Special Projects Attorney Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Requisition No: 874951 

Agency: Department of Transportation

Working Title: SENIOR ATTORNEY - 55000648

 Pay Plan: SES

Position Number: 55000648 

Salary:  $85,000.00 - $95,000.00 

Posting Closing Date: 06/07/2026 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

STATE OF FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

JOB POSTING DESCRIPTION

916 / Office of General Counsel

OPEN COMPETITIVE

SELECTED EXEMPT SERVICE

CONTACT PERSON:  Michael Hardy, Chief Counsel

CONTACT PHONE NUMBER: (850) 414-5392

CONTACT EMAIL ADDRESS: michael.hardy@dot.state.fl.us

Join FDOT and be part of the team that works as one to improve safety, enhance mobility and inspire innovation in the Florida transportation system.

To ensure honesty and transparency, all applicants must provide their own work. Unless explicitly requested, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to assist with qualifying questions, work samples, or interviews is strictly prohibited, and any breach of this requirement will lead to the applicant being removed from consideration.

Candidates must be United States (U.S.) citizens or lawfully authorized alien workers.  Visa sponsorship is not available.

Our Mission

The mission of the Florida Department of Transportation is to provide a safe statewide transportation system that promotes the efficient movement of people and goods, supports the state's economic competitiveness, prioritizes Florida's environment and natural resources, and preserves the quality of life and connectedness of the state's communities.

Our Vision

As a OneFDOT team, we serve the people of Florida by providing a transportation network that is well planned, supports economic growth, and has the goal of being congestion and fatality free.

About the Office of the General Counsel

The Office of the General Counsel provides practical, solutionsfocused legal advice to support the Department's statewide programs, projects, and operational needs. Our attorneys work closely with program leadership and technical experts to ensure the Department's initiatives are delivered effectively, efficiently, and in compliance with applicable law.  Attorneys are encouraged to develop subjectmatter expertise while also collaborating across sections to address complex or interdisciplinary issues.

The Work You Will Do:

This is a Senior Attorney position in our Contracts & Special Projects Section located at our Tallahassee office.

The attorney in this position represents the Department in the negotiation, drafting, and review of significant contracts and commercial transactions. The work often involves complex and highvalue agreements related to the Department's transportation programs, but experience with any specific agreement type is not required. Strong general legal, contract, analytical, and communication skills are the most important. In this role, you will help ensure the success of major statewide transportation initiatives by providing clear, practical legal guidance to program and project teams.

Attorneys with strong research and writing skills, sound legal judgment, and experience in government, commercial contracting, or regulatory environments are encouraged to apply.

The Difference You Will Make:

Through cooperation, coordination and collaboration among the OneFDOT team, you will be contributing to a strong and empowering culture of TRREC: Trust, Relationships, Respect, Empowerment, and Communication. 

How You Will Grow:

FDOT encourages our team members to grow through engagement, empowerment, training, and professional development.  Through our agency's learning management system, you have access to hundreds of computer-based training and instructor-led courses. You will also work closely with experienced attorneys in the Office of General Counsel who provide subjectmatter guidance and mentorship. You will gain familiarity with the Department's specialized agreement types and program areas through handson work and collaboration with experienced colleagues. The Contracts & Special Projects Section maintains a collaborative environment where attorneys regularly consult with colleagues to ensure consistent, highquality legal advice.

Where You Will Work:

You will be a part of the Office of the General Counsel statewide team and will work in our Contracts & Special Projects Section located at 605 Suwannee Street, Tallahassee, FL  32399-0458.

Annual Salary Range:

$85,000.00  - $95,000.00

Your Specific Responsibilities:

Responsible for representing the Department in the negotiation, drafting, and review of procurements and of significant contracts and commercial transactions such as, funding agreements, transportation development and project agreements, public-private transportation system agreements, intergovernmental agreements, transit agreements, rail agreements, intermodal transportation system agreements, and agreements affecting the use of the Department right-of-way.   

Responsible for thoroughly researching all state and federal statutes, court cases, rules and regulations affecting the operations of the Department's offices that the attorney may be assigned to specifically and regularly advise and represent.  Responsible for being familiar with the operations of those offices and advising personnel in those offices regarding their legal powers and duties, how the law affects their operations, and the implementation of policies and rules.

Responsible for performing legal analysis of proposed legislation affecting the Department's activities and providing legal advice in matters involving the financing of transportation facilities, including bonds, loans, and other financing mechanisms. 

The Successful Candidate will have the following required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of:

• Contract law and general principles of government procurement or commercial transactions.
• Administrative law and the foundational procedural principles relevant to agency operations.
• The principles and techniques of effective verbal and written communications.

Skilled in:

• Gathering, analyzing, and synthesizing information to create clear, persuasive and well-structured documents.

Ability to:

• Exercise sound legal judgment.
• Understand and apply applicable rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Utilize problem solving techniques.
• Work independently.
• Plan, organize, and coordinate work assignments.
• Communicate effectively orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
• Use word processing, graphic presentation software, database, and mainframe applications.

Licensure/Registration/Certification Requirements:

• Must be a member of The Florida Bar

Other Job-Related Requirements:

• This position requires a Level 1 Background Check.

• Health insurance (over 90% employer paid)
• $25,000 life insurance policy (100% employer paid)
• Dental, vision and supplemental insurances
• State of Florida retirement package
• 10 paid holidays a year

• Generous vacation and sick leave
• Career advancement opportunities
• Tuition waiver for public college courses
• A variety of training opportunities
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: You will be required to provide your Social Security Number to conduct required verifications. Male applicants born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion in the Career Service, or appointment in the Selected Exempt Service (SES) or Senior Management Service (SMS), unless they are registered with the Selective Service System (SSS) before their 26th birthday, or have a Letter of Registration Exemption from the SSS.

THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION VALUES AND SUPPORTS EMPLOYMENT OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES.  QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY.  In accordance with Section 110.112, Florida Statutes, and the Florida Department of Transportation's Individuals with Disabilities Affirmative Action Plan, the agency is committed to ensuring affirmative action and equal employment opportunity for qualified individuals with disabilities.  Upon request and as appropriate, reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities may be provided.  Please contact the Florida Department of Transportation's Human

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.