Legal Counsel to the Bureau of Cannabis Regulation

Only applicants who meet the Minimum Qualification Requirements and meet all selective requirements (listed below) will be placed on the eligible list.

The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is seeking an attorney to join its growing internal legal team! This position serves as legal counsel to the Bureau of Cannabis Regulation and works collaboratively with the Iowa Attorney Generals Office and with outside counsel.

Under the direction and oversight of the Compliance Divisions General Counsel Supervisor, this position provides internal legal counsel to the Bureau of Cannabis Regulation. Projects might include, among other duties:

• drafting administrative rules, policies, and standard operating procedures;
• drafting proposed agency decisions as needed pursuant to the agency's uniform rules of procedure;
• conducting legal research and assisting HHS teams and programs with legal analysis and articulation of legal risks and mitigation practices that are associated with the work of HHS and which should be considered in establishing, implementing, and monitoring the effectiveness of uniform processes and procedures for HHS;
• advising on questions of law, administrative regulations, opinions of the courts, Attorney General opinions, and federal guidance;
• issue spotting, outlining relevant facts, and identifying and analyzing applicable state and federal law and regulation, as well as other Iowa agency policy;
• advising on procurement and contracting issues;
• advising the Iowa Attorney Generals office as a subject matter expert on litigation issues;
• assisting with responses to to requests for information and open records requests;
• researching and understanding emerging national legal trends and developing subject matter expertise in any relevant federal law or regulation governing this area.

This position also works with the HHS government relations team and HHS division policy teams on the development and review of HHS agency prefile legislation. Legal counsel will review proposed legislation that may impact HHS Compliance operations and provide recommendations to the Chief of Compliance and Legislative Liaisons. Legal counsel will also review agency administrative rules prior to adoption and raise issues that need to be addressed with the Chief of Compliance.

Legal counsel may represent the agency at administrative hearings or in front of other administrative bodies (e.g. Iowa Public Information Board) when determined necessary by the Chief of Compliance or HHS Director.

HHS offers a great total compensation package for all our full-time employees, including:

• Iowa Public Employees' Retirement System (IPERS)
• Retirement Investors Club (RIC) (Employer Sponsored Retirement Plan)
• Health, Dental and Vision Insurance
• Vacation Leave
• Sick Leave
• Paid Holidays (9 days/year)
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Life Insurance
• Long-Term Disability Insurance

TO APPLY: Send your cover letter and resume to Kayla Burkhiser Reynolds at [email protected].
Minorities, women, and persons with disabilities encouraged to apply (Hearing and Speech Impaired Relay Iowa 1-800-735-2942 TDD). HHS values those with lived experience and encourages foster youth, foster parents, and/or parents who were in the HHS system to apply.

Our agency uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify.

This is a non-merit position with the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services. Candidates must follow the instructions in the To Apply section.

Positions in this class are exempt from the screening and referral requirements of the Iowa Department of Administrative Services Human Resource Enterprise. 354 Law Degree
Possession of a law degree from an accredited institution. Graduation from an accredited law school and the equivalent of five years of full-time successful and responsible experience in the practice of law;the equivalent of three years of full-time experience in the practice of law in the employing agency shall be considered as qualifying experience.

For additional information, please click on this link to view the job description.Positions in this class require admission to the Iowa State Bar.