Legal Counsel

Job Summary - Why you’ll love this position

We respect and embrace the experiences, knowledge and contributions of our team members. We strive for a culture of belonging and balance by upholding our values: Stewardship, Integrity, Collaboration, Respect and Innovation. We are passionate about Missouri, our role to preserve, protect and enhance our environment and we are committed to serving its’ citizens. We believe our mission and vision serves a greater purpose and will be felt for generations to come.

Please note: The salary range listed in this job description is a base salary. Applicants eligible for years-of-service adjustments or shift differentials may exceed salary range listed above. 

This position is with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Division of the Director’s Office in the General Counsel’s Office. The position is located at 1101 Riverside Drive, Jefferson City, MO 65101 in the Lewis and Clark State Office Building. Regularly scheduled remote work is not available for this position. This is an in-person position. Persons interested in remote or hybrid work need not apply.

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources General Counsel’s Office is seeking a full-time Legal Counsel in its Jefferson City office to support the department’s regulatory and natural resources work. The department offers a competitive salary and excellent benefits, including paid annual and sick leave, paid holidays, paid parental leave, paid bar dues and professional development, paid retirement (defined benefit), deferred compensation with employer match, and flexible spending accounts. The department is a qualified employer for purposes of the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. The department is an equal opportunity employer.

Salary range is directly contingent upon documented years of practice and applicable work experience.

Responsibilities - What you’ll do

• Issue-spotting, problem-solving, and providing advice and counsel to department team members regarding relevant Program matters, including but not limited to federally delegated and regulatory programs;
• Interpreting and analyzing current and proposed state and federal statutes, regulations, and policies; drafting analyses and opinion memoranda for the supported program;
• Representing the department in negotiations with regulated entities, cooperating agencies, vendors, contract partners, and others;
• Coordinating compliance assistance and enforcement matters, including working with the Attorney General’s Office on matters referred to that office for litigation; and
• The position will offer opportunities to practice in multiple areas of law, including environmental law.

Qualifications - All you need for success

Minimum Qualifications

• Juris doctorate degree from an accredited law school with excellent academic credentials;
• Prior work experience in environmental, regulatory, or administrative law;
• License to practice law in the State of Missouri or ability to become licensed in Missouri;
• Demonstrable interest in the mission of the department;
• Demonstrable exceptional written and oral communication skills;
• Strong decision-making, problem-solving, and organizational skills; and
• Outstanding judgment and professionalism.

Preferred Qualifications

• A competitive candidate will have at least two years of applicable administrative law, environmental law, natural resources, or regulatory legal experience;
• Demonstrable skills showing initiative, independence, and the ability to apply knowledge in a professional and timely manner;
• Demonstrable ability to quickly develop and maintain rapport with clients;
• Demonstrable ability to work collaboratively with a variety of people and stakeholders.

Lack of post-secondary education will not be used as the sole basis denying consideration to any applicant.

Job Details - More reasons to love this position

Benefits & Work-life Balance

Our benefits package and flexible 40-hour work week promotes the mental and physical health of you and your family as you work towards achieving your professional goals. Benefits include paid vacation and sick leave, paid life insurance, medical, dental, vision and prescription insurance. Learn more here. Your total compensation is more than the dollars you receive in your paycheck. To help demonstrate the value of working for the State of Missouri, we have created an interactive Total Compensation Calculator. This tool provides a comprehensive view of benefits and more that are offered to prospective employees. The Total Compensation Calculator and other applicant resources can be found here.

How we invest in you:

• Exceptional professional development: mentoring from experienced professionals, cross-media training, career advancement opportunities, paid trainings and continuing education tuition assistance.
• Support for professional registrations when required, through paid study materials, fees, study time, test time, exam fees and licensure renewal fees.

Contact Details - If you have questions or require any accommodations to participate in the application or interview process please contact:

Tami Spears, Executive Assistant at 573-751-0323 or tami.spears@dnr.mo.gov

Or

Aarick Roberto, Recruiter at dnr.recruiter@dnr.mo.gov

The State of Missouri is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to developing and maintaining a talented workforce.