| Location | Richland County, SC |
| Salary | $175,000–$205,000 Per Year |
General Counsel (Attorney VI)
Salary
$175,000.00 - $205,000.00 Annually
Location
Richland County, SC
Job Type
FTE - Full-Time
Job Number
61005886
Agency
SCDES
Opening Date
08/17/2026
Closing Date
8/30/2026 11:59 PM Eastern
Class Code:
AE60
Position Number:
61005886
Normal Work Schedule:
Monday - Friday (8:30 - 5:00)
Pay Grade
GEN15
Hiring Range - Min.
$175,000.00
Hiring Range - Max.
$205,000.00
EEO Statement
Equal Opportunity Employer
Agency Specific Application Procedures:
All applicants must apply online. Supplemental questions are considered part of your official application. A resume may be upload but will not be used to determine if an applicant has met the qualifications.
Veteran Preference Statement
South Carolina is making our Veterans a priority for employment in state agencies and institutions.
Job Responsibilities
Careers at SCDES: Where Passion Meets Preservation
Do you love South Carolina and protecting the environment?
Come join our team at SCDES, put your passion to work with us!
We are dedicated to protecting the state of South Carolina and we would love to have you as a member of our team!
Science | Service | Sustainability
SCDES is South Carolina's statewide environmental regulatory agency. We protect public health, safeguard natural resources, and ensure compliance with environmental laws across the state. Our work matters - every program, every permit, every enforcement action plays a direct role in protecting the people and environment of South Carolina. We offer excellent benefits, meaningful work, stability, and strong work-life balance, making public service an appealing alternative to private-sector legal practice.
Under the direction of the Agency Head, the General Counsel serves as the senior legal advisor for SCDES. This role provides strategic and authoritative legal guidance to executive leadership and program areas, ensuring compliance with state and federal environmental, administrative, and regulatory requirements. The General Counsel oversees and directs operations of Office of General Counsel (OGC), Office of Internal Audits (OIA), and Compliance Office (CO). This executive-level attorney leads complex legal strategy, manages litigation, guides multidisciplinary teams, and ensures accountability across multiple divisions that support the agency's regulatory mission.
Job Responsibilities
Legal, Audit, Compliance & Enforcement Oversight
Directs operations of OGC, OIA, and CO to ensure coordinated legal, audit, enforcement, and compliance functions across the agency. Provides strategic legal guidance to executive leadership and program directors on emerging issues impacting SCDES.
Legal Opinions, Guidance & Training
Provides written and oral legal opinions, interpretations, and training on statutes, regulations, policies, and procedures. Conducts advanced legal research supporting agency initiatives, enforcement actions, and regulatory interpretations.
Litigation Management
Oversees litigation from inception through appeals in administrative tribunals and state and federal courts. Coordinates with external counsel, law enforcement entities, other state agencies, and regulatory bodies interacting with SCDES.
Document Drafting & Review
Drafts, reviews, and finalizes complex legal documents to ensure accuracy and adherence to legal standards. Collaborates with program staff to ensure legal sufficiency of agency documents, enforcement actions, and regulatory records.
Representation & External Engagement
Represents the agency in meetings, negotiations, legislative discussions, and stakeholder engagements. Responds to inquiries from the regulated community, counsel, legislators, regulatory partners, and media regarding legal matters.
Performs additional responsibilities as assigned or approved by the Agency Head.
Minimum and Additional Requirements
Minimum Requirements
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)
Supervision, Judgment & Work Environment
Preferred Qualifications
Experience in environmental, administrative, or regulatory law
Demonstrated ability to manage complex litigation and advise executive leadership
Experience leading multidisciplinary legal, compliance, audit, or enforcement teams
Three (3) years of formal supervisory experience managing attorneys, including:
Accountability and documentation
Assigning and monitoring workloads
Applying basic employment and supervisory practices
Leading teams through complex legal and regulatory matters
Additional Comments
As the General Counsel, you will be a central part of SCDES' executive leadership team and here is what you can expect in this role:
Impactful Public Service: Your legal expertise will directly influence environmental protection, public health outcomes, and statewide regulatory compliance.
High-Level Strategic Leadership: You will lead legal, audit, compliance, and enforcement-related divisions and guide teams working on complex regulatory matters.
Executive Decision-Making: You will advise the Agency Head and senior leadership on policy direction, regulatory strategy, enforcement actions, and major legal decisions.
Complex and Meaningful Legal Work: Expect a varied workload including advanced litigation, statutory interpretation, administrative hearings, regulatory enforcement, and legal strategy development.
Collaborative Leadership: You will work closely with program directors, external counsel, regulatory bodies, and statewide partners on issues affecting the agency and the regulated community.
Full Personnel Management Responsibilities: You will handle performance management, coaching, employee development, accountability, workload balancing, documentation, and supervisory practices across multiple divisions.
Work-Life Balance & Stability: SCDES provides predictable schedules, strong support, flexibility, and excellent benefits typical of state government - making this an attractive alternative to private-sector legal roles.
Professional Growth: This position offers continued learning in environmental, administrative, regulatory, compliance, and enforcement law, alongside high-level leadership experience.
The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services offers an exceptional benefits package for full time (FTE) employees:
Health, dental, vision, long-term disability, and life insurance for employees, spouse, and children. Click here for additional information.
15 days annual (vacation) leave per year
15 days sick leave per year
13 paid holidays
Paid parental leave
S.C. Deferred Compensation Program available (S.C. Deferred Compensation)
Retirement benefit choices*
State Retirement Plan (SCRS)
State Optional Retirement Program (State ORP)
Enrollment in one of the listed plans is required for all FTE employees; please refer to the contribution section of hyperlinked retirement sites for the current contribution rate of gross pay.
SCDES is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, including, but not limited, to lactation), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information.
The Department will not sponsor H1B visas for this position.
Benefits for State Employees
The state of South Carolina offers eligible employees generous benefits, including health and dental insurance; retirement and savings plan options; and paid vacation and sick leave. Plus, work-life balance programs such as telecommuting and flexible work schedules are available to employees of some state agencies.
Insurance Benefits
Eligible employees may enroll in health insurance, which includes prescription coverage and wellness benefits. Other available insurance benefits include dental, vision, term life insurance, long term disability and flexible spending accounts for health and child care expenses.
Retirement Benefits
State employees are also offered retirement plan options, including defined benefit and defined contribution plans. Additionally, eligible employees may elect to participate in the South Carolina Deferred Compensation Program, which is a voluntary, supplemental retirement savings plan offering 401(k) and 457 plan options.
Workplace Benefits
State employees may also be eligible for other benefits, including tuition assistance; holiday, annual and sick leave; and discounts on purchases, travel and more.
Note: The benefits above are available to most state employees, with the exception of those in temporary positions. Employees in temporary grant and time-limited positions may be eligible for all, some or none of these benefits as benefits are associated with each position type. For these positions, contact the hiring agency to determine what benefits may be available.
01
Are you a member of the South Carolina Bar and in good standing?
Required Question
Employer State of South Carolina
Agency SCDES Address 2600 Bull Street
Columbia, South Carolina, 29201
Phone 803-898-2687
The language used in this document does not create an employment contract between the employee and the agency. This document does not create any contractual rights or entitlements. The agency reserves the right to revise the content of this document, in whole or in part. No promises or assurances, whether written or oral, which are contrary to or inconsistent with the terms of this paragraph create any contract of employment.