Deputy General Counsel

Position Overview

Join A World Class Institution!! This position serves as the Deputy General Counsel for the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum (ALPLM), a world class institution that welcomes more than 250,000 visitors every year and that houses one of the world’s best collections of Lincoln-related documents, artifacts and audiovisual materials The incumbent will have a thorough understanding and experience in all aspects of legal research and analysis. The ideal candidate will be detailed oriented and possess a good working knowledge of personnel and contractual law, as well as experience with FOIA, ADA, Illinois Ethics law, and procurement. We invite qualified applicants to apply for this position and help ALPLM continue to chronicle the life of one of our nation's greatest Presidents.

Essential Functions

• Serves as the principal legal advisor to the Chief Legal Counsel for the ALPLM
• Managers, develops, plans, directs, coordinates and reviews the organization and administration of new and existing programs, operations and functions. 
• As Deputy General Counsel for the Agency, responsible for all legal activities affecting the Agency.
• Serves as an official spokesperson for the agency representing the Executive Director and/or the Chief Legal Counsel at various internal and external meetings, often of a sensitive and confidential nature, possessing significant independent authority
• Plans, evaluates, develops and validates programs, standards. policies, methods, techniques and procedures and assists in implementation.
• Drafts, reviews, and negotiates agency leases with various entities, i.e. concession leases, interagency agreements, Memorandums of Understanding, farm leases, etc.
• Supports the Chief Legal Counsel in their role as the Agency Ethics Officer; administers the policy and procedures applicable to the Employees' Ethics Acts to all agency employees.
• Designs, conducts, and coordinates investigations into allegations of employee misconduct, and necessary background checks both internally and externally subject to appropriate laws and regulations.
• Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above. 

Minimum Qualifications

• Requires graduation from an accredited school of law and possession of a valid license to practice law in Illinois.
• Requires four (4) years of progressively responsible administrative experience in a public or business organization.
• Requires two (2) years of professional experience in the practice of law.
• Requires two (2) years of experience applying judicial and quasi-judicial procedures and rules of evidence.
• Requires two (2) years of experience interpreting and applying common law and the provisions of state and federal laws relating to administrative and regulatory functions.
• Requires two (2) years of litigation experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Minimum of three (3) years of experience providing legal counsel to a public-sector agency or government entity, including interpreting, drafting, and implementing administrative rules, policies, and procedures.
• Demonstrated experience litigating matters and representing a government agency or similarly regulated organization in complex legal proceedings.
• Strong background conducting internal investigations into employee misconduct, labor relations, or ethics matters, applying relevant laws and regulations.
• Proven ability to collaborate with executive leadership as a trusted legal advisor on high-level, sensitive, and confidential matters.
• Experience reviewing, negotiating, and managing complex leases, contracts, and intergovernmental agreements in a public or nonprofit environment.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with the demonstrated capacity to represent an agency as an official spokesperson in high-stakes or sensitive situations.

Employment Conditions

• Requires completion of a background check and self-disclosure of criminal history.
• Requires ability to travel in the performance of duties, with overnight stays as appropriate. Requires appropriate, valid driver’s license.
• Overtime is a condition of employment, and you may be requested or required/mandated to work overtime including scheduled, unscheduled, or last-minute overtime. This may require the ability to work evenings and weekends.
• Requires ability to use an agency-supplied mobile phone.
• The conditions of employment listed here are incorporated and related to any of the job duties as listed in the job description.

About the Agency

The ALPLM is passionate in or mission to inspire civic engagement through the diverse lens of Illinois history and sharing with the world the life and legacy of Abraham Lincoln.  As caretakers of a one-of-a-kind collection of artifacts, we consider our work to learn, teach and share history a great honor. The people of the ALPLM strive to employ innovate approaches to create a positive impact for the future, as it can be inspired by the past.  As preservationists of Illinois' diverse history, we strive to build, maintain, and make accessible a growing record of history for today's inquisitive explorers as well as those who shall, in the future, rely on our efforts.  Our learning-centered agency insists on the values of honesty and integrity, intentional leadership, equitable collaboration and transparent accountability.  The ALPLM boasts pristine facilities, a creative environment, and a professional staff with a variety of backgrounds and talents.

As a State of Illinois employee, you will receive a robust benefits package that includes the following:

* A Pension Program

* Competitive Group Insurance Benefits including Health, Life, Dental and Vision insurance

* 12 Paid Sick Days annually (Sick days carry over from year to year)

* 13 paid holidays annually - 14 on even numbered years

* 12 weeks paid maternity / paternity leave

* Deferred Compensation Program  - A Supplemental retirement plan

* Optional Pre-Tax Programs such as Medical Care Assistance Plan (MCAP) Dependent Care Assistance Plan (DCAP) and more

For more information about our benefits please follow this link https//www2.illinois.gov/coms/benefits/pages/default.aspx