Chief Legal Counsel

PLEASE ATTACH THE ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS LISTED AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE

Job ID: 33892
Agency: Department of Health
Location: Pierre, Sioux Falls or Rapid City, SD
Salary: $108, 586.52 - $132,716.86 Annual Salary, depending on qualifications
Pay Grade: L3
Closing Date: 12/3/25

This is a Full-Time position with the Department of Health. For more information on the Department of Health, please visit https://doh.sd.gov/ .

The South Dakota Department of Health’s programs and services help prevent illness and injury, promote healthy places to live, work and play; provide education to help people make good health decisions; prepare for, respond to, and prevent public health threats; and support efforts to enhance quality and accessibility of healthcare. Our services touch the lives of every person in the state of South Dakota.

We recognize that employees are our most valuable resource and we are committed to promoting a culture of excellence in DOH. We trust our employees to be innovative, challenge existing processes, and make the best decisions. We are interested in employing a diverse and skilled workforce that exhibits the values of leadership, accountability, communication, integrity, and teamwork. Public health is a diverse and growing field that offers many career options for people from a variety of educational backgrounds. Imagine yourself as part of a winning team that is making the lives of South Dakotans healthier and safer.

Please visit our website at http://doh.sd.gov/ for further information about the Department of Health.

The South Dakota Department of Health is seeking a highly motivated and experienced attorney to serve as Chief Legal Counsel. This senior leadership role is critical in providing legal guidance on a wide range of sensitive and high-impact issues. The ideal candidate will bring a strong background in public service law, demonstrated leadership, and a commitment to advancing the Department’s mission to protect and improve the health of all South Dakotans.

The Chief Legal Counsel will:

• Provide legal advice to the Secretary and Division Directors, supporting all divisions within the Department.
• Represent the Department in litigation before the Supreme Court, Circuit Court, and Office of Administrative Hearings.
• Draft, review and analyze, and lobby for legislation on behalf of the Department during legislative session which requires collaboration and communication with legislators, legislative committees, legislative staff, and others involved in the legislative process.
• Provide legal research, briefing, and advice on emerging issues.
• Ensure the Department is in compliance with federal and state statutes and administrative rules.
• Review and maintain administrative rules in compliance with state and federal law changes.
• Assist the Department in promulgating and amending administrative rules as necessary.
• Serve as liaison to the Attorney General’s Office and collaborate with State’s Attorneys on civil and criminal matters.
• Oversee legal matters related to infectious disease control, licensure and enforcement, emergency preparedness, policy and compliance, and other public health regulatory frameworks.
• Supervise and provide leadership to a team of two attorneys.
• Manage legal operations including legal workload management, budgeting, policy development, and strategic planning.
• Other duties, as assigned.

The location of the position is preferred to be in Pierre. If located in Sioux Falls or Rapid City, the incumbent would have frequent and regular travel to Pierre, especially during legislative session.

Licenses and Certifications:

• Juris Doctor from an accredited law school.
• Member of the South Dakota State Bar (or eligible and willing to obtain membership upon hire).

The Ideal Candidate Will Have:

• At least 8 years practicing law including experience supervising or providing work direction to attorneys. Experience in health care, public health, and administrative law is desirable.

Knowledge of:

• Basic computer operations and applications.
• Understanding of HIPAA and federal and state law.
• Knowledge of state and federal legislative process.
• Experience handling administrative hearings and regulatory compliance.
• Proven leadership and team management experience.
• Supervisory experience in a legal setting, particularly in public health or healthcare law.
• Experience with legal issues involving infectious disease response, licensure and regulation, contract law, etc.
• Experience in establishing a vision, goals, and objectives for all individuals within the legal division to include personal and professional development.

Skills to:

• Use Strong legal research, writing, and analytical skills.
• Communicate clearly and concisely with both attorneys and non-attorneys.
• Research and provide recommendations on key areas of the law.
• Work effectively with diverse stakeholder groups.
• Manage a large and complex caseload.

Ability to:

• Ability to draft, review, and analyze legislation.
• Ability to collaborate and communicate with legislators, legislative committees, legislative staff, and other involved in the legislative process.
• A willingness and the ability to lobby legislation on behalf of the Department of Health.
• Ability to review and analyze federal legislation and administrative rules.
• Demonstrated litigation experience and legal research skills.
• Ability to embrace organizational culture change and empower employees to be change agents.
• Ability to develop and maintain strong relationships with diverse groups.
• Ability to interpret and apply complex health-related laws and regulations in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
• Strong collaboration skills with public health partners, legal entities, and community stakeholders.
• Ability to assess legal risks and provide clear, practical guidance.

Additional Requirements: To be considered, please attach your resume.

This position is exempt from the Civil Service Act.

The State of South Dakota does not sponsor work visas for new or existing employees. All persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete an Employment Eligibility Verification, Form I-9. The State of South Dakota as an employer will be using E-Verify to complete employment eligibility verification upon hire.

The State of South Dakota offers $0 premium employee health insurance option plus eleven paid holidays, generous vacation and sick leave accrual, dental, vision, and other insurance options, and retirement benefits. You can view our benefits information here . This position is a member of Class A retirement under SDRS.

Must apply online: https://gen-stateofsouthdako-trn.inforcloudsuite.com/hcm/xmlhttp/shorturl.do?key=2W5
You must apply online, emailed resumes or submissions will not be accepted.
South Dakota Bureau of Human Resources
Telephone: 605.773.3148 Email: careers@state.sd.us
http://bhr.sd.gov/workforus
"An Equal Opportunity Employer"

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