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/THE/*/*OUTSIDE*/*/IS IN US ALL./ Please remember to attach the required documents *Cover Letter and Resume* listed in this announcement. Applications missing the requested documents will be considered incomplete and may not progress further in the process. Documents not requested will not be considered in the recruitment process. The State Application is not a substitute for a Resume. This position closes at 11:59 PM Mountain Time on August 12, 2025. You must apply through the State of Montana Career site. *Special Information:* Identity of applicants who become finalists may be released to the public if the Department deems it necessary. Employees who exceed 1,040 hours in a calendar year are also provided health, dental and life insurance. Other benefits include retirement, paid vacation, sick and holidays. This position may be covered by a VEBA (Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association). A successful applicant will be subject to a background investigation. *Position Information:* The Chief Legal Counsel is responsible, under broad policy guidance and direction from the director, for the provision of the legal services described below. The position reports to the deputy director and serves as general counsel for the agency and as supervisor of the agency's Legal Unit. The position is responsible for overseeing the provision of legal services to agency management, program staff, the Fish & Wildlife Commission, and the Parks & Outdoor Recreation Board. Those services take the form of general legal advice and direct representation of the agency, Commission, and/or Board in federal and state judicial and administrative litigation forums, as well as support of and participation in the agency’s legislative affairs work. The legal services provided by the Legal Unit require subject matter expertise in agency, Commission and Board authorities and duties (Title 23, MCA and Title 87, MCA), administrative law, human resource/labor relations law, state and federal natural resource/environmental law, water law, contract/real property law, and general governmental operations (i.e., open meeting, public records, procurement, etc.) The Legal Unit works to ensure that the agency’s, Commission’s, and Board’s activities and programs are undertaken in fulfillment of and in compliance with their statutory responsibilities and authorities. *Supervision:* This position directly supervises six lawyer positions and the Land and Water Unit Manager, with indirect supervision of five non-lawyer positions that are supervised by the Deputy Chief Legal Counsel – two paralegals, the Special Projects Unit, and the agency’s Tribal Liason. *Essential Functions:* In addition to supervisory responsibilities, the Chief Legal Counsel is required to fulfill and meet the typical demands associated with a broad-scale and complex civil law practice in the public sector, including judicial and administrative trials and hearings, supervision, coordination, and execution of case development and legal strategies, and working with an ardent and demanding public constituency and legislative oversight. The essential functions of that role include: Serving as key legal advisor and representative on complex and difficult judicial and/or administrative litigation matters; Providing sound and competent legal advice on policy and operations, including legislative affairs; Participating in the representation of the agency in both inter-governmental settings and public-facing settings; Dealing appropriately with confidential and sensitive information; and Establishing and maintaining effective professional working relationships with elected officials, co-workers, other public agency officials, and members of the public. The position performs work indoors in a typical office environment with light lifting and extensive computer use daily, being regularly required to stand, sit for extended periods, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone. The position typically works regular business hours in a standard 40-hour work week, with some travel (15%) and extra work hours are required at times. *Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:* This position requires demonstrated knowledge of and experience in civil trial/hearing litigation (state and federal), with specific experience and expertise in more than one of the following subject matter areas: administrative law, human resource/labor relations law, natural resource/environmental law, water law, contract/real property law, general governmental operations (i.e., open meeting, public records, procurement, etc.), and legislative affairs. The position also requires a working knowledge of the organization of state government and an understanding of inter-agency and inter-governmental relationships with the legislature and other state and federal agencies. *Minimum Qualifications:* The minimum qualifications for this position are (1) a J.D. degree from an ABA-accredited law school; (2) membership in the State Bar of Montana (or eligibility for immediate admission to the State Bar); and (3) seven years of practical civil legal experience with progressively more complex and difficult legal work and prior experience in supervising legal support staff and/or junior attorneys. **Title:** *Chief Legal Counsel* **Location:** *Helena* **Requisition ID:** *25141713*