Employment Law, Attorney 5 (PN 20035992)

Employment Law
Attorney 5

Who we are:

At the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health (DBH), we strive to exemplify The Heart of Hope for individuals and families affected by mental health and substance use disorders.

We proudly employ over 2,800 dedicated employees across our six inpatient behavioral health hospitals, Ohio Pharmacy Services, Ohio's prison systems, and the central office located in the James A. Rhodes State Office Tower in Columbus, OH.

DBH Values:

• Service-Oriented (Person Centered, Solution Oriented, Customer Service Focused)
• Collaborative (Approachable, Reasonable, Transparent)
• Value Driven
• Innovative (Yes Before No)
• Strong Sense of Urgency

Our team of highly qualified professionals advances a critical system of behavioral healthcare in Ohio that helps people be well, get well, and stay well. Join our collaborative, service-oriented environment, where you will be respected and valued.

The Ohio Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) is proud to be an Ohio Recovery Friendly Workplace, committed to supporting the health and well-being of all employees, including those in recovery. We foster an inclusive, stigma-free environment where individuals impacted by mental health and substance use challenges are valued, supported, and empowered to thrive. Our workplace culture promotes wellness, second-chance hiring, and recovery-informed policies that reflect our mission to serve Ohioans with compassion and respect, both in the community and within our own team.

Please note: Effective October 1, 2025, the Ohio Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services has transitioned to its new name—the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health. This change reflects our continued commitment to providing comprehensive, person-centered care that addresses the full range of behavioral health needs for Ohioans. All positions and services now fall under the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health as we move forward in serving individuals, families, and communities across the state.

The Ohio Department of Behavioral Health is seeking an experienced employment law attorney with strong discovery, research, and writing skills that can provide legal advice and representation regarding an array of employment and labor law matters impacting the Department of Behavioral Health statewide operations. This position will provide expert legal consultation, policy guidance, and leadership for complex and high-risk employment issues. In this role, you will work closely with staff across the agency and liaison with external stakeholders, federal, state, and local partners, and constituents. The ideal candidate is a licensed Ohio attorney who is motivated, detail-oriented, and interested in working within a collaborative and professional work environment.

Additional preferred qualifications: 3+ years of employment litigation experience, 5+ years advising and providing expert legal guidance, to include: analyzing complex legal issues, researching legislation, advising on legal rights, obligations, and potential liability.

What you’ll do at DBH:

Employment & Labor Law Consultation

• Serves as lead legal consultant for statewide employment and labor matters, including discipline, investigations, collective bargaining, accommodations, EEO, ADA, FMLA, public records related to personnel, and workforce policy issues.
• Researches, analyzes, and interprets federal and state employment laws.
• Advises agency leadership, HR, and program administration on legal risk and compliance.

Statewide & Multi-Agency Initiatives

• Plans, directs, and coordinates legal activities for major departmental and system-wide initiatives.
• Serves as DBH legal representative on statewide and multi-agency workgroups and policy committees.
• Reviews and analyzes proposed legislation, administrative rules, and regulatory actions affecting employment and labor operations.

Lead Attorney & Legal Oversight

• Provides ongoing and project-based legal consultation to agency leadership.
• Directs preparation and reviews legal documentation, including legal opinions, memoranda, correspondence, and contracts.
• Exercises independent judgment on complex legal issues and serves as liaison with the Ohio Attorney General’s Office on assigned employment and labor matters.
• Coordinates with the agency’s legislative liaison regarding employment-related statutory and rule changes.

Litigation & Administrative Proceedings

• Assists the Chief Legal Counsel and Legal Office Chief with employment-related litigation and administrative proceedings, including matters before the Ohio Court of Claims and Federal and state courts.
• Participates in pre-trial conferences; reviews case documentation; assesses legal risk; and develops recommendations regarding settlement, resolution, or appeal.
• Ensures consistency with agency policy and DAS standards in the development and management of case materials.
  
  

This is an hourly position and is exempt from the bargaining units, with a pay range of 15 on the E1 Exempt Pay Range Schedule . Normal working hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm (Flexible Schedule).

Unless required by any applicable union contract and/or requirements of the Ohio Revised Code, the selected candidate will begin at Step 1 of the pay range schedule listed above, with an opportunity for pay increase after six months of satisfactory performance and then a yearly raise thereafter.

Additional Salary / Appointment Information:

This position is unclassified per 124.11 (A) (9), Ohio Revised Code.

At the State of Ohio, we take care of the team that cares for Ohioans. We provide a variety of quality, competitive benefits to eligible full-time and part-time employees*. For a list of all the State of Ohio Benefits, visit our Total Rewards website! Our benefits package includes:

• Medical Coverage
• Free Dental, Vision and Basic Life Insurance premiums after completion of eligibility period
• Paid time off, including vacation, personal, sick leave and 11 paid holidays per year
• Childbirth, Adoption, and Foster Care leave
• Education and Development Opportunities (Employee Development Funds, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and more)
• Public Retirement Systems (such as OPERS, STRS, SERS, and HPRS) & Optional Deferred Compensation (Ohio Deferred Compensation)

*Benefits eligibility is dependent on a number of factors. The Agency Contact listed above will be able to provide specific benefits information for this position.

Admission to Ohio Bar pursuant to Section 4705.01 of Revised Code; 18 mos. exp. as licensed attorney; 6 mos. exp. in supervisory principles/techniques.

Job Skills: Attorney/Legal

Application Procedures
To be considered for this position, you must apply online through this posting website (careers.ohio.gov). We no longer accept paper applications. When completing your online Ohio Civil Service Application, be sure to clearly describe how you meet the minimum qualifications outlined on this job posting. We will not give credit for your qualifications, experience, education, and training in the job selection process if there is no evidence provided on your application. In addition, “see resume” is not a substitution for completing supplemental questions. Answers to the supplemental questions must be fully supported by the work experience/education sections of your application. You may check the status of your application by signing into your profile on this website (careers.ohio.gov). We will communicate with you through the email you provided in your profile and job application. Be sure to check your email regularly.

Background Check Notice
The final candidate selected for this position will be required to undergo a criminal background check. Criminal convictions do not necessarily preclude an applicant from consideration for a position. An individual assessment of an applicant’s prior criminal convictions will be made before excluding an applicant from consideration.

Rule 5122-7-21, “Background check on applicants,” outlines disqualifying offenses that will preclude an applicant from being employed by the Department of Behavioral Health.

If you require a reasonable accommodation for the application process, assessment &/or interview, please contact Andrew Seifert, EEO/ADA Administrator at andrew.seifert@dbh.ohio.gov or 614-466-8884.

All final applicants tentatively selected for this class will be required to submit to urinalysis to test for illegal drug use prior to appointments. An applicant with a positive test shall not be offered employment.

Ohio is a Disability Inclusion State and strives to be a model employer of individuals with disabilities. The State of Ohio is committed to providing access and inclusion and reasonable accommodation in its services, activities, programs and employment opportunities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws.

The State of Ohio is a drug-free workplace which prohibits the use of marijuana (recreational marijuana/non-medical cannabis). Please note, this position may be subject to additional restrictions pursuant to the State of Ohio Drug-Free Workplace Policy (HR-39), and as outlined in the posting.