Chief Legal Officer - Brevard, Orange, Osceola, Seminole Counties

Annual Salary: $120,000



​​​​​Position Summary: The Chief Legal Officer provides internal counsel and acts as legal liaison to contracted legal firms as needed. This position ensures compliance with child welfare statutory, regulatory, judicial, and ethical standards and provides legal consultation. This includes risk mitigation related to leases, contracts, governance, labor relations, procurement, and litigation. This position also completes adoption finalizations for children served in Family Partnerships of Central Florida (FPOCF) System of Care. The Chief Legal Officer reports to the CEO.



Technical/Functional Expectations:

 

1. Internal Legal Counsel: Provides legal advice to Board of Directors, CEO, management and staff on a variety of legal matters. This includes but is not limited to corporate matters, contract interpretation and drafting, By Laws interpretation and drafting, drafting of agency proposed state and federal legislation, child welfare, delinquency, research, intellectual property, regulatory and other laws, and local governmental regulation, administrative law, liability issues, and open government law issues to ensure compliance and to protect the interests of FPOCF and those it serves.


2. Identifies and Mitigates Risk: This position identifies risk management issues, serves on the Level 2 Risk Management and Board Risk Management Committee and provide recommendations for resolution.


3. Research and Analysis: Researches and analyzes contractual, legal, policy, Florida statute or Florida Administrative Code or other matters to develop alternatives in support of the legitimate objectives of the programs and FPOCF. This position also conducts legal research to provide an executive summary legal interpretation and recommendation(s).


4. Adoption Finalizations: This position completes adoption finalizations for children and families in the FPOCF System of Care.


5. Pre-Service Training: This position provides training on courtroom etiquette and legal components of child welfare such as laws related to abuse, neglect, kinship care, termination of rights, adoption etc.


6. Case Consultation and Court Appearances: Provides legal analysis as requested to ensure compliance with regulation and statute. Court appearances as needed.              


7. External Relationships: This positions interfaces with and represents FPOCF’s best interest to external agencies of state and federal government, providers, and other SOC agencies to ensure compliance with regulations and statutes and to support the SOC for those we serve. This also includes Children's Legal Services, the Judiciary, Guardian Ad Litem Program, and Case Management Agencies.


8. Staff Leadership and Supervision: This position serves on the executive team and provides leadership of the Contracts and Compliance Team.


9. Other duties as required: Job performance requires fulfilling other incidental or related duties as assigned, assisting, and training others, and performing duties of higher rated positions from time to time for developmental purposes.

1. Integrity: Able to demonstrate sound business ethics; show consistency of words and actions; protect confidential information; practice what he or she preaches; do what is right even when no one is watching.


2. Analytical Problem Resolution: Able to use systematic techniques to define problems, options, and solutions; evaluate alternative solutions; solve technical problems using logic.


3. Deal with Ambiguity: Able to maintain composure and manage frequent job changes or unexpected disruptions; work with conflicting, delayed, or unclear information; remain effective when faced with change and uncertainty.


4. Verbal Communication: Able to clearly express ideas, information, or concerns with the spoken word; present verbal information in a straightforward manner; ask questions to open channels of communication; listen to understand the perspectives of others.


5. Decision Making: Able to make objective decisions when dealing with emotional or controversial topics; identify and choose between multiple options; understand consequences of potential decisions.


6. Strategic Perspective: Able to develop long-term, big picture strategies to enhance competitiveness; recognize broad implications of issues; balance and integrate strategic vision with day-to-day activities.


7. Sensitivity: Work effectively with and show sensitivity to cultural differences and various socio-economic backgrounds of others.


8. Ethics: Adhere to and model principles and values of Agency and System of Care by being strength-based, solution-focused, maintains highest level of integrity and ethical standards and collaborate with employees, partners, stakeholders, and clients in all interactions.

1. 15 years Legal Experience: A minimum of  fifteen years of experience in the practice of law is required to effectively address the scope of this position.


2. Superior Verbal and Written Communication: Superior verbal and written communication skills are essential to work collaboratively with others during times of stress and conflicting positions/agendas and to effectively articulate the Agency position.


3. Florida Statute and Administrative Code: Prefer in-depth understanding of Florida Statute, Chapter 39, Chapter 63, and Chapter 409, Florida Administrative Code, 65-C related to child welfare, and the Adoptions Safe Families Act (ASFA) Federal Regulations


4. Trial/Court Room Experience: Prior trial/court room experience required to effectively represent FPOCF’s interests.


5. Analytical Reasoning/Critical Thinking Skills: Ability to analyze systems and procedures to make the legal aspects of dependency and other legal matters more efficient and responsive to the needs of the children/families or agency.


6. Florida Bar - Required: Qualified candidate must be admitted to the Florida Bar.

1. JD - Juris Doctorate required.


2. 15 plus years Legal Experience required.


3. Minimum 10 years Attorney Florida Child Welfare System preferred.

1. Lifting 25 pounds


2. Carrying 25 pounds


3. Reaching


4. Sitting


5. Standing


6. Stooping / Crouching


7. Bending


8. Kneeling


9. Near Acuity


10. Reading


11. Speaking


12. Listening


13. Typing


14. Writing