Deputy General Counsel – Mass Cannabis Control Commission

Description

 First consideration will be given to those applicants that apply within the first 14 days

PURPOSE OF THE JOB

To support the Commission’s mission and its staff, the Deputy General Counsel will address and resolve legal matters in settled and evolving areas of the law.   Under the direction of and in cooperation with the General Counsel, the Deputy General Counsel will provide advice and supervise work on legal issues as they arise, including in the areas of public meetings, policy and regulatory review, administrative hearings, litigation, public records, licensing and enforcement, contracts and procurements, finance, and labor and employment.    

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide legal support as needed by the General Counsel, as well as the Executive Director, the Commission and its Commissioners, and other Commission staff;
• Provide clear, concise and correct written and oral advice by clearly conveying the Commission’s laws, policies and procedures to staff and members of the public. 
• Evaluate the applicability of settled areas of the law to emerging and unsettled areas, and make recommendations as to legal and practical implications of alternative courses of action. 
• Advise Commission staff on constituent and press inquiries.
• Monitor applicable state and federal laws, decisional law from other jurisdictions, and industry publications along with identifying emerging issues to discuss with Commission counsel and staff. 
• The Deputy General Counsel may be asked to advise and support the Commission and staff in specific subject matter areas.
  • The conduct of the public meetings and compliance with the Open Meetings and Public Records Laws.
  • The Commission’s informal and formal administrative hearing processes and compliance with the state Administrative Proceeding Act. 
  • Coordination with the Office of the Attorney General on litigation matters pending before federal and state courts.
  • Procurement and contract processes, including contracts for technology services.  As needed, drafting and reviewing contracts, statements of work, and associated legal documents. 
• Maintain the highest standards of personal, professional and ethical conduct and support the Commission’s goals for diversity and cultural awareness.
• Anticipate and address the legal issues implicated by the Commission’s evolving mission.  

OTHER DUTIES AND REPONSIBILITIES

• Advise on labor and employment issues.
• Draft legal memoranda as needed.

The safety of our employees, both current and future, is the Commission’s highest priority.  At this time, our employees are working remotely.

Qualifications

 KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

• Demonstrate expertise in advising administrative agencies.
• Demonstrate an expertise or ability to acquire an expertise in the emerging area of marijuana law, specifically the laws governing adult- and medical-use marijuana licensing.  Maintain knowledge of the current state of the law and familiarity with patient-, consumer- and industry- issues. 
• Ability to conduct comprehensive legal research, including the ability to analyze legal precedent and apply it to factual circumstances.  
• Ability to develop and present clear, concise and correct legal arguments.     
• Ability to complete legal work in a comprehensive, correct and efficient manner and supervise others to do the same.
• Ability to exercise good judgment in making decisions and addressing problems.
• Ability to exercise discretion in handling of confidential and sensitive information.
• Knowledge and understanding of the conduct of informal and formal adjudicatory proceedings.   

• Knowledge of state compliance laws, including public records, open meeting, and ethics laws.
• Outstanding organizational skills, which includes the ability to prioritize and complete multiple projects under time constraints and with available resources.
• Ability to maintain complete and accurate records.  Must demonstrate an appreciation of and an attention to detail.
• Ability to meet expectations and accept personal responsibility for the work.
• Ability to work independently, productively, and creatively in an evolving environment.
• Commitment to building constructive working relationships and a supportive and healthy workplace culture.
• Willingness to identify and perform ministerial administrative and clerical duties as they arise. 
• Ability to work in Commission’s satellite office in Boston and travel to the Worcester headquarters as needed

​​​​​​​SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY

• With the direction of and in collaboration with the General Counsel, supervise approximately four legal staff.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Juris Doctor Degree from an accredited school of law and member in good standing with the Massachusetts bar.
• Minimum ten-years’ experience practicing law, preferably with public-sector experience.
• Demonstrated expertise in or experience with administrative agencies, preferably licensing agencies.
• Experience or familiarity with state agencies, including commissions.
• Preferably, experience or familiarity with laws governing adult- or medical-use marijuana or a commitment to developing an expertise in this emerging area of the law.
• Demonstrated verbal and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated analytical skills and ability to exercise good judgment.
• Excellent interpersonal skills; must have a demonstrated ability to interact cooperatively and collaboratively with legal and non-legal staff within the Commission, with entities and individuals regulated by the Commission, outside counsel, vendors, and external constituents and other members of the public.
• Experience with managing other lawyers and advising nonlawyers.
• Experience in civil or criminal litigation, including managing caseloads and/or prosecuting cases.
• Must demonstrate a proficiency with computers and the MS Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, ​​​​​​​PowerPoint) and willingness to learn state- and Commission-specific electronic systems.

SALARY RANGE:  

Benefits Package:

The Commission is pleased to offer a comprehensive benefits package to its employees. The specific components and eligibility may vary based upon position classification, hours worked per week and other variables. Therefore, specific benefits for this position may be discussed as part of the interview and offer process.

This position is non-civil service. This position is a non-exempt position.

The overall benefits available include: paid vacation, sick and personal leave time, health, dental and vision insurance through the Commonwealth’s Group Insurance, and optional pre-tax Health Savings Account plans.

In addition, the Commission provides employees the opportunity to elect life insurance, long term disability insurance, deferred compensation savings, tuition remission and pre-tax commuter account plans, along with other programs.

The Commission employees also participate in the Commonwealth’s State Retirement Plan, which can become a defined benefit plan for those that both vest and subsequently retire from State service. Follow this link for additional retirement information: http://www.mass.gov/treasury/retirement/state-board- of-retire/.

Commitment to Diversity:

The Commission is committed to building a diverse staff across its entire agency and at all levels. The Commission is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.

Notice of Required Background Check – Including Tax Compliance:

The Commission requires a background check on all prospective employees as a condition of employment.

Candidates should be aware of this requirement but should also know that such background check is not initiated until:

1. A candidate is invited to a second or subsequent interview, and
2. The candidate has signed the Background Check Authorization Form and related releases.

This background check includes a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) check, Federal IRS and Department of Revenue state tax compliance on all prospective employees as a condition of their employment.

Candidates with advanced degrees and professional licenses may have these credentials verified. Individuals other than those references provided by a candidate may be contacted in the course of completing a full background and qualification check.

Those candidates invited to interview will be contacted by the Commission. Unfortunately, due to the anticipated high volume of applicants for this vacancy, we are unable to provide status updates to specific individuals.

: United States-Massachusetts-Worcester-2 Washington Square

: Cannabis Control Commission

: Jan 31, 2023, 12:40:49 AM

: 105,000.00 – 115,000.00 Yearly