City Attorney

The City of Port Townsend is recruiting for a City Attorney. Additional information about the job opening can be found in the recruitment flyer. For more information about Port Townsend, please visit enjoypt.com.

IDEAL CANDIDATE

An accomplished and ethical legal professional who is an innovative, collaborative, and strategic leader with a commitment to public service.

JOB SUMMARY

As part of the City's Executive Leadership Team, the City Attorney leads initiatives to inspire and instill a positive working environment characterized by teamwork, trust, organizational values, and accountability. The successful candidate is decisive and consensus-building with a penchant for proactive problem solving and strategic execution and thrives and inspires in a change management and organizational transformation role. As the chief legal officer for the City, the City Attorney provides legal advice and support for all departments, conducts and manages all litigation, prepares and reviews all City ordinances and resolutions, and manages key staff.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide guidance to the City Manager, City staff, and City Council on matters of procedure, legal interpretation, and policy implementation. Such guidance includes preparation and review of legislation, preparation and review of contracts, providing advice regarding personnel matters, providing advice regarding land use and other regulatory functions, providing litigation and technical support.
• Exercise independent judgment within broad policy guidelines; evaluate and analyze issues and policies and recommend and implement solutions; identify and monitor goals and objectives; ensure effective communication of actions.
• Attend City Council meetings and meetings of other City bodies as needed, including City Council committees, Planning Commission, and advisory boards. Act as parliamentarian as required.
• Create a positive work environment emphasizing teamwork, training, and collaboration. Direct and supervise functions of professional and management staff. Supervise, select for hiring, train, and conduct performance assessments for department staff.
• Ensure staff compliance with City policies and procedures. Responsible for and/or oversee and provide guidance to staff responsible for various committees and advisory boards and reports to City Council.
• Conduct legal research and opinion and maintain accurate and complete files and records.
• Manage contracts and interlocal agreements, such as the consolidated criminal justice contracts with Jefferson County.
• In partnership with the Director of People & Performance, conduct investigations or interviews related to legal matters involving the City.
• Serve on the City's Executive Leadership Team, contributing to and collaborating with colleagues and the City Manager to nurture a high-performing, accountable, dynamic, and positive organizational culture.
• Litigate on behalf of the City in civil or administrative actions, including code enforcement matters, and serve as liaison with outside counsel on specialized legal matters.
• Help lead negotiations with assigned bargaining groups and provide legal support for labor and collective bargaining matters, including grievances and arbitrations; maintain current knowledge of labor/personnel-related law changes; provide legal consultation and advice to HR regarding labor/personnel issues; respond to labor issues as necessary.
• May serve as Acting City Manager in the absence of the City Manager as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Strong background in and knowledge of general municipal law, Open Public Meetings Act, Public Records Act, and land use, zoning, annexation, labor law and contract law. Special knowledge of Washington State law and key legislation like the Growth Management Act is desirable.
• Demonstrated ability and experience to handle litigation and advisory legal matters for the City independently and with competence.
• Ability to provide exceptional internal and external customer service, including appropriately handling political and emotional complexity.
• Ability to work on complex legal and policy issues in a setting where different objectives and/or adversarial viewpoints may exist.
• Ability to communicate complex legal issues verbally and in writing to a variety of audiences in a clear, comprehensive and effective manner.
• Well-developed and proven leadership and management skills.
• Ability to prioritize and delegate workload efficiently.
• Excellent strategic thinking, negotiation, and problem-solving skills.
• Willingness and ability to work collaboratively, effectively, and proactively in a small office environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and specialized software pertinent to legal applications.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Any combination equivalent to:
  • Law degree from an ABA-accredited law school with admission to practice law in the State of Washington.
  • Minimum of five years' experience in municipal law and related areas.
  • Member in good standing of the Washington State Bar Association.

Preferred

• Experience as an administrator and member of a municipal executive leadership team.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Duties are performed primarily in an office environment with sitting for long periods of time, utilizing standard office equipment and personal computer. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderately quiet. May be required to deal with upset individuals. This position typically requires movement around the office, reaching, pushing, grasping, finger dexterity, hearing, seeing and repetitive motions. Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

OTHER CITY REQUIREMENTS

• Punctual and consistent attendance
• Dress and grooming appropriate to the position.
• Safety attire, equipment and practices appropriate to the position.
• Deal tactfully and courteously with the public.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with fellow employees

BENEFITS

• WA State PERS retirement and optional 457 Deferred Comp
• Medical, dental, vision, flexible spending account
• Life, AD&D, long-term disability, and long-term care insurance
• Sick leave (earns 1 day per month)
• Vacation (graduated accrual schedule starts at 12 hours per month)
• 12 paid holidays plus two floating holidays
• Up to 5 days of bereavement leave, if applicable
• Up to four weeks jury duty pay during service
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

The City of Port Townsend is an equal employment opportunity employer. The City employs, retains, promotes, disciplines and otherwise treats all employees and job applicants strictly on the basis of job-related qualifications and competence. These policies and all employment practices shall be applied without regard to any individual's sex, race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sexual orientation (including gender identity), pregnancy, age, marital status, military status, disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.

This job description in no way implies that these are the only duties to be performed. The employee occupying the position will be to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by their supervisors.

This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the City and the employee and is subject to change as the needs of the City and requirements of the job change.

Salary

• $150,695 - $186,862/year