Office of Administration

Job Location: This position will be located at the Harry S Truman State Office Building, Jefferson City, MO 65101

Why you’ll love this position:

The Missouri Office of Administration (OA) is the administrative and managerial arm of the Governor’s Office, providing essential support to all state executive agencies. Our scope is vast, covering seven divisions (Facilities Management, Design, and Construction; Information Technology Services Division (ITSD); Accounting; Procurement; Budget and Planning; General Services; and Personnel) and numerous key offices and programs.

OA is seeking a highly skilled attorney to join our collaborative legal team as Senior Counsel. This position will play a critical role in providing expert legal advice and guidance to the department senior leaders, supporting a wide range of legal matters essential to the administration of statewide government functions. These areas include information technology, accounting, facilities management, personnel administration, procurement, budgeting, fleet management, and more.

The salary indicated represents a base pay rate. If the individual selected or the position is eligible for a pay differential (e.g., shift, security, or years of service), it will be added to the total compensation in your paycheck. A pay differential does not raise your base pay.

This position plays a critical role in providing expert legal advice to OA’s senior leaders across a wide range of legal matters. While responsible for broad legal support, this role will have a significant focus on state contracting, procurement processes, and contract compliance. A key function will be partnering with the Information Technology Services Division (ITSD) to modernize procurement initiatives.

Furthermore, this attorney will be pivotal in guiding the state's adoption of emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), and advising on critical data privacy matters, with the potential to serve as the agency's designated Privacy Officer.

Your responsibilities will be diverse and impactful, including:

Technology, AI, & Data Privacy Counsel

• Serve as lead counsel to the Information Technology Services Division (ITSD), advising on complex matters including data privacy, cybersecurity, cloud computing agreements, and software licensing.
• Architect the state’s legal framework for the evaluation, procurement, and ethical use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), addressing data governance, liability, and compliance.
• Guide OA on critical data privacy matters, with the potential to serve as the agency's designated Privacy Officer.

State Procurement & Contract Management

• Draft, negotiate, and review a high volume of complex contracts with a primary focus on technology and construction procurements, ensuring compliance with state law.
• Provide end-to-end legal counsel on all phases of state construction projects, from procurement and bidding to contract management and dispute resolution.
• Partner with divisions to manage vendor relationships, enforce contract compliance, and ensure optimal performance to safeguard the state’s interests.
• Partner with senior leadership to develop and implement best practices that modernize and optimize the efficiency of state procurement processes.

Legislation, Policy, & Rulemaking

• Analyze proposed legislation to assess its impact on OA and state operations, providing legal recommendations or new legislation as needed.
• Develop and implement agency-wide policies and procedures that align with state laws and promote efficient government operations.
• Modernize record retention policies to address advancing technologies, ensuring agency-wide compliance and overseeing related training programs.
• Draft and steer administrative regulations through the entire rulemaking process, from initial drafting and stakeholder coordination to final adoption.

General Counsel & Compliance

• Manage and respond to complex legal inquiries, including subpoenas, discovery, and open records requests under the Missouri Sunshine Law.
• Provide strategic litigation support in collaboration with outside counsel, advising on case strategy, priorities, and settlement negotiations.
• Conduct in-depth legal research and prepare comprehensive legal memoranda and opinions to support the decision-making of the Commissioner and other senior leaders.
• Other duties as assigned by the general counsel and deputy general counsel.

Minimum Qualifications:

• A Juris Doctorate from an accredited institution, a license in good standing to practice law in Missouri, and at least 5 years of experience practicing law.

Preferred Qualifications:

• The candidate should be a thoughtful advisor with strong research skills who anticipates problems and identifies innovative ways to solve them; builds strong positive relationships within OA and with other state agencies; communicates clearly; is assertive but diplomatic; and is a good listener. Further, the candidate should have the ability to effectively prioritize work and get along well with all types of personalities.

Successful background check results are required for employment in this position. This may include background checks involving a candidate's name and/or fingerprints and other screenings as needed for the specific position.

Authorization to work in the United States is a prerequisite of employment. The Office of Administration will not sponsor applicants for work visas.

The State of Missouri offers an excellent benefits package that includes a defined pension plan, generous amounts of leave and holiday time, and eligibility for health insurance coverage. Your total compensation is more than the dollars you receive in your paycheck. To help demonstrate the value of working for the State of Missouri, we have created an interactive Total Compensation Calculator. This tool provides a comprehensive view of benefits and more that are offered to prospective employees. The Total Compensation Calculator and other applicant resources can be found here.

OARecruiters@oa.mo.gov