1. Labor Commissioner's Office

DIR Now Hiring: LCO Chief Counsel

The Organization

The California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) protects and improves the health, safety, and economic well-being of over 18 million wage earners and helps their employers comply with state labor laws. DIR is housed within the Labor & Workforce Development Agency.

DIR is composed of four divisions, the Division of Occupation Safety and Health, the Division of Apprenticeship Standards, the Division of Workers' Compensation, and the Labor Commissioner's Office (also known as the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement). These divisions focus on workplace safety and health, apprenticeship, workers’ compensation, and labor law enforcement.

The Labor Commissioner's Office is a national leader in the enforcement of workplace rights. The mission of the Labor Commissioner's Office is to ensure all Californians labor under legal working conditions and that law-abiding employers operate on a leveled playing field. The Labor Commissioner's Office is seeking a qualified and highly dedicated individual to lead the Division’s Legal Unit.

The Position

The Chief Counsel is appointed by the Governor to lead the Legal Unit within the Labor Commissioner’s Office. The Legal Unit prosecutes employers for systemic violations of law, designs enforcement strategies across the various authorities held by the Labor Commissioner, and influences the development of legal precedents to promote the welfare of workers and law-abiding employers.

Duties

Under the direction of the California Labor Commissioner, the Chief Counsel is responsible for planning, organizing, and directing the work of the division's Legal Unit, and ensuring that all Assistant Chief Counsels are aligned with the vision of the Labor Commissioner and focused on achieving the mission of the division throughout each Legal office. The Chief Counsel represents the Labor Commissioner and serves as the division's top legal liaison to the Governor's Office, the Labor and Workforce Development Agency, and the Department of Industrial Relations. The Chief Counsel determines policy positions and legal arguments in difficult and complex legal cases, formulates policy initiatives, and informs enforcement priorities and strategies to carry out Labor Commissioner's statutory mandate to vigorously enforce minimum labor standards on behalf of workers, particularly in low wage industries, and to protect employers who comply with the law from competitors who attempt to gain an unfair advantage through noncompliance with minimal standards. As the leader of the Legal Unit, the Chief Counsel provides legal advice to the Labor Commissioner and the division’s units on a wide range of issues that have impact on the division and the workers of California.

The Unit

The Legal Unit consists of 73 attorneys, including 3 Assistant chief counsels, and 29 support staff located in 15 offices throughout the state. The Legal Unit provides legal counsel and guidance to all of the Labor Commissioner’s Office enforcement and administrative programs, which include Wage Claim Adjudication, Retaliation Complaint Investigations, Public Works, Licensing & Registration, Bureau of Field Enforcement, Judgment Enforcement, Criminal Investigation, Public Information Units, and Headquarters.

The Ideal Candidate

The Labor Commissioner's Office is looking for an effective leader and diplomatic individual with exceptional communication skills and extensive legal knowledge of the laws enforced by the division. The Chief Counsel must be able to manage challenging situations. A viable candidate would have strong ethical commitment, high level of personal integrity, sound judgment, and quality decision-making skills. In addition, the division is seeking a seasoned professional with:

  • Demonstrated commitment to transparency
  • Excellent communication and problem-solving skills
  • Reliability, impartiality, tact, and patience
  • A wide range of experience in labor relations
  • Strong leadership and legal experience, initiative, and resourcefulness to achieve established goals
  • A strategic vision for the work of the Labor Commissioner's Office
  • Demonstrated commitment and innovation related to diversity, inclusion, and equity policies.

The Compensation

The annual salary range for this position is $175,512 - $195,564.
A comprehensive benefits package is also offered which includes:

  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance
  • Pension plan
  • 401(k)/457 retirement plans
  • Short-term and long-term disability coverage
  • Flexible spending account to save on medical and child care expenses
  • Paid vacation and holidays

To Apply

If you are interested in this outstanding opportunity, please:

AND

Candidates will be advised of the status of the recruitment following the selection.
If you have additional questions, please do not hesitate to call or email Samantha Diaz at (916) 642-3192 or Elissa.Ouchida@gov.ca.gov

 

April 2025