Executive Director And General Counsel
State of Connecticut, Hartford, Connecticut, us, 06112
Introduction
The State of Connecticut, Freedom of Information Commission (FOIC) is seeking an
Executive Director and General Counsel
for a full-time, in-person position working from its office at 165 Capitol Ave. in Hartford, Connecticut. The executive director and general counsel serves as the public face of the agency, frequently speaking with media representatives about important Freedom of Information issues. The executive director also prepares and recommends the FOIC’s annual legislative package, meets with key legislators about it and testifies at the legislature about bills of significance. The executive director also coordinates, plans and manages all of the administrative and legal activities of the Commission, including fiscal, budgetary, legislative and education functions. As general counsel, the executive director also renders primary legal advice to the Commission and supervises and directs the legal staff in representing the Commission in all court matters affecting the Commission. WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU
Visit ourState Employee Benefits Overview page! Professional growth and development opportunities. A healthy work/life balance to all employees POSITION HIGHLIGHTS
Full-Time, 40 hours per week Monday through Friday Location: 165 Capital Avenue, Hartford, CT THIS JOB IS FOR YOU IF
You have substantial, hands‑on experience with administrative and Freedom of Information law and are prepared to take primary responsibility for the legal accuracy and defensibility of Commission decisions and advice. You are comfortable managing both legal work and Commission operations, including supervising attorneys and staff, overseeing budgets and processes, and ensuring the Commission meets its statutory and procedural obligations. You can represent the Commission in practical, sometimes constrained settings by clearly explaining complex legal issues without advocating beyond the Commission’s role. You prefer steady, detail-oriented public service work and are willing to handle a high volume of legally technical matters that require careful judgment, consistency, and independence. DISCOVER THE OPPORTUNITY TO
Serve as the Commission’s primary spokesperson on significant Freedom of Information matters, including responding to media inquiries and communicating Commission positions on legally and policy‑sensitive issues; Develop, recommend, and oversee the Commission’s annual legislative agenda; Serve as the primary legislative liaison by coordinating with key legislators and providing expert testimony on the legal and policy implications of proposed legislation; Direct and manage all administrative and legal operations of the Commission, including fiscal and budgetary oversight, legislative coordination, and statewide Freedom of Information education and outreach initiatives; Provide primary and authoritative legal counsel to the Commission on Freedom of Information law, administrative procedure, constitutional issues, and regulatory matters, ensuring compliance with applicable statutes and regulations; Supervise and direct legal staff in the representation of the Commission in all litigation and appeals, including oversight of legal strategy, pleadings, briefs, and oral arguments in matters affecting the Commission. ABOUT US
The Freedom of Information Commission hears complaints from persons who have been denied access to the records or meetings of public agencies in Connecticut. Any person denied the right to inspect, or to get a copy of a public record, or denied access to a meeting of a public agency, may file a complaint against the public agency within 30 days of the denial. The FOI Commission’s legal staff is authorized to represent the Commission in all matters affecting the Commission, and to defend Commission decisions that are appealed, in the superior and appellate courts. EXAMPLES OF DUTIES
Administers staff and operations of the State Freedom of Information Commission; Coordinates, plans and manages administrative and legal activities of Commission including fiscal, budgetary, legislative and educational functions; Trains Commission members and staff; Supervises and/or drafts responses to correspondence and inquiries; Supervises preparation of forms for Commission use and prepares relevant literature; Supervises compilation and maintenance of Commission decisions, indices thereto and statistical surveys of business; Conducts educational sessions for public officials, workshops and other speaking programs; Supervises and drafts proposals for legislation; Acts as primary legislative liaison and testifies before legislative committees concerning bills; Renders primary legal assistance and advice to Commission; Supervises Commission ombudsman program; Supervises and/or conducts evidentiary hearings and meetings; Ensures compliance with Uniform Administrative Procedures Act and Commission regulations; Drafts Commission decisions and orders in contested cases; Drafts advisory opinions and procedural and substantive regulations; Represents Commission in all appeals from its decisions and in all other litigation affecting Commission; Supervises and directs legal staff in representing Commission in all court matters affecting Commission; Prepares arguments, evidence, briefs, memoranda and pleadings in all appeals and other legal actions affecting Commission; Leads the recruitment and hiring of staff, including outreach, interview and selection; Performs related duties as required. KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY
Considerable knowledge of
and ability to interpret Freedom of Information Act and complex relevant state and federal laws, statutes, regulations and legislation; constitutional and administrative law including Uniform Administrative Procedures Act and rules of evidence; legislative process;
Knowledge of and ability to apply management and business services principles and practices; Considerable
interpersonal skills; oral and written communication skills.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE
Five (5) years of experience in the practice of law including experience in the legislative process, state administrative law and State Freedom of Information laws. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
Incumbents in this class must be admitted to practice law in the State of Connecticut. Conclusion
AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
The State of Connecticut, Freedom of Information Commission (FOIC) is seeking an
Executive Director and General Counsel
for a full-time, in-person position working from its office at 165 Capitol Ave. in Hartford, Connecticut. The executive director and general counsel serves as the public face of the agency, frequently speaking with media representatives about important Freedom of Information issues. The executive director also prepares and recommends the FOIC’s annual legislative package, meets with key legislators about it and testifies at the legislature about bills of significance. The executive director also coordinates, plans and manages all of the administrative and legal activities of the Commission, including fiscal, budgetary, legislative and education functions. As general counsel, the executive director also renders primary legal advice to the Commission and supervises and directs the legal staff in representing the Commission in all court matters affecting the Commission. WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU
Visit ourState Employee Benefits Overview page! Professional growth and development opportunities. A healthy work/life balance to all employees POSITION HIGHLIGHTS
Full-Time, 40 hours per week Monday through Friday Location: 165 Capital Avenue, Hartford, CT THIS JOB IS FOR YOU IF
You have substantial, hands‑on experience with administrative and Freedom of Information law and are prepared to take primary responsibility for the legal accuracy and defensibility of Commission decisions and advice. You are comfortable managing both legal work and Commission operations, including supervising attorneys and staff, overseeing budgets and processes, and ensuring the Commission meets its statutory and procedural obligations. You can represent the Commission in practical, sometimes constrained settings by clearly explaining complex legal issues without advocating beyond the Commission’s role. You prefer steady, detail-oriented public service work and are willing to handle a high volume of legally technical matters that require careful judgment, consistency, and independence. DISCOVER THE OPPORTUNITY TO
Serve as the Commission’s primary spokesperson on significant Freedom of Information matters, including responding to media inquiries and communicating Commission positions on legally and policy‑sensitive issues; Develop, recommend, and oversee the Commission’s annual legislative agenda; Serve as the primary legislative liaison by coordinating with key legislators and providing expert testimony on the legal and policy implications of proposed legislation; Direct and manage all administrative and legal operations of the Commission, including fiscal and budgetary oversight, legislative coordination, and statewide Freedom of Information education and outreach initiatives; Provide primary and authoritative legal counsel to the Commission on Freedom of Information law, administrative procedure, constitutional issues, and regulatory matters, ensuring compliance with applicable statutes and regulations; Supervise and direct legal staff in the representation of the Commission in all litigation and appeals, including oversight of legal strategy, pleadings, briefs, and oral arguments in matters affecting the Commission. ABOUT US
The Freedom of Information Commission hears complaints from persons who have been denied access to the records or meetings of public agencies in Connecticut. Any person denied the right to inspect, or to get a copy of a public record, or denied access to a meeting of a public agency, may file a complaint against the public agency within 30 days of the denial. The FOI Commission’s legal staff is authorized to represent the Commission in all matters affecting the Commission, and to defend Commission decisions that are appealed, in the superior and appellate courts. EXAMPLES OF DUTIES
Administers staff and operations of the State Freedom of Information Commission; Coordinates, plans and manages administrative and legal activities of Commission including fiscal, budgetary, legislative and educational functions; Trains Commission members and staff; Supervises and/or drafts responses to correspondence and inquiries; Supervises preparation of forms for Commission use and prepares relevant literature; Supervises compilation and maintenance of Commission decisions, indices thereto and statistical surveys of business; Conducts educational sessions for public officials, workshops and other speaking programs; Supervises and drafts proposals for legislation; Acts as primary legislative liaison and testifies before legislative committees concerning bills; Renders primary legal assistance and advice to Commission; Supervises Commission ombudsman program; Supervises and/or conducts evidentiary hearings and meetings; Ensures compliance with Uniform Administrative Procedures Act and Commission regulations; Drafts Commission decisions and orders in contested cases; Drafts advisory opinions and procedural and substantive regulations; Represents Commission in all appeals from its decisions and in all other litigation affecting Commission; Supervises and directs legal staff in representing Commission in all court matters affecting Commission; Prepares arguments, evidence, briefs, memoranda and pleadings in all appeals and other legal actions affecting Commission; Leads the recruitment and hiring of staff, including outreach, interview and selection; Performs related duties as required. KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY
Considerable knowledge of
and ability to interpret Freedom of Information Act and complex relevant state and federal laws, statutes, regulations and legislation; constitutional and administrative law including Uniform Administrative Procedures Act and rules of evidence; legislative process;
Knowledge of and ability to apply management and business services principles and practices; Considerable
interpersonal skills; oral and written communication skills.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE
Five (5) years of experience in the practice of law including experience in the legislative process, state administrative law and State Freedom of Information laws. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
Incumbents in this class must be admitted to practice law in the State of Connecticut. Conclusion
AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.
#J-18808-Ljbffr