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Working Title: Senior Associate General Counsel

Job Class: Staff Attorney 3

Agency: MN Department of Natural Resources

+ **Job ID** : 82274

+ **Location** : St. Paul

+ **Telework Eligible** : Yes

+ **Full/Part Time** : Full-Time

+ **Regular/Temporary** : Unlimited

+ **Who May Apply** : Open to all qualified job seekers

+ **Date Posted** : 06/12/2025

+ **Closing Date** : 06/25/2025

+ **Hiring Agency/Seniority Unit** : Department of Natural Resources

+ **Division/Unit** : Commissioner's Office / DNR General Counsel

+ **Work Shift/Work Hours** : Day Shift

+ **Days of Work** : Monday - Friday

+ **Travel Required** : No

+ **Salary Range:** $42.31 - $62.75 / hourly; $88,343 - $131,022 / annually

+ **Classified Status** : Classified

+ **Bargaining Unit/Union** : 214 - MN Assoc of Professional Empl/MAPE

+ **FLSA Status** : Exempt - Professional

+ **Re-Posting** : Yes

+ Designated in Connect 700 Program for Applicants with Disabilities (https://mn.gov/mmb/careers/diverse-workforce/people-with-disabilities/connect700/) : Yes

The work you'll do is more than just a job.

At the State of Minnesota, employees play a critical role in developing policies, providing essential services, and working to improve the well-being and quality of life for all Minnesotans. The State of Minnesota is committed to equity and inclusion, and invests in employees by providing benefits, support resources, and training and development opportunities.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is seeking a Staff Attorney 3. A person holding this position is responsible for working on some of the most complex areas of law in the State such as the regulation of the state’s mining industry, water law, tribal law, and the laws governing fish and wildlife management and their intersection with each other. The individual in this position will conduct legal and policy research, perform analysis on diverse and complex matters, provide legal advice, and produce written products for a variety of audiences and purposes. As the agency lead attorney in assigned practice areas and lead legal advisor for assigned divisions, this role is responsible for regularly providing direct advice to agency leadership and routinely handling legal issues that are complex, novel, and/or require understanding of how multiple areas of law interact.

Responsibilities include:

1. Provide legal analysis and legal advice on the application of Minnesota statutes, rules, and the common law to fact situations, policy proposals and hypothetical questions presented by Lands and Minerals, Forestry, and Ecological and Water Resources to assure consistency and legality in decisions made by the DNR and across divisions within the DNR.

2. Advise the Department on and when called upon, represent the Department in wildfire recovery matters. Advise both the Divisions of Lands and Minerals and Forest Resources on assorted public land management issues and the state’s land management obligations.

3. Advise the Division of Ecological and Water Resources on complex public water management issues and the state’s water management obligations.

4. Oversee, mentor, and advise less experienced attorneys assigned to advise the Department’s Data Compliance Officer and Senior Leadership on Data Practices issues.

5. Provide advice to the Department and Senior Leadership on areas outside of the SAAG’s area of expertise as requested by the General Counsel. Oversee, mentor, and advise less experienced attorneys as requested by the General Counsel.

This position has a flexible work arrangement and may be eligible to telework on a part-time basis which is subject to change. If approved, the employee would be required to complete a telework agreement.

Minimum Qualifications

+ A J.D. degree from an American Bar Association accredited law school;

+ A current license to practice law in the State of Minnesota; and

+ Four years of advanced professional experience that demonstrate the areas below:

+ Excellent legal research, analysis, and writing skills.

+ Demonstrated strong communication skills related to legal advice and assistance.

+ Ability to understand, interpret, and explain laws, rules, and regulations.

+ Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with individuals in a variety of positions to identify issues and resolve problems.

+ Experience in legal research, writing, and constructing a legal argument.

+ Experience interpreting federal or state laws and regulations.

+ Experience providing legal advice to senior leadership.

+ Working knowledge of administrative law and in natural resource or environmental laws or tribal laws.

+ Experience in drafting legal documents.

+ Experience litigating in federal, state, or administrative forums or managing litigation.

+ Ability to effectively communicate with multicultural communities.

+ Ability to research and incorporate perspectives from different cultural and community stakeholder groups in the development of policy.

+ Awareness of various cultural norms, sufficient to adapt tactics and expectations to balance legal and program requirements with cultural norms.

+ Ability to treat employees inclusively in the areas of accommodation, accessibility, scheduling, expectations, individualized resource needs, training, and development.

Preferred Qualifications

+ Law review or moot court.

+ Experience with state governance requirements.

+ Experience developing and conducting technical training on legal matters.

+ Experience working with the Minnesota Attorney General's Office and/or State Government agencies.

Additional Requirements

This position requires an unrestricted Class D Driver’s license with a clear driving record.

Applicants must have the ability to meet the physical requirements and work in the environmental conditions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodations.

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g. H1B status).

It is policy of the Department of Natural Resources that all candidates submit to a background check prior to employment. The background check may consist of the following components:

+ Conflict of Interest Review

+ Criminal History Check

+ Education Verification

+ Employment Reference / Records Check

+ License / Certification Verification

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Minnesota State Colleges and Universities is an Equal Opportunity employer/educator committed to the principles of diversity. We prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their race, sex, color, creed, religion, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or membership in a local commission as defined by law. As an affirmative action employer, we actively seek and encourage applications from women, minorities, persons with disabilities, and individuals with protected veteran status.

Reasonable accommodations will be made to all qualified applicants with disabilities. If you are an individual with a disability who needs assistance or cannot access the online job application system, please contact the job information line at 651-259-3637 or email [email protected] . Please indicate what assistance is needed.