Paralegal​/Legal Assistant

Job Description - Paralegal/Legal Assistant 2 (2600008F)

Job & Family Services

Agency Contact Name and Information : odjfscareerso.gov

Feb 1, 2026, 4:59:00 AM

James A Rhodes Office Tower 31 30 East Broad Street 31st Floor Columbus 43215

United States of America-OHIO-Franklin County-Columbus

United States of America-OHIO

Compensation : 24.16

Full-time

Union : OCSEA

Attorney/Legal

Technical Skills :
Communications, Customer Service, Administrative support/services

Professional Skills :
Attention to Detail, Time Management, Written Communication

Who We Are

The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) supports Ohioans and their families through the following programs:

• Cash and Food Assistance
• Employment Services and Workforce Development
• Unemployment Insurance
• Adult Protective Services
• Child Support

Public service is an honorable way to serve the community in a hands‑on dedicated way. You can make a difference in someone’s world!

Guiding Principles

• We will be a leader in customer satisfaction.
• We will have a reputation that attracts and retains talented, diverse, and dedicated employees.
• We get better at what we do every day.

The Office of Contracts and Acquisitions (OCA) is housed within the Office of Legal and Acquisition Services (OLAS) and has the expertise and authority for creating agreements and contracts and overseeing the acquisition of goods and services for ODJFS. The mission of OCA is to meet and maintain the highest level of compliance with Federal and State laws, rules, policies, and procedures for acquisitions and contracting for ODJFS and to establish and maintain public trust and confidence in the stewardship of taxpayer funds.

This position primarily will support OCA but also will provide general legal support for OLAS.

What You Will Do

• Under general supervision, conduct legal assistance interviews with internal and external clients requesting specialized services in the development of acquisition or procurement documents related to goods and services.
• Prioritize workload queue, review and verify budgets and other agreement documentation, create and maintain files, work with ODJFS staff to develop deliverables and grant activities.
• Research federal and state statutes, agency directives, policies, and procedures relevant to the specific request.
• Determine the best legal format, template, and structure necessary to meet the client’s goals and objectives.
• Incorporate required technical legal content into contracts (e.g., fixed‑priced, time‑and‑materials, cost reimbursement) and agreements (e.g., grants, interagency, interbranch).
• Draft amendments and modifications to contracts and agreements to address changing requirements or correct existing legal terms.
• Assist with managing litigation and other legal matters for the agency.

Challenges

• OCA is a fast‑paced environment due to the hundreds of agreements processed each year. Strong organization skills, ability to work on several projects concurrently, and the ability to turn work around quickly is necessary.

Key Strengths

• Excellent customer service and communication skills are essential for this position, which includes regular communication with internal OCA staff, and program and support offices within ODJFS.
• Attention to detail is critical for accurately drafting and formatting agreements.
• Ability to use proper research methods to gather data.
• Ability to manage multiple variables and recommend a specific course of action.

Schedule: Full Time

Hours: Standard workdays are Monday through Friday. Hours are between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.

Location: James

A. Rhodes State Office Tower 30 East Broad St., Floor 31, Columbus, Ohio 43215

Travel: Occasional travel within the state of Ohio.

PN(s):

At the State of Ohio, we take care of the team that cares for Ohioans. We provide a variety of quality, competitive benefits to eligible full‑time and part‑time employees*. For a list of all the State of Ohio Benefits, visit our Total Rewards website! Our benefits package includes:

• Medical Coverage
• Free…