Legal Office Chief, Attorney 6 (PN 20072769)

Please note: Effective October 1, 2025, the Ohio Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services has transitioned to its new name-the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health. This change reflects our continued commitment to providing comprehensive, person-centered care that addresses the full range of behavioral health needs for Ohioans. All positions and services now fall under the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health as we move forward in serving individuals, families, and communities across the state.

The Ohio Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) is seeking an experienced and highly skilled Legal Office Chief, Attorney 6 to provide executive-level legal leadership and oversight for the Department's statewide legal program. This position serves as a senior legal advisor to agency leadership and plays a critical role in shaping legal strategy, policy development, and risk management across all department institutions, hospitals, and offices. This vital leadership position develops, implements, and coordinates comprehensive legal programs with statewide impact and provides direct assistance to the Chief Legal Counsel while supervising legal and support staff.

What you'll do at DBH:

• Serves as a trusted legal advisor to the Agency Director, Deputy Directors, and senior leadership staff.

• Represents the Department in complex, sensitive, and confidential legal matters with significant operational and policy implications.

• Assists in the development, revision, interpretation, and implementation of agency policies, procedures, and directives related to:

• Legal and administrative operations

• Administrative rules

• Public records requests

• Medicaid matters

• Licensure and certification issues

• Ensures consistent and compliant application of legal standards across the agency.

• Develops, coordinates, and administers agency legal policy.

• Manages agency litigation, including:

• Assigning and monitoring cases

• Tracking litigation progress

• Estimating potential liability

• Developing legal recommendations related to settlements

• Negotiating and/or drafting settlement proposals

• Directing preparation of legal documentation

• Reviews and approves all legal actions, documentation, settlements, and strategic legal options.

• Supervises, assigns, and evaluates legal and support staff.

• Provides mentorship, guidance, and professional development to ensure high-quality legal services.

• Delivers legal training and guidance to agency leadership and staff as needed.

This is an hourly position and is exempt from the bargaining units, with a pay range of 16 on the E1 Exempt Pay Range Schedule. Normal working hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm (Flexible Schedule).

Unless required by any applicable union contract and/or requirements of the Ohio Revised Code, the selected candidate will begin at Step 1 of the pay range schedule listed above, with an opportunity for pay increase after six months of satisfactory performance and then a yearly raise thereafter.

Additional Salary / Appointment Information:

This position is unclassified per Ohio Revised Code 124.11 (A) (9).

Admission to Ohio Bar pursuant to Section 4705.01 of Revised Code; 24 mos. exp. as licensed attorney; 12 mos. exp. in supervisory principles/techniques; 6 mos. exp. in management.

Job Skills: Attorney/Legal