Legal Operations Director - State Prog Admin Manager Sr

Working Title: Legal Operations Director

Job Class: State Program Administrator, Manager Senior

Agency: Children Youth & Families Dept

• Job ID : 98204

• Location : St. Paul

• Telework Eligible : Yes*, up to 50%

• Full/Part Time : Full-Time

• Regular/Temporary : Unlimited

• Who May Apply : Open to all qualified job seekers

• Date Posted : 11/05/2026

• Closing Date : 11/25/2026

• Hiring Agency/Seniority Unit : DCYF / DeptChildYth&Fam-Managerial

• Division/Unit : DCYF / General Counsel

• Work Shift/Work Hours : Day Shift / 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM

• Days of Work : Monday - Friday

• Travel Required : No

• Salary Range: $44.80 - $64.46 / hourly; $93,542 - $134,592 / annually

• Classified Status : Classified

• Bargaining Unit/Union : 220 - Manager/Unrep

• FLSA Status : Exempt - Administrative

• Designated in Connect 700 Program for Applicants with Disabilities (https://mn.gov/mmb/careers/diverse-workforce/people-with-disabilities/connect700/) : Yes

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families is unable to provide sponsorship for work visas. Applicants must be eligible to work in the United States at the start of employment. DCYF does not participate in E-Verify.

The work you'll do is more than just a job.

At the State of Minnesota, employees play a critical role in developing policies, providing essential services, and working to improve the well-being and quality of life for all Minnesotans. The State of Minnesota is committed to equity and inclusion, and invests in employees by providing benefits, support resources, and training and development opportunities.

*** Telework (https://mn.gov/mmb-stat/policies/1422-telework.pdf) (Within Minnesota or neighboring states) and flexible hours options are available.

The Legal Operations Director is a position of service – service to the General Counsel Team, service to Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) staff, and service to the communities that DCYF serves.

To that end, the Legal Operations Director will provide strategic leadership and direction to support and grow the infrastructure of the DCYF General Counsel’s Office (GCO). The DCYF GCO is a rapidly growing team that is developing a unique style of providing legal services throughout the agency to better meet DCYF’s mission of serving children, youth, and families throughout Minnesota. To support that service, DCYF GCO needs a visionary, roll-up-their sleeves leader to 1) support a service-oriented team that is evolving to meet the needs of the GCO, 2) stabilize the current GCO infrastructure, 3) develop and implement interim processes and systems to support the GCO, and 4) identify and build future-state processes, systems, and engagement strategies.

The Director will play a key role in supporting DCYF’s General Counsel Team with systems, tools, knowledge, and skills necessary to meet the agency’s legal needs and obligations and support the agency in achieving service goals for the people of Minnesota. The position requires impeccable character, person-oriented approach to service, independent decision-making, program oversight, and a high level of responsibility for managing sensitive, high-impact initiatives across divisions and external organizations.

Responsibilities include:

• Actively develop effective relationships with staff, leadership, partners, and legal stakeholders.

• Develop and manage both interim and future strategic legal systems, initiatives, and projects, the goal of which is to improve agency practices and systems that ensure compliance with agency legal obligations and tracking. Connect and systematize efforts to support effective use of these initiatives.

• Evaluate GCO performance through development of metrics and assessment methods to identify functional efficiency, key areas for improvement efforts, and proactively identify areas of potential deficiencies.

• Direct and oversee GCO non-attorney functions and staff.

• Maintain current knowledge of statutes, regulations, and policies governing DCYF GCO work. Oversee DCYF’s interactions with the appellate courts, district courts, the Court of Administrative Hearings, and the DHS Appeals Division and related systems access.

Minimum Qualifications

• Five (5) years of experience in legal operations, public sector law, public sector administration, non-profit administration, or compliance.

Experience must demonstrate the following:

• Expertise in identifying gaps and developing solutions to meet an organization’s needs.

• Expertise in managing litigation documentation, developing technology, and using tools from the Microsoft 365 Stack such as SharePoint, Forms, Teams, or similar programs to support effective administrative functions.

• Experience in assessing complex legal issues, developing solutions, and exercising sound judgment to align strategies with agency objectives.

• Experience understanding and acknowledging the unique contributions of others and ensuring stakeholders and colleagues have opportunities to provide input.

• Ability to create and communicate a strategic vision for the organization and a roadmap to achieve the vision.

• Experience identifying project challenges and modifying or adjusting course to meet objectives.

AND

• Demonstrated leadership* experience

*Leadership experience can include:

• Experience as a supervisor, leadworker, team lead, project lead:

• Completion of a State of Minnesota leadership program (e.g. ELI, L4);

• A paid/unpaid position leading a program or chairing a committee (e.g. ERG) - experience must include:

• 1+ year of experience identifying issues, goals and strategic actions

• 100+ hours per year time commitment

Applicants who meet the above experience requirements will be further evaluated based on the following during the interview process:

• Ability to effectively articulate complex technology solutions to non-technical people.

• Ability to communicate effectively and efficiently in writing.

• Ability to demonstrate service-oriented approach to achieving the objectives for this position.

Preferred Qualifications

• A Juris Doctor (JD) or master’s degree in law, public administration, or a related field.

• A paralegal degree or certification.

• Experience working with state agencies, legislative processes, or public sector legal compliance.

• Experience in collaborating with government officials, courts, executive leadership, and community organizations to facilitate legal processes.

• Expertise in human services law, administrative hearings, civil rights enforcement, or regulatory compliance.

• Advanced proficiency for use and development of legal software, case management tools, and data privacy systems such as Granicus GovQA, Everlaw, FileNet, and the Microsoft 365 Stack including Teams and SharePoint.

• Variety of experiences working effectively with others from different backgrounds and cultures.

Additional Requirements

It is the policy of the Department of Children, Youth, and Families that the individual selected for this position successfully complete a background investigation prior to employment, that may include the following components:

• Reference check

• Criminal Background check

• Fingerprinting check (MNJIS/CJIS)

• Driver’s License Check

• Personnel File Review: all current and former public sector employees

• Additional assessment may be required during the interview process

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Minnesota State Colleges and Universities is an Equal Opportunity employer/educator committed to the principles of diversity. We prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their race, sex, color, creed, religion, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or membership in a local commission as defined by law. As an affirmative action employer, we actively seek and encourage applications from women, minorities, persons with disabilities, and individuals with protected veteran status.

Reasonable accommodations will be made to all qualified applicants with disabilities. If you are an individual with a disability who needs assistance or cannot access the online job application system, please contact the job information line at 651-259-3637 or email [email protected] . Please indicate what assistance is needed.