Deputy General Counsel

Why does the job exist?
The Deputy General Counsel (DGC) serves under the general oversight of the General Counsel (GC) and acts in the GC's absence with the authority of the GC in fulfilling the responsibilities of the Office of General Counsel (OGC) for the New Mexico Department of Health. Under general oversight of the GC, the DGC is responsible for overseeing, planning, organizing, and directing the legal staff and legal work of the OGC and providing legal advice, counsel, and representation to NMDOH representatives as necessary to fulfill their duties and responsibilities to NMDOH.

The DGC is also responsible for managing a team of legal professionals, including in-house counsel and outside counsel. They work closely with other departments and stakeholders within the organization, such as finance, human resources, and operations, to ensure that NMDOH's legal interests are protected and that it is operating in compliance with all relevant laws and regulations.

How does it get done?

• The DGC serves under the general oversight of the GC and acts in the GC's absence with the authority of the GC. The DGC also oversees the Public Health Division and other division and programs within the DOH as assigned.
• The DGC oversees the supervision, review, hire and termination of assigned staff, subject to the general oversight of the GC.
• The DGC oversees the development and implementation of policies, procedures, systems, and related initiatives, subject to the general oversight of the GC.
• The DGC oversees and initiates as appropriate, inter-office projects, programs, and activities, subject to the general oversight of the GC.
• The DGC provides legal advice and representation to the Public Health Division on issues related to the Department of Health, subject to the general oversight of the GC.
• The DGC oversees the preparation and administration of the budget and oversees the management of the resources and personnel of OGC within institutional parameters, subject to the general oversight of the GC and the Chief Operating Officer of NMDOH.
• The DGC oversees the outside counsel retained to provide legal representation, subject to the general oversight of the GC.
• The DGC maintains appropriate confidentiality in connection with the legal work of OGC and oversees contractors, consultants, experts, and others in addressing the legal needs of the NMDOH, subject to the general oversight of the GC.
• The DGC assumes other duties and responsibilities as a

Who are the customers?
The DGC position represents the Department of Health and its various divisions and bureaus.

Ideal Candidate:
The ideal candidate possesses the following skills, knowledges, and abilities:

• Advanced principles of legal practice in an administrative, institutional, judicial, or related environment.
• Advanced principles of office management, budgeting, administration and supervision.
• Advanced principles of problem identification, analysis and resolution.
• Principles of centralized information and data-based record keeping systems.
• Advanced principles of senior institutional management.
• Advanced principles of effective writing and verbal presentations including public speaking.
• Advanced principles of public relations/customer service.
• Advanced principles of legal, legislative and public policy research and analysis.
• Advanced principles of effective personnel management in a union environment.
• Advanced principles relating to public entity representation under state and federal law.
• Receive and relay detailed information through verbal and written communication.
• Communicate clearly and effectively in person, by telephone, by computer and in writing.
• Review and analyze complex written documents.
• Obtain and present material in oral and/or written form.
• Effectively interact with others in an interactive office.
• Effectively address conflict.

Minimum Qualification:
Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited school of law and five (5) years of experience in the practice of law, to include two (2) years of supervisory experience. Must be licensed as an attorney by the Supreme Court of New Mexico or qualified to apply for limited practice license (Rules 15-301.1 and 15-301.2 NMRA). For more information on limited practice licenses, please visit http://nmexam.org/limited- license/.

Employment Requirements:
Must possess and maintain a valid Driver's License.

Working Conditions:
Work is performed in an office setting with exposure to Visual/Video Display Terminal (VDT) and extensive personal computer and phone usage.