Division Chief - Public Lands & Conservation Division, Olympia

More Information About the Attorney General’s Office 

All employees and volunteers of the Washington State Attorney General's Office serve a crucial role in the protection of the state, its people and resources, thereby providing an incomparable degree of job satisfaction. The AGO is composed of diverse, collegial and supremely talented legal professionals who are resolute in their commitment to public service and share the common goal of advancing the public interest. For more information about the AGO, we encourage you to review the Office's Annual Report which can be found HERE and view THIS VIDEO.

Benefit and Compensation Details

The Office appreciates the benefits of a healthy life-work balance as well as a respectful, inclusive and diverse workplace. Successful candidates will join an Office in which every person is committed to providing exceptional legal services and where individual professional development is encouraged and supported. The exceptional benefits of joining the AGO include: 

• Competitive salary, within the given salary range ($164,846 - $170,316 ). 
• A competitive benefit package that includes:
  • Affordable medical plan options, including vision benefits,
  • Dental benefits covered 100%
  • Retirement plan (employee/employer contribution)
  • Deferred Compensation Plan
• 11 paid holidays and 1 personal holiday
• 8 hours sick leave accrual per month
• 9.33 hours to start, then up to 16.67 hours of annual leave accrual per month (based on years of state service)
• Flex schedules and telecommuting options
• The AGO will pay the general bar dues of someone who begins their assignment on or before January 31st
• Qualifying Employer for Public Loan Forgiveness Program
• A formal AAG mentoring program that complements the AGO's inherently collegial and supportive environment
• Health and wellness program
• Training and career development program that provides CLE credits and is recognized for its excellence and efficacy by AGOs nationwide 

The Public Lands and Conservation (PLC) Division of the Washington State Attorney General’s Office is seeking an attorney with significant management and legal experience to fill the position of Division Chief located in Olympia, WA.

The Public Lands and Conservation Division consists of 26 attorneys and 13 professional staff. The division represents the Commissioner of Public Lands, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, the Board of Natural Resources, the Forest Practices Board, the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission. It also represents the state in complex natural resource litigation and assists local prosecutors in the criminal enforcement of fish and wildlife laws.

The work of the division is a diverse mix of litigation and client advice. The division represents the state before all levels of state and federal courts and in administrative tribunals on varied issues including permitting, legislation, rulemaking, and enforcement matters. The largest areas of practice are public lands management, real property law and land acquisition, land use, fish and wildlife resource management, endangered species, habitat protection, tribal issues, hydropower licensing, law enforcement, civil forfeiture, contracts, regulatory permitting, and administrative procedures. 

The Division Chief is responsible for the overall management of the division and ensures delivery of legal services to these client agencies and officials. The Division Chief serves as the primary legal advisor to the Commissioner of Public Lands and the Department of Natural Resources and may be called upon to advise the Attorney General and the Governor's Office on issues within the scope of the division's work. The Division Chief is also a member of the Leadership Team of the Attorney General's Office and is responsible for contributing to and supporting the overall mission of the office. While the position is located in Olympia, some travel around the state is expected. 

The attorney hired for this position will join a division that works together to provide quality legal services to clients that work on complex environmental and natural resource issues and that values problem solving and teamwork. The division is composed of exceptional and dedicated attorneys and professional staff, all of whom share the goal of providing exceptional legal services. The division's culture is diverse, respectful, and professional, and would be an excellent fit for someone who seeks to make a difference. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to provide direct legal services to clients on high-profile legal issues, as well as mentor others within the division and throughout the AGO.

In addition to meeting the requirements to serve as an Assistant Attorney General, we are seeking candidates who have experience in civil or criminal litigation, client advice, administrative, and other areas of law relevant to government operations. Legal services provided by the Public Lands and Conservation Division include both client advice and litigation in state and federal courts, as well as administrative tribunals. 
 
 The successful candidate will have demonstrated abilities and experience in the following areas:

• Experience in civil or criminal litigation and client advice including expertise in a government practice such as administrative procedures, open public meetings, and public records;
• Experience in substantive areas of law relevant to the division practice;
• The ability to develop and carry out systemic approaches to litigation matters as well as organizational and budget issues;
• The ability to coordinate and manage issues of a diverse legal nature and complexity;
• Effective problem-solving skills with experience providing proactive, practical, and creative solutions, while maintaining perspective and resilience;
• Experience providing independent, sound legal advice on a wide variety of complex issues to knowledgeable high-level clients;
• Outstanding interpersonal skills with a demonstrated ability to collaborate and foster teamwork as well as establish and maintain positive working relationships with coworkers while promoting a working environment that is collaborative, diverse in perspective, inclusive, and innovative; and
• Demonstrated leadership skills and competence in mentoring and supervising attorneys and professional staff, including the ability to build respect and trust as well as provide timely recognition and constructive feedback.

Salary range for this position is $164,846 - $170,316. Division Chief salaries are based on experience, qualifications and are commensurate with comparable positions in the AGO. This position is exempt from representation by the Association of Washington Assistant Attorneys General/Washington Federation of State Employees AFSCME Council28, AFL-CIO. A competitive state benefits package is also offered which includes a choice of medical/dental insurance plans, retirement, life and basic long-term disability insurance. In addition, there are non-financial benefits that include working in a collaborative and supportive work environment where professional development and work-life balance are highly valued. The health, safety and professional satisfaction of all AGO staff and volunteers is critical to fulfilling the mission of the AGO to provide exceptional legal services. Complementing and fostering this goal is a long-standing commitment to environmental stewardship, as evidenced in the AGO's environmental policies.

Interested applicants must apply by hitting the "apply" button above.  In addition to the on-line application, one must upload, via the system and preferably as PDFs:

• A letter of interest;
• Resume;
• Law school transcript (unofficial copy is acceptable); and
• Writing sample (10 pages or less).

If you have questions about this position or wish to learn more about it before applying, you are welcome to contact Deputy Attorney General Erika Uhl at (360) 586-2563 or via email at Erika.Uhl@atg.wa.gov.  

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Honoring diversity, equity and inclusion means that as an agency, and as individuals, we are committed to ensuring that all employees and volunteers enjoy a respectful, safe and supportive working environment.  Only by fostering the inclusion of people from all backgrounds, cultures and attributes, can AGO employees and volunteers achieve their fullest potential and best advance the goals and mission of the AGO.   

The AGO is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, race, creed, color, national origin, honorably discharged veteran or military status or the presence of any sensory, metal, or physical disability or the use of a trained service animal by a person with a disability.  Persons requiring reasonable accommodation in the application process or requiring information in an alternative format may contact the recruitment team at HREmployment@atg.wa.gov.  Those with a hearing impairment in need of accommodation are encouraged to contact the Washington Relay Service at 1-800-676-3777 or www.washingtonrelay.com.

Salary : $164,846 - $170,316