Paralegal/Legal Assistant 2

Paralegal/Legal Assistant 2

Who We Are

The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) supports Ohioans and their families through the following programs:

• Public Assistance
• Workforce Development
• Unemployment Insurance
• Adult Protective Services
• Child Support

Public service is an honorable way to serve the community in a hands-on dedicated way. You can make a difference in someone’s world!

Agency Mission

To improve the well-being of Ohio's workforce and families by promoting economic self-sufficiency and ensuring the safety of Ohio's most vulnerable citizens.

Our Vision

To be the nation's leading workforce development and family support system.

Our Values

Accountability, Innovation, Teamwork, Integrity, and Compassion

Office of Legal and Acquisition Services

The Office of Contracts and Acquisitions (OCA) is housed within the Office of Legal and Acquisition Services, and has the expertise and authority for creating agreements and contracts, and overseeing the acquisition of goods and services for ODJFS. The mission of OCA is to meet and maintain the highest level of compliance with Federal and State laws, rules, policies, and procedures for acquisitions and contracting for ODJFS and to establish and maintain public trusts and confidence in the stewardship of taxpayer funds.

What You’ll Do

The Office of Contracts and Acquisitions (OCA) is responsible for the procurement of goods and services for ODJFS, as well as awarding grant funding to numerous organizations throughout the state. The work performed by the Paralegal is instrumental in the drafting and finalization of all agency agreements including grants, contracts, data sharing, inter-agency, and memorandums of understanding. Excellent customer service and communication skills are essential for this position, which includes regular communication with internal OCA staff, and program and support offices within ODJFS. Attention to detail is also a critical skill in order to ensure that our agreements are drafted and formatted accurately. This position includes daily prioritization of work ques, reviewing and verifying provided budgets and other agreement documentation, file creation and maintenance, working with ODJFS staff to develop deliverables and grant activities, and drafting and completing numerous agreements. Additional duties include creating and modifying templates and various legal research assignments.

OCA is a fast-paced environment due to the hundreds of agreements processed each year. Strong organization skills, ability to work on several projects concurrently, and the ability to turn work around quickly is necessary.

Schedule:

Standard workdays are Monday through Friday. Hours are between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. The specific work schedule will be as agreed-upon between the selected applicant and applicant’s supervisor.

Travel: Travel required, as needed. Must provide own transportation, or in order to operate a state vehicle you must have a valid Driver’s License.

PN(s): 20036684

The ideal candidate, at minimum, must have the following:

Successful completion of certification program for paralegal or legal assistant; 2 yrs. exp. in legal research & writing.

• Or 24 mos. Law school training.

• Or 36 mos. exp. as Paralegal/Legal Assistant 1, 63810.

• Or equivalent of Minimum Class Qualifications for Employment noted above

Technical & Professional Skills Utilized: Administrative/Support Services, Communications, Customer Service, Attention to Detail

Tips For Your Application

When completing the different sections of this application, be sure to clearly describe how you meet the minimum qualifications outlined in this job posting. We cannot give you credit for your Work Experience and Education & Certifications if you do not provide that information in your online application. Information in attached resumes or cover letters must be entered into your application in the appropriate Work Experience or Education & Certification sections to be considered.

Pay Information

This position is in the State of Ohio’s OCSEA Pay Schedule, Pay Range 29. Unless required by legislation or union contract, starting salary will be the minimum salary of that pay range (step 1, currently $22.02 per hour). These ranges provide a standardized pathway for pay increases. With continued employment, new hires move to the next step in the range after 6 months and annually thereafter. Cost of Living Adjustments increase wages in these ranges each fiscal year. The current step progression wages are in the table below.

What’s In It For You

We offer our employees a sustainable lifestyle that includes a flexible work life balance making our agency a great place to work!

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

• Quality, affordable, and competitive medical benefits are offered through the Ohio Med PPO plan. For more information, check out the 2023-24 MyBenefits Guide Online flipbook or PDF copy and see pages 8-9 for costs.

Dental, Vision and Basic Life Insurance

• BU: Dental, vision and basic life insurance premiums are free after one year of continuous service.

Time Away from Work and Work/Life Balance

• Paid time off, including vacation, personal, and sick leave
• 11 paid holidays per year
• Paid Childbirth/Adoption leave

Ohio Public Employees Retirement System

• OPERS is the retirement system for State of Ohio employees. The employee contributes 10% of their salary towards their retirement. The employer contributes an amount equal to 14% of the employee’s salary. Visit the OPERS website for more information.

Deferred Compensation

• The Ohio Deferred Compensation program is a 457(b) voluntary retirement savings plan. As a new employee, you will be automatically enrolled into Ohio Deferred Compensation unless you opt-out within 90 days of hire date. Visit the Ohio Deferred Compensation website for more information.

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.

Supplemental Information

EEO Statement

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. To request an ADA reasonable accommodation, please email ADA_Public@jfs.ohio.gov.

Telework Policy

ODJFS may require occasional in-person meetings for training or other operational needs. You will have access to ODJFS shared workspaces, if needed. Employees are required to sign a teleworking agreement upon their first day. Schedules are subject to change based on the agency’s operational needs and telework status. Telework is considered a privilege and agreements are reviewed annually.

Unless required by legislation or union contract, starting salary will be the minimum salary of the salary range 29 (step 1, currently $22.02 per hour) associated with this position.

All answers to the supplemental questions must be supported by the work experience/education provided on your civil service application.

Unless the posting requires, please do not include attachments, as attachments will not be considered as part of your application.

The final candidate selected for the position will be required to undergo a criminal background check. Some positions may require drug testing and/or fingerprinting. Criminal convictions do not necessarily preclude an applicant from consideration for a position. An individual assessment of an applicant's prior criminal conviction(s) will be made before excluding an applicant from consideration.

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

Status of Your Submitted Application

To check the status of a job application, sign-in to your profile and click on the "My Jobpage" tab to view completed submission. Check Job Status, and Submission Status, to see if there are any changes in status and View Email Messages to see if email correspondence was sent. We will correspond with applicants if they are selected for an interview.