Full-time General Counsel, Arizona Department of Administration

01DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC SECURITY

• YOUR PARTNER FOR A STRONGER ARIZONA.
• DES WORKS WITH FAMILIES, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, ADVOCATES AND STATE AND
• FEDERAL PARTNERS TO REALIZE OUR COLLECTIVE VISION: A THRIVING ARIZONA.

DES SERVES MORE THAN 3 MILLION ARIZONANS. OUR MISSION IS TO STRENGTHEN

INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES FOR A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE.

02ASSOCIATE GENERAL COUNSEL

• Job Location:

03OFFICE OF THE GENERAL COUNSEL (OGC)

1789 WEST JEFFERSON STREET, PHOENIX, AZ 85007

Posting Details:

04SALARY: $125,000.00 TO $150,000.00

GRADE: 1

05CLOSING DATE: NOVEMBER 19, 2026

• Job Summary:

Would you like to be part of an amazing team that helps Arizonans thrive? At the

Department of Economic Security (DES), we strengthen individuals, families, and

communities for a better quality of life. DES is looking for individuals that

are committed to service, community, and teamwork. To learn more about DES

please visit des.az.gov [https://des.az.gov/]; or click on the link here

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nik5MiXqOV8] to view ‘Our DES’ video. Come join

the DES Team!

The Department of Economic Security, Office of the Director (OOD) is seeking an

experienced and highly motivated individual to join our team as a General

Counsel Attorney. The General Counsel position directly supports the

Department's program and operational activities by assignment from the General

Counsel, Office of the Director. In the General Counsel's absence, the position

may act under the direct supervision of the agency's Director. Directly supports

General Counsel Office staff through review of work product prior to

dissemination.

Job Duties:

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Strategic Legal Counsel - Provide timely, practical, and risk-informed legal
• advice to DDD leadership and executive stakeholders to ensure compliance with
• federal and state law and alignment with DES priorities.
• Legal Research and Analysis - Conduct complex legal research and apply
• statutes, regulations, case law, and administrative guidance to support sound
• legal and operational decision-making.
• Contracts and Procurement - Review, draft, and advise on contracts,
• intergovernmental agreements, and procurement documents, ensuring legal
• sufficiency and risk mitigation.
• Eligibility, Appeals, and Claims - Provide legal guidance on eligibility
• determinations, administrative appeals, and claims disputes; support litigation
• strategy and administrative hearings as needed.
• Compliance and Risk Management - Advise on audits, compliance actions, and
• corrective measures; identify legal risks and recommend proactive mitigation
• strategies.
• Policy Development and Rulemaking - Draft, review, and interpret policies,
• procedures, and administrative rules to ensure alignment with statutory
• authority and best practices.
• Public Records and Transparency - Provide legal guidance on public records
• requests and disclosure obligations, ensuring compliance while protecting
• confidential information.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration - Serve as a key liaison between OGC and DDD;
• collaborate with leadership, program staff, and other DES divisions; respond to
• inquiries from executive and division leadership.
• Organizational Engagement - Participate in departmental initiatives to build a
• comprehensive understanding of DES programs, operations, and statewide impact.
• Best Practices and Continuous Improvement - Identify and implement legal best
• practices that enhance program effectiveness, accessibility, and community
• impact.
• Training and Guidance - Develop and deliver legal training to staff, fostering
• a culture of compliance, accountability, and informed decision-making.
• Performance and Workload Management - Manage a high-volume, complex workload
• in a dynamic environment while meeting performance expectations and supporting
• hybrid/remote operations.
• Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSAs):
• Knowledge of:
• Federal and Arizona laws, rules, and regulations, particularly in public
• benefits.
• Legal aspects of healthcare, including administrative law, the Administrative
• Procedure Act, civil litigation, rulemaking, healthcare compliance, and the
• legislative process.
• Judicial and administrative processes, procedures, and legal terminology.
• Legal research methodologies and legal writing (e.g., memoranda, pleadings,
• reports).
• Ethical requirements of government lawyers and managing client expectations
• Skilled in:
• Self-Direction and Initiative: Independently managing workload and proactively
• addressing legal issues.
• Communication: Clearly conveying complex legal concepts in both written and
• verbal formats to diverse audiences.
• Collaboration and Emotional Intelligence: Effectively working with leadership,
• staff, and stakeholders while demonstrating professionalism and empathy.
• Ability to:
• Perform Under Pressure: Manage competing priorities and time-sensitive matters
• with composure and focus.
• Analyze and Exercise Judgment: Identify legal issues, evaluate risks, and
• deliver well-reasoned
• recommendations.
• Demonstrate Commitment to Public Service: Support programs that improve lives
• and strengthen Arizona communities.
• Selective Preference(s):
• The ideal candidate for this position will have:
• A minimum ten (10) years of experience in the practice of law, with five (5)
• of the more recent years including principal management and oversight of legal

staff. Five (5) to seven (7) years of litigation experience spanning Federal AND

State court as well as administrative forums..

Pre-Employment Requirements:

• Possession of, and ability to maintain a current valid license to practice law
• in the State of Arizona.
• If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential
• function of the job to conduct State
• business, then the following requirements apply: Driver’s License Requirements.
• Any employee operating a
• motor vehicle on State business must possess and retain a current, valid
• class-appropriate driver's license,
• complete all required training, and successfully pass all necessary driver's

license record checks. The license

must be current, unexpired, and neither revoked nor suspended. Employees who

06drive on state business are

• subject to Driver's license record checks, must maintain acceptable driving
• records, and must complete all

required driver training. An employee who operated a personally owned vehicle on

07state business shall

• maintain the statutorily required liability insurance (see Arizona
• Administrative Code (A.A.C.) (R2-10-201.11).
• Successfully pass background and reference check; employment is contingent
• upon completion of the
• above-mentioned process and the Agency's ability to reasonably accommodate any
• restrictions.
• All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete
• the Electronic Employment
• Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).
• Benefits:
• The Arizona Department of Economic Security offers a comprehensive benefits
• package to include:
• Affordable medical, dental, life, and short-term disability insurance plans
• Participation in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) and long-term
• disability plans
• 10 paid holidays per year
• Paid vacation and sick time
• Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or
• newly-placed foster/adopted child.
• Deferred compensation plan
• Wellness plans
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Stipend Opportunities
• Infant at Work Program
• Rideshare and Public Transit Subsidy
• Career Advancement & Employee Development Opportunities

08Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave program here

[https://hr.az.gov/about/resources/family-leave-expansion]. For a complete list

of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

09[https://benefitoptions.az.gov/jobseekers]

• Retirement:
• State employees are required to participate in the Arizona State Retirement
• System (ASRS), the State sponsored retirement contribution plan and the

Long-Term Disability (LTD) program after a 27-week waiting period. The ASRS

defined benefit plan provides for life-long income upon retirement. You will

also have the option to participate in a voluntary deferred compensation program

to take advantage of tax-deferred retirement investments.

On, or shortly after, your first day of work you will be provided with

additional information about the available insurance plans, enrollment

instructions, submission deadlines and effective dates.

Contact Us:

For questions about this career opportunity, please contact Joseph Deserio at

480-589-4222 or JDeserio@azdes.gov.

The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer.

Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation, such as a sign

language interpreter or an alternative format by contacting 480-589-4222 or

JDeserio@azdes.gov. Requests should be made as early as possible to allow time

to arrange the accommodation.