifications.
You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.
Working Conditions:
To be considered, you must provide a fully completed STD 678 application, resume and statement of qualifications via CalCareers. Resumes submitted in lieu of the STD 678 may not be accepted. Completed STD 678 must include duties performed, start and end dates, and hours worked per week for each position held.
Selected candidate(s) hired may be required to attend in-person Onboarding at our Vacaville office with expenses for attendance paid by State Fund.
Candidates must reside in California to be eligible for this appointment.
Special Requirements:
A Statement of Qualifications (SOQ), Resume, and Standard State Application Must Be Submitted in Order to Participate in The Examination.
The Statement is a narrative discussion of how the candidate's education, training, experience, and skills meet the minimum and desirable qualifications listed on this bulletin and qualify them for the position. Please see additional information about the SOQ in the "Required Application Package Documents" section of this posting.
A Statement of Qualifications (SOQ), Resume, and Standard State Application Must Be Submitted in Order to Participate in The Examination.
The Statement is a narrative discussion of how the candidate's education, training, experience, and skills meet the minimum and desirable qualifications listed on this bulletin and qualify them for the position. Please see additional information about the SOQ in the "Required Application Package Documents" section of this posting.
Examination Qualification Requirements
All applicants must possess the knowledge and abilities, and any other requirements, described in this announcement.
Note: Eligibility to take a CEA examination does not require current permanent status in the civil service.
General Qualifications:
State civil service employees must possess essential general qualifications including integrity, initiative, dependability, good judgment, and ability to work cooperatively with others.
Knowledge and Abilities:
Applicants must demonstrate the ability to perform high administrative and policy – influencing functions effectively. Such overall ability requires possession of most of the following more specific knowledge and abilities:
These knowledge and abilities are expected to be obtained from the following kinds of experience with substantial participation in the formulation, operation and/or evaluation of program policies (experience may have been paid or volunteer; in State service, other government settings, or in a private organization):
All applicants must possess the knowledge and abilities, and any other requirements, described in this announcement.
Note: Eligibility to take a CEA examination does not require current permanent status in the civil service.
General Qualifications:
State civil service employees must possess essential general qualifications including integrity, initiative, dependability, good judgment, and ability to work cooperatively with others.
Knowledge and Abilities:
Applicants must demonstrate the ability to perform high administrative and policy – influencing functions effectively. Such overall ability requires possession of most of the following more specific knowledge and abilities:
- Knowledge of the organization and functions of California State Government including the organization and practices of the Legislature and the Executive Branch; principles, practices, and trends of public administration, organization, and management; techniques of organizing and motivating groups; program development and evaluation; methods of administrative problem solving; principles and practices of policy formulation and development; and personnel management techniques; the department's or agency's Equal Employment Opportunity Program objectives; and a manager's role in the Equal Employment Opportunity Program.
- Ability to plan, organize, and direct the work of multidisciplinary professional and administrative staff; analyze administrative policies, organization, procedures and practices; integrate the activities of a diverse program to attain common goals; gain the confidence and support of top level administrators and advise them on a wide range of administrative matters; develop cooperative working relationships with representatives of all levels of government, the public, and the Legislature and Executive branches; analyze complex problems and recommend effective courses of action; and prepare and review reports; and effectively contribute to the department's or agency's Equal Employment Opportunity objectives.
CEA Level A - Responsible for broad administrative and program activities, including the execution and/or evaluation of program policies.
CEA Level B - Responsible for extensive managerial and program administration or broad program manager experience with substantial participation in the formulation, operation, and/or evaluation of program policies.
CEA Level C - Responsible for extensive highly professional influence and contributes to program, policy, and the methods to provide professional services needed to set policies, to meet the mission of the State department and often exercising technical and or professional skills that are required at this level.
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:
CEA Level B - Responsible for extensive managerial and program administration or broad program manager experience with substantial participation in the formulation, operation, and/or evaluation of program policies.
CEA Level C - Responsible for extensive highly professional influence and contributes to program, policy, and the methods to provide professional services needed to set policies, to meet the mission of the State department and often exercising technical and or professional skills that are required at this level.
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:
- Recent experience in a supervisory role, such as Assistant Chief Counsel or Supervising Attorney at State Fund is strongly preferred.
- Expert knowledge of California Workers' Compensation Law and procedure, trends, and current environment preferred.
- Trial experience at the California W.C.A.B.
- A high degree of skill in presenting, preparing and handling legal cases.
- Ability to lead and motivate staff, resolve conflicts, provide timely and accurate performance feedback and address performance issues to maintain a high performance culture within the Legal Department.
- Proficient knowledge of leadership management principles and practices, Human Resources management and supervision guidelines, and State Fund's Code of Conduct and equal employment principles and guidelines.
- Ability to design, plan and implement initiatives, policies and procedures using project management discipline and approach.
- Ability to achieve results according to budget plan goals and objectives.
- Ability to work collaboratively and maintain effective working relationships with the Legal Leadership team and business partners.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to make speeches, deliver training, draft or edit reports, memos, correspondence, analyses and to articulate concepts and ideas in a clear and concise manner.
