GENERAL COUNSEL - 74408

Executive Service

Background Check:

This position requires a criminal background check. Therefore, you may be required to provide information about your criminal history in order to be considered for this position.

Who we are and what we do:

The Tennessee Department of Agriculture is a Cabinet agency committed to ensuring agriculture and forestry remain the leading industries in Tennessee. The Department serves, supports, and promotes agriculture and forestry in all 95 counties through robust programming and responsible regulation. Department functions are wide-ranging, including animal health, food safety, weights and measures, licensure and permitting, forest management, pesticide certification, and the Pick Tennessee Products program, among others.

How you make a difference in this role:

The General Counsel is the chief legal officer of the Department and is responsible for advancing the Department's mission through sound legal judgment and leadership. This position provides comprehensive legal advice and strategic guidance to the Commissioner, executive leadership, boards, and staff. This position is responsible for overseeing all legal matters affecting the Department, ensuring compliance with applicable state and federal laws, and supporting regulatory and enforcement functions. The General Counsel is the Department's primary contact for the Governor's Legal Office and the Tennessee Attorney General's Office.

Key Responsibilities:

• Serve as executive-level advisor and primary legal counsel to the Commissioner and Department leadership on legal, regulatory, and policy matters.
• Provide strategic advice regarding all agency functions through complex problem solving, issue spotting, and risk assessment.
• Oversee and manage the provision of all legal services and legal operations at the Department.
• Lead or support rulemaking activities in accordance with the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act.
• Coordinate with the Tennessee Attorney General's Office on litigation, contested cases, and enforcement matters.
• Draft, review, and negotiate contracts, grants, agreements, rules, and legal memoranda.
• Advise on state and federal program compliance, including grants and cooperative agreements.
• Provide legal guidance on employment and personnel matters in coordination with human resources.
• Monitor and analyze legislative and regulatory developments affecting the Department and advise leadership on potential impacts.
• Provide legal training and guidance to Department leadership and staff to promote compliance and risk mitigation.
• Represent the Department in meetings with legislators, regulated entities, federal partners, and other stakeholders as needed.
• Directly manage a small team of attorneys and cultivate opportunities for their professional development.

Minimum Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited college or university of law with a Juris Doctor (JD)
• Active license to practice law in Tennessee and in good standing
• Experience advising executive leadership or senior management
• High integrity, sound judgment, and professionalism
• Robust legal analysis skills
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal

Preferred Qualifications

• Agriculture or forestry industry experience
• 5+ years experience in administrative law, regulatory compliance, government practice, or a closely related legal field
• 1+ year of senior management experience

Pursuant to the State of Tennessee's Workplace Discrimination and Harassment policy, the State is firmly committed to the principle of fair and equal employment opportunities for its citizens and strives to protect the rights and opportunities of all people to seek, obtain, and hold employment without being subjected to illegal discrimination and harassment in the workplace. It is the State's policy to provide an environment free of discrimination and harassment of an individual because of that person's race, color, national origin, age (40 and over), sex, pregnancy, religion, creed, disability, veteran's status or any other category protected by state and/or federal civil rights laws.