Job Title: Deputy General Counsel, Director of Legal
Job Responsibilities:
The Deputy General Counsel, Director of Legal, is tasked with managing the Legal Department within the Legal Affairs Division at the company. This role involves leading and managing in-house legal staff in key areas such as labor and employment, administrative law, contracts, real estate, litigation, claims, and workers' compensation. The responsibilities include overseeing all legal matters for the company, directing and monitoring the management of outside legal counsel, claims settlements, workers' compensation, and labor union interactions. The successful candidate will provide legal guidance to the executive leadership, Board of Trustees, and other stakeholders. Reporting to the General Counsel, Deputy General Manager for Legal Affairs, the Deputy General Counsel will ensure that all legal matters are handled with professionalism, efficiency, and timeliness, providing high-quality legal advice, consultation, and work products.
Specific duties include:
- Managing the overall provision of legal services by the Legal Department team.
- Providing expert legal assistance to executive leadership, the Board of Trustees, and all operational areas regarding labor and employment, contracts, real estate, litigation, claims, workers' compensation, and administrative law.
- Ensuring the company is effectively represented in all legal matters, including litigation, arbitration, and administrative hearings.
- Ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local laws governing public transportation, civil rights, and workers' compensation.
- Overseeing the preparation of high-quality contracts, pleadings, legal opinions, and other legal documents.
- Providing leadership in the development and implementation of legal strategies, policies, and procedures to mitigate risks and advance the mission of the company, with special attention to customer and employee safety.
- Collaborating with other departments to address operational, employment, and related legal issues.
- Monitoring legislative, court, and regulatory changes impacting public transportation, funding, and operations.
- Overseeing the agency's workers' compensation program, managing the handling of claims, return-to-work initiatives, and litigation strategy.
- Ensuring professional development and mentoring of the Legal Department team.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, Outlook or similar email communication, and intermediate knowledge of Westlaw, Lexis, or other legal research software.
Education and Experience Information:
The minimum educational requirement for the Deputy General Counsel, Director of Legal position is a Juris Doctor (.) from an accredited law school, with a license to practice law in the State of Ohio. The candidate must be an active member in good standing with the Ohio Supreme Court. A minimum of ten years of legal experience is required, with at least five years in legal leadership positions involving labor and employment, contracts and real estate, civil litigation, workers' compensation, and administrative law. In some cases, relevant transferable skills may be considered in lieu of five years of legal leadership experience. The candidate should have supervisory experience, including setting and monitoring business goals, developing strategic plans, and preparing policies and procedures. Experience in local government law, public administration, and workers’ compensation practice is preferred. Exceptional analytical, research, writing, oral communication, and interpersonal skills are essential.
Salary Information:
The salary range for the Deputy General Counsel, Director of Legal position is between $123,220 and $191,000 USD.
Working Conditions:
The working environment for this role will primarily be in an office setting, with reasonable accommodation available for people with disabilities. The role will operate predominantly in an office environment, and the employee will frequently be required to sit for extended periods, work at a computer for more than five hours a day, and engage in activities such as seeing, hearing, and speaking regularly. The mental demands of the role require concentration for reading, listening, auditing, proofreading, and evaluating materials. The ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing, interpret policies and procedures, and analyze complex information is essential.
Application Process:
Internal candidates can apply via the internal portal, while external candidates are invited to click “Apply Now” to complete the online application. The company is an equal opportunity/ADA employer and maintains a drug-free workplace.
