Assistant General Counsel jobs in Hawaii

GENERAL PURPOSE OF POSITION

The General Counsel is the primary legal counsel to the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and provides legal advice, guidance, and assistance on any and all matters relating to: the discharge of the CEO’s responsibilities and duties; compliance with federal, state, and local laws; and policies and procedures of the Board of Trustees (“BOT”).

The General Counsel, as directed by the CEO, may be assigned to assist the BOT and OHA staff relating to significant legal matters affecting the management and the operation of the agency, or its ability to fulfill OHA’s mission.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS & RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Legal Services to the Chief Executive Officer

a. Plans, develops and implements programs and projects which enhance the legal services provided to the CEO and protect the agency’s interests from a legal standpoint.

b. Provides legal counsel and guidance to the CEO on agency matters involving legal issues. Renders legal advice, counsel, and guidance on rules, regulations, court decisions, and legal documents affecting the agency.

c. Makes recommendations to the CEO on organizational objectives and long-range plans to achieve agency growth relative to legal standing on various issues such as ceded lands, minimization of corporate liability, and related matters of a complex and controversial nature and scope.

d. Responsible for special projects and confidential assignments as directed by the CEO.

e. Develops and recommends corporate policies and procedures to the CEO and provides guidance and direction to senior management regarding best practices within the OHA Strategic Plan.

f. Prepares cases for arbitration, administrative, and court proceedings in contract, collections, and kuleana escheat matters, makes court appearances on behalf of the agency, and may represent agency on matters when directed to do so by the CEO.

2. Management of the Corporate Counsel Office

a. Supervises the legal staff assigned to the Corporate Counsel Office. Schedules assignments and evaluates the work products of the Legal Counsels and the Legal Office Administrator.

b. Drafts internal advisory memoranda and legal opinions on the agency’s legal position on various legal issues in light of the facts presented arising from policy, operational, and other administrative functions affecting the agency and having legal implications on the BOT, administration and staff.

c. Provides legal guidance and counsel to the CEO and the Chief Procurement Officer on procurement matters as requested.

d. Reviews and approves as to form and legal sufficiency on all OHA’s contracts, leases and other transactional documents and instruments which impose obligations, responsibilities, encumbrances, liens, or releases upon OHA to safeguard the agency’s interest.

e. Reviews and approves procurement actions for purchases of goods, services, and capital improvements for legal acceptability consistent with Chapters 103D and 103F, Hawai‘i Revised Statutes, companion Hawai‘i Administrative Rules, and OHA procurement policies established by the Chief Procurement Officer to safeguard the agency’s interest.

f. Oversees all outsourced legal services contracts and coordinates all legal services rendered by outside counsel to the agency.

g. Oversees the maintenance of central files and the security of all original agency contracts.

h. Coordinates Americans with Disabilities Act accommodation requests for the agency.

3. Management of the Human Resources Department

a. Provides legal counsel and guidance to the Director, Human Resources Department on agency matters involving legal employment issues. Renders legal advice, counsel, and guidance on rules, regulations, court decisions, and legal documents affecting the agency.

b. Reviews and approves as to form and legal sufficiency all Human Resources actions which may impose obligations, responsibilities, and encumbrances on the agency.

4. Regular attendance on a daily basis is required for this position.

OTHER DUTIES / RESPONSIBILITIES

Performs other duties as assigned by the CEO.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education, Training, and/or Experience

1. Education. Graduation from an accredited American law school.

2. Licensure. Must be licensed to practice law in the State of Hawai‘i and a member in good standing with the Hawai‘i State Bar Association.

3. Work Experience. Fifteen (15) years in the practice of law, which must have included at least ten years of practice in the State of Hawai‘i and eight years involving the following experience:

a. At least two years of experience in applying Hawaii procurement laws as set forth in Chapters 103D and 103F, Hawaii Revised Statutes and Title 3, Subtitle 11, Hawaii Administrative Rules.

b. At least three years of experience of drafting and reviewing public (government) contracts, leases, agreements, other legal documents and instruments and amendments to these documents.

c. At least one year work experience in managing a law office, and supervising and evaluating the work activities of legal professionals and support staff.

d. Work experience shall also have included trust law, State of Hawaii government budget and legislative processes; civil litigation experience before the courts of State of Hawaii and in the United States; administrative litigation before local boards and hearing officials; and conduct of legal research and opinion writing.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

1. Must have working knowledge of:

• Transactions law to draft legal documents using computer software;
• Legal reference and research sources necessary for writing legal documents, opinions, and pleadings;
• Basic knowledge of Hawaiian language and in particular spelling, grammar, and pronunciations since many contracts and other legal documents contain Hawaiian words and names;
• Maintains knowledge of the current status and all developments in the laws that may have an impact on OHA, including: trust and fiduciary law, employment and personnel law, records access and information practices (Chapter 92F, HRS), intellectual property, kuleana escheat, business law, collections, law of non-profit organizations, parliamentary law, contracts, procurement, landlord-tenant code (Chapter 521, HRS), Hawai‘i Administrative Procedures Act and administrative regulations (Chapter 91, HRS).
• Working knowledge of legal processes, court proceedings, legal documents and instruments, and other related activities in order to effectively evaluate legal issues and cases, develop effective courses of action, and represent the Chief Executive Officer and the agency against legal challenges; and federal, state and local laws relating to the functions of the agency.

2. Must have demonstrated skills or ability to:

• Maintain a professional relationship and rapport with the persons the Corporate Counsel Office is supporting; demonstrate excellent work ethics;
• Make formal oral presentations and communicate effectively with a wide variety of audiences including OHA staff, Board of Trustees, and OHA beneficiaries; effectively participate in organizational planning, budget development, and operations of OHA; and
• Complement the mission of OHA and the functions of the Corporate Counsel Office.

How To Apply

To apply for this position, visit our company jobs website at www.oha.org/jobs. Download, complete and submit the fillable OHA application form along with a resume and cover letter via email

Or via mail to:

OFFICE OF HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS
560 N. Nimitz Highway, Suite 200
Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96817
Attention: Human Resources

Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) employees must be permanent Hawaii residents. Out-of-state applicants who are offered employment with OHA will need to relocate to Hawaii and establish permanent residency.

An Equal Opportunity Employer

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $133,416.00 - $163,776.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible schedule
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift

Work Location: In person