Description:

Position Overview:
The Oﬃce of General Counsel (OGC) is a team of approximately 40 professionals responsible for providing expert advice of counsel and legal representation to DCPS' Chancellor, Central Oﬃce, principals, and other school-based staﬀ to help ensure that all DCPS students, regardless of background or circumstance, receive a world-class education that prepares them for success in college, career, and life. Major practice areas in OGC include: Labor and Employment, General Practice, which includes FOIA, FERPA, policy and legislation, and Special Education, which includes special education due process litigation under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA). OGC also includes the Labor Management and Employee Relations (LMER) and Office of Compliance and Risk Management

The Deputy General Counsel, Labor & Employment oversees the labor and employment practice areas and is responsible for handling labor and employment matters as well as managing attorneys and other support staﬀ in representing DCPS at administrative hearings, making recommendations to DCPS leadership, and/or providing legal advice and counseling to stakeholders across the school system. The Deputy General Counsel, Labor & Employment serves on the General Counsel's leadership team and is regularly called upon to exercise sound judgment when weighing in on sensitive agency matters that can be complex, conﬁdential, or urgent.

This position has been designated as Protection Sensitive. Pursuant to section 410 of Chapter 4 of the D.C. Personnel Regulations; in addition to the general suitability screening, individuals applying for or occupying protection sensitive positions are subject to the following checks and tests: Criminal background check; Sex Offender Registry check; Pre-employment drug and alcohol test; Consumer Credit Check; Traffic record check (as applicable); Reasonable suspicion drug and alcohol test; and Post-accident or incident drug and alcohol test.
If you are hired into this position at an annual salary of one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000) or more, DC government regulations require that you must establish residency in the District of Columbia within one hundred eighty (180) days of the effective date of the appointment and continue to maintain residency within the District of Columbia throughout the duration of the appointment. If you do not currently reside in the District of Columbia and face extenuating circumstances that prevent relocation, you may request a hardship waiver for consideration.

The Deputy, General Counsel, Labor & Employment will report to the General Counsel.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
The below statements are intended to describe the general nature and scope of work being performed by this position. This is not a complete listing of all responsibilities, duties, and/or skills required. Other duties may be assigned.

Manages all attorneys working on the labor and employment litigation and special education litigation teams and ensures the eﬃciency and eﬀectiveness of the Litigation division as a whole.
Oversees all labor and employment cases ensuring the proper assignment of cases and, if necessary, handles administrative litigation matters.
Advises the General Counsel, and senior management using in-depth knowledge of and skill in the interpretation of relevant labor and employment laws and policies.
Prepares and presents legal memoranda and opinions on matters upon request by the client.
Reviews, edits, and evaluates attorney work product for quality and consistency.
Recruits, develops, evaluates, and retains key talent on the team, including establishing objectives and performance goals for Litigation division and conducting regular assessments and performance reviews to improve the team's work.
Represents the General Counsel and DCPS with external stakeholders, including other District agencies, City Council, union partners, and the public.
Represents DCPS in administrative hearings in various fora including, but not limited to, the Oﬃce of Employee Appeals, Oﬃce of Human Rights, the Oﬃce of Administrative Hearings, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and grievance hearings before hearing oﬃcers and arbitrators.
Participates in the formulation, development, and implementation of policies, procedures, programs, and projects for the Litigation division.
Advises on trends or problems and recommends appropriate corrective action.
Conducts and presents legal research of the impact of new and proposed legislation on the interests of DCPS.
Communicates with DCPS administrators, other attorneys, and outside organizations to coordinate activities, resolve issues and conﬂicts, and exchange information.
Coordinates with litigation counsel in the DC Oﬃce of Attorney General (OAG) and the DC Oﬃce of Labor Relations and Collective Bargaining (OLRCB) to prepare, among other things, discovery requests in cases pending before administrative and judicial bodies including, but not limited to, the DC Superior, the US District Courts, and the Public Employee Relations Board (PERB).

Qualifications:

Bachelor's Degree and at least 10 years of previous legal experience, including 5 years of litigation experience in labor and employment law and special education law.
Juris Doctor and membership in the District of Columbia bar.
Previous exposure to or experience in the education sector a plus.
Member of the District of Columbia Bar, or eligible for waiver into the Bar within 360 days of appointment. In good legal standing in all jurisdictions.
Previous public sector litigation experience a plus, particularly with the District of Columbia or Federal governments.
Demonstrated technical mastery and use of judgment in the application of law to complex fact patterns.
Demonstrated skill in fact-finding, analysis, problem solving, writing, presentation, consulting, and conflict resolution techniques to identify problems and recommend solutions.

DCPS Values

Students First: We recognize students as whole children and put their needs first in everything we do.
Courage: We have the audacity to learn from our successes and failures, to try new things, and to lead the nation as a proof point of PK-12 success.
Equity: We work proactively to eliminate opportunity gaps by interrupting institutional bias and investing in effective strategies to ensure every student succeeds.
Excellence: We work with integrity and hold ourselves accountable for exemplary outcomes, service, and interactions.
Teamwork: We recognize that our greatest asset is our collective vision and ability to work collaboratively and authentically.
Joy: We enjoy our collective work and will enthusiastically celebrate our success and each other.