Closing Date: 30th November, 2025
Description:
The General Counsel serves as the chief legal advisor to the Board of Governors, the Chancellor, and Chancellor's Office staff, and is a key member of the Executive Cabinet, contributing to the development and implementation of agency policies and initiatives. The General Counsel provides strategic leadership for the Office of General Counsel, overseeing its legal, management, and policy functions, and plays a central role in addressing complex and high-impact issues affecting the community colleges and education system.Note to Applicants: Anyone seeking to apply must reply to each Statement Of Qualifications prompt or may otherwise be disqualified.
How did you hear about this position? Tell us in a brief survey.
You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.
Working Conditions:
This position is a hybrid, in-office/telework position, and may be subject to change. Incumbent can be required to report to the office, or any designated location at any time. Telework agreements can be modified and/or cancelled at any time. Incumbent must live and work in California. All commute expenses to the reporting location will be the responsibility of the selected candidate.
The office is located in a multi-story building in downtown Sacramento. Work requires the use of a personal computer 65-85% of time.
Please note: Effective July 1, 2025, the State of California implemented the Personal Leave Program 2025 (PLP 2025) which reduces an employee's monthly salary in exchange for leave credits. Employees appointed to this classification will have their monthly salary reduced and will accrue hours of PLP 2025 on the first day of each pay period in accordance with the applicable bargaining contract. The salary range(s) included on this job posting do not reflect the reduction in pay.
Minimum Requirements:
This position does not have a Classification Specification. Requirements and qualifications for this position can be found in this announcement. For additional questions, please contact the hiring department listed below.
Additional Documents
Special Requirements:
The position(s) require(s) a(n) Law Degree & Current CA Bar Membership License. You will be required to provide a copy of your license prior to being hired.
- C. E. A.
Additional Documents
- Job Application Package Checklist
- Duty Statement
Special Requirements:
The position(s) require(s) a(n) Law Degree & Current CA Bar Membership License. You will be required to provide a copy of your license prior to being hired.
A Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) provides detailed information about your experiences and allows the hiring manger to better assess your qualifications for this position. The SOQ demonstrates your ability to present information clearly and concisely in writing.
The SOQ should be formatted with invidually numbered responses to the five (5) questions listed below.
Resumes and cover letters will not be considered a substitute for the required SOQ. Each response within the SOQ must include reference to the correlating number and/or question.
- Describe your legal background and how your background supports the mission, structure, and governance of the California Community Colleges system and the role of General Counsel for the Chancellor's Office? Please include examples that demonstrate the breadth and depth of your expertise.
- What experience do you have providing legal counsel to boards, commissions, or similar governing bodies. In your view, what is the role of the General Counsel in supporting the Chancellor's Office and the Board of Governors in fulfilling their responsibilities?
- Describe your experience in performing legal research, analysis, and writing in the context of advice memoranda, regulation drafting, contracting, and litigation from both state and federal laws. Please provide insight into the quantity and sophistication of the work you have performed.
- Describe your experience in managing attorneys and related support staff, including reference to the management practices you have employed.
- Provide an example of a time you advised executive leadership on a particularly sensitive, complex, or high-profile legal matter. What factors did you consider in formulating your advice, and what was the outcome?
Please do NOT add any confidential information to your application or supporting documentation such as: social security number, date of birth, disability information, LEAP status, examination scores, pictures, etc.
When submitting supporting documents, PDF file format is preferred.
Application Instructions:
Completed applications and all required documents must be received or postmarked by the Final Filing Date in order to be considered. Dates printed on Mobile Bar Codes, such as the Quick Response (QR) Codes available at the USPS, are not considered Postmark dates for the purpose of determining timely filing of an application.
Final Filing Date: 11/30/2025
Who May Apply:
Individuals who are eligible to be appointed to this Career Executive Assignment (CEA) by the State of California.
How to Apply:
Complete Application Packages (including your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) and applicable or required documents) must be submitted to apply for this Job Posting. Application Packages may be submitted electronically through your CalCareer Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. When submitting your application in hard copy, a completed copy of the Application Package listing must be included. If you choose to not apply electronically, a hard copy application package may be submitted through an alternative method listed below:
Address for Mailing Application Packages
You may submit your application and any applicable or required documents to:
- Board of Governors, California Community Colleges
- N/A
- Attn: People and Culture Operations Office, Human Resources
- 1102 Q Street, #4400
- Sacramento, CA 95811
You may drop off your application and any applicable or required documents at:
- Board of Governors, California Community Colleges
- N/A
- People and Culture Operations Office, Human Resources
- 1102 Q Street, #4400
- Sacramento, CA 95811
- 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:
- Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
- Resume is required and must be included.
- Degree and/or School Transcripts
- Statement of Qualifications -
- Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) - See the Special Requirements Section on this bulletin for specific SOQ instructions.
APPLICANTS WHO FAIL TO SUBMIT A STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS WILL BE ELIMINATED FROM THE EXAMINATION.
Applicants requiring reasonable accommodations for the hiring interview process must request the necessary accommodations if scheduled for a hiring interview. The request should be made at the time of contact to schedule the interview. Questions regarding reasonable accommodations may be directed to the EEO contact listed on this job 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.
Minimum Qualifications:
Refer to CalHR's Classification Specifications for more information about Career Executive Assignment (CEA) (7500).
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:
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.
Minimum Qualifications:
Refer to CalHR's Classification Specifications for more information about Career Executive Assignment (CEA) (7500).
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 Opportun
