Attorney IV – Personnel/Investigations
Attorney IV – Personnel/Investigations
Sacramento, CA
Final Filing Date: October 15, 2024
Who are we?
We are the independent oversight arm of the California State Legislature and the custodians of California’s Whistleblower Hotline. Our mission is to provide objective evaluations and effective solutions that enhance the transparency, accountability, and performance of California government for the people it serves. We are trusted to produce unbiased, nonpartisan reports that provide recommendations to solve some of our state’s toughest problems.
At the California State Auditor’s Office, we believe that our mission to enhance transparency accountability, and performance of government also improves the live of Californians. The many people helping us achieve such a mission are the backbone and heart of our organization. We aspire to create a workplace that celebrates their incredible contributions and talents, and embraces their unique perspectives, identities, and values. We seek to develop an environment where everyone feels valued, respected and inspired in their commitment to public service.
Why should you join us?
- You want to work in a professional environment with a team dedicated to making a difference for Californians and future generations.
- You are highly collaborative, solution-oriented, and enjoy challenging and engaging work.
- You have a strong work ethic and thrive when working under pressure.
- You have excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to clearly explain legal issues and legal conclusions to non-lawyers.
- You have experience practicing labor and employment law, and are interested in investigations and audits work.
- You desire an annual salary range of $139,728 – $187,524.
What will you do?
The attorneys at the California State Auditor’s Office support the State Auditor, work in an independent, non-partisan capacity, advising the State Auditor on the laws that apply to government agencies and programs in California, including those that apply to the State Auditor’s Office. You may work independently or in a team environment to provide formal and informal oral and written legal advice on a variety of issues supporting the State Auditor’s Office. You will assist the Chief Counsel, the Assistant Chief Counsel, and other employees in performing legal research, analysis, and legal tasks. The office is independent from the Executive Branch and employs approximately 200 civil servants who are excluded from collective bargaining. Working under the direction of the Chief Counsel and with a team of human resources professionals, you will also provide advice, counsel, and legal representation as requested, on all personnel matters, including, but not limited to, employee counseling and discipline, medical actions, state and federal accommodation and leave laws, wage, hour and benefits issues, and the development, implementation, and enforcement of personnel policies and practices. You will also provide legal advice and support to investigators engaged in workplace investigations pursuant to the Whistleblower Protection Act. You will also provide occasional legal assistance relating to audits.
Specifically, you will:
- Personnel
- Draft personnel actions and ensure human resources policies are aligned with applicable laws and regulations.
- Partner with the human resources office on a variety of issues including performance management, workers compensation, reasonable accommodation, sexual harassment prevention, equal employment opportunity, the Family Medical Leave Act, and other applicable laws and regulations governing public employment.
- Investigations
- Perform legal research and provide advice and counsel to investigators conducting investigations pursuant to the Whistleblower Protection Act.
- Audits
- Provide highly critical and time-sensitive preliminary legal research and analysis to support the State Auditor Office’s audit analyses.
- Upon approval of performance audits or the commencement of other types of audits you will:
- Gather and analyze relevant laws and other legal materials, such as judicial precedents, proposed legislation, administrative decisions, and other legal authorities.
- Interpret and apply those laws to particular regulatory programs or legal issues identified as part of the audit.
- Communicate the results of the research and analysis, both verbally and in writing, to management and others within the State Auditor’s Office.
- Review audit reports and related correspondence for legal content and consistency, including the development and review of audit recommendations involving legal compliance or changes in law.
- Perform legislative research and provide legal advice on pending legislation that may impact the State Auditor’s Office; determine the content and impact of proposed laws and regulations on the operations, including the rights, duties, and authority, of the State Auditor’s Office; summarize and report the results of such research.
- Draft and interpret laws and regulations; draft and review legal documents, including subpoenas, court documents, and contracts; conduct depositions; represent the State Auditor’s Office in legal matters; and, on occasion, represent or assist other counsel in litigation on behalf of or in defense of the State Auditor’s Office.
- Provide appropriate legal advice on a broad range of legal issues, including, but not limited to, compliance with laws related to state and local government, conflicts of interest, public meetings and records access, public contracting, and laws related to confidentiality.
- Provide information and briefings to Members of the Legislature, legislative staff and other stakeholders, as requested by office management.
Who are you?
- You have experience reviewing and analyzing complex and sensitive issues concerning a wide variety of legal issues.
- You have experience working with the Legislature, other state agencies, and high-level Executive or Judicial Branch staff.
- You have experience providing advice to and representing high-ranking state officials on a broad range of legal issues.
- You have experience drafting legal documents including statutes, regulations, contracts and related procurement documents, and pleadings.
- You have a proven ability to handle large and varied assignments involving a wide range and frequently changing subject matters.
- You have experience working well under pressure and thrive in such an environment.
- You adapt easily to changing situations and assignments.
- You have a history of working cooperatively and dealing effectively with others.
- You have the ability to work on several concurrent projects with different groups, each on a predetermined timeline.
- You are familiar with the laws generally applicable to state and local government.
- You have experience representing the State before the State Personnel Board and in other administrative and judicial proceedings.
- You have experience conducting and/or managing workplace investigations, drafting personnel actions and human resources policies, and advising management and human resources professionals on employment-related laws and regulations.
How do I join?
The California State Auditor is part of the merit-based California civil service selection system. To complete this process, you must do the following:
1
Take the Exam
If you are a current state employee with transfer eligibility, you can skip this step. If you are not a state employee, or your state classification is not eligible to transfer, you must take the exam to be considered for the position.
2
Submit an Application
Submit a completed State of California job application (STD. 678).
3
Submit a Statement of Qualifications (SOQ)
Submit a Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) responding to the three questions below using specific examples of your education, training, and experience. Your responses will help us determine who to interview for the position. Create a document using a word processing application such as Microsoft Word, and limit your response to three pages. We will not consider applications that do not include responses to the questions.
- Explain the State Auditor’s role in California government. Please also describe your past experience with any audit or investigatory work (including any work with the State Auditor’s Office if applicable), your interactions with that work, and what you learned from it.
- Describe the aspects of your work experience that you think make you especially well-qualified to work in the State Auditor’s Office. Include a description of your experience with laws generally applicable to government operations.
- Describe your familiarity with personnel matters, such as employee counseling and discipline, medical actions, state and federal accommodation and leave laws, wage, hour and benefits issues, and the development, implementation, and enforcement of personnel policies and practices. Please also describe your level of experience drafting adverse actions and/or participating in administrative hearings.
Apply Online
You can submit your complete application package via your CalCareer account.
Apply by Mail
California State Auditor
Human Resources Office
621 Capitol Mall, Suite 1200
Sacramento, California 95814
The Fine Print
Individuals who are eligible for a Training and Development assignment may also be considered for this position. Current state employees with eligibility are encouraged to apply. Additional hires may be made from this bulletin if positions become available. Failure to submit the required documentation may result in disqualification from the hiring process.
This position is eligible for participation in the office’s hybrid telework program. Work at the alternate work location must be in California and conducted in a space that is ergonomically sound, private, distraction-free, and has safe working conditions to be eligible to telework.
Any applicant receiving a conditional job offer will be subject to a background check, fingerprinting, and an inquiry to the California Department of Justice to disclose criminal records prior to appointment. State Auditor’s Office employees are excluded from collective bargaining. The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation. It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free state workplace. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the state, the rules governing civil service, and the special trust placed in public servants. This position is not eligible for a visa sponsorship. Applicants must be authorized to work in the US without the need for a visa sponsorship by the start date of employment. The California State Auditor’s Office is not an E-Verify employer.
