Requisition No: 813454
Agency: Department of Transportation
Working Title: SENIOR PARALEGAL SPECIALIST – 55000637
Position Number: 55000637
Salary: $48,000.00 – $58,000.00
Posting Closing Date: 10/09/2023
STATE OF FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
JOB POSTING DESCRIPTION
916 / Office of General Counsel
OPEN COMPETITIVE
SELECTED EXEMPT SERVICE
CONTACT PERSON: Nicole Hults, Deputy General Counsel, 605 Suwannee Street, MS 58, Tallahassee, FL 32399
CONTACT PHONE NUMBER: (850) 414-5356
CONTACT EMAIL ADDRESS: nicole.hults@dot.state.fl.us
Working for the State of Florida is more than a paycheck. The State’s total compensation package for employees features a highly competitive set of employee benefits including:
- Health insurance (over 90% employer paid)
- $25,000 life insurance policy (100% employer paid)
- Dental, vision and supplemental insurances
- State of Florida retirement package
- Generous vacation and sick leave
- 10 paid holidays a year
- Career advancement opportunities
- Tuition waiver for public college courses
- Training opportunities
- Flexible work schedules and telework (for designated positions)
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Join FDOT and be part of the team that works as one to improve safety, enhance mobility and inspire innovation in the Florida transportation system!
For additional benefit information available to State of Florida employees, go to https://www.mybenefits.myflorida.com/
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: You may be required to provide your Social Security Number to conduct required verifications. Male applicants born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion in the Career Service, or appointment in the Selected Exempt Service (SES) or Senior Management Service (SMS) unless they are registered with the Selective Service System (SSS) before their 26th birthday, or have a Letter of Registration Exemption from the SSS.
THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION VALUES AND SUPPORTS EMPLOYMENT OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES. QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY.
In accordance with Section 110.112, Florida Statutes, and the Florida Department of Transportation’s Individuals with Disabilities Affirmative Action Plan, the agency is committed to ensuring affirmative action and equal employment opportunity for qualified individuals with disabilities. Upon request and as appropriate, reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities may be provided. Please contact the Florida Department of Transportation’s Human Resources Office located at 605 Suwannee Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399, or call (850) 414-5300 for assistance.
POSITION DESCRIPTION: This position assists the Deputy General Counsel in providing direction to the Office of the General Counsel (OGC) through management and administration of the office. The tone for professionalism and work standards for the entire legal support staff are set and maintained by this position. This position acts as the hub for transmission of information and legal advice to every area of the Department, and extends to citizens and other state departments who are the customers of the Department. Whether it be telephone calls from citizens, requests for legal opinions from within the Department, or requests for information from the Governor’s Office, this position handles each one with optimal customer service, expertise, and attention and follows through to ensure the customer is served. A substantial portion of the employee’s time will involve the exercise of independent judgment and initiative in the completion of a variety of duties. As new assignments and emergencies arise, the employee must be able to prioritize the duties of this position. Those duties and responsibilities include:
Managing the calendar for the Deputy General Counsel of Procurement and Contracting, including all meetings, appointments, travel, training and leave. Responsible for handling incoming and outgoing mail and telephone calls. Reviewing and processing the Deputy General Counsel of Procurement and Contracting’s travel and contract invoices. Independently preparing responses to inquiries on routine work matters. Comuunicating with the Deputy General Counsel of Procurement and Contracting on a daily basis on correspondence and documents to be reviewed, signed and assigned. Assists with public records requests related to confidential personnel matters that have been entered in JustFOIA. Serves as back-up to the Sr. Paralegal when the position is vacant or the person is absent.
Researching and preparing reports, pleadings, appellate briefs, final orders, etc.; drafting standardized pleadings and final orders and composing basic written legal documents; performing detailed proofreading and editing of documents prepared for the attorney’s signature and/or approval. Reviewing, investigating, and preparing responses to numerous inquiries and correspondence; organizing and categorizing documents and trial exhibits; performing assigned research; compiling reports, such as employee workload distribution, equipment usage and needs, and other management related reports; undertaking special projects as assigned by the Deputy General Counsel. Organize case files for hearings; organize and categorize documents and hearing exhibits; assist in preparation of, and responses to, discovery matters. Travel to and provide litigation support during major hearings and trials. Serves as back-up to the Sr. Paralegal Specialist in assisting the Human Relations attorney in executing confidential personnel matters such as the preparation and presentation of disciplinary actions before the Public Employees Relations Commission, and arbitrations. Accepts service of process and assists with processing subpoenas and summons.
Manages the OGC Private SharePoint site. Responsible for creating and reviewing weekly reports for accuracy. Works with the senior paralegals statewide to correct any errors. Distributes bi-weekly reports to General Counsel, Deputy General Counsel, District Chief Counsels and Chief Counsels for their respective offices. Trains new employees on how to use the OGC Private SharePoint site. Manages the site by reviewing links to ensure they are not broken. Researches and recommends updates to the OGC Private SharePoint site as needed. Reviews AARF requests to add or delete employees requesting access to the site. Assists with public records requests related to confidential personnel matters that have been entered in JustFOIA. Serves as back-up to the Sr. Paralegal when the position is vacant or the person is absent.
Serves as the Unit Training Coordinator for OGC and liaison with the Office of Organizational Development. Train employees on how to use Learning Curve. Review and update courses managed by OGC in Learning Curve. Pulling transcripts for managers for mid-year evaluations and end of year evaluations for their direct reports. Coordinates a quarterly statewide staff training. Assists attorneys persenting at the OGC Statewide Meeting by getting presentations CLE approved with The Florida Bar. Research and present to management CLE courses for attorneys.
Serves as back-up to the Administrative Manager for the General Counsel and Sr. Paralegal Specialist for the Deputy General Counsel of Litigation and Appeals when position is vacant or person is absent. This includes reviewing incoming mail and handling telephone calls.
Qualifying Questions will not disqualify an applicant.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES: Knowledge of legal pleadings; knowledge of litigation process; skill in typing correspondence, memorandums, reports, legal pleadings and various legal documents with established format and with no supervision; ability to support attorneys during hearings; knowledge of administrative procedure and litigation process; ability to perform legal research and write legal memorandum; abiity to travel when required; ability to organize and maintain file system for cases; skill in preparing for hearings; skill in scheduling depositions and hearings, and preparing related documents; ability to perform basic legal secretarial duties including maintaining attorney’s calendar, copying, mailing, and filing documents with the courts; ability to coordinate work assignments; ability to handle multiple tasks; ability to organize and maintain files; ability to prioritize work assignments; skill in meeting deadlines; ability to access, input, and retrieve information from a computer database; knowledge of electronic mail; ability to use electronic mail; knowledge of word processing software; ability to use word processing software; ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing; ability to read and comprehend written material; ability to use correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others; ability to work effectively as a team member; and ability to work with internal and external customers in a tactful and courteous manner.
The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer, and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.
Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.
The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.