City of Beaverton, OR - City Attorney

The City of Beaverton is seeking a City Attorney to direct and manage the City Attorney’s Office and serve as the chief legal advisor to the City and its Council, City Manager, City staff, and departments on a broad range of advanced and complex legal issues. The City Attorney is appointed by the City Council and serves with integrity and respect at all times. They collaborate across the organization to produce the highest quality results while working towards accomplishing the City’s vision, goals, and strategic plan. The City Attorney actively promotes the City’s organizational values, including diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, and encourages a positive and supportive work environment that prioritizes a culture of collaboration and clear communication.

The City Attorney leads the activities and operations of the City Attorney’s Office and its three divisions: General Counsel, Prosecution, and Risk Management. The City Attorney develops and implements the office strategic plan, determines priorities, and collaborates with staff to establish annual work plans with identified goals, objectives, and measurable outcomes. They establish proper service and staffing levels and allocate resources accordingly to ensure efficient and effective service delivery. The City Attorney develops annual and supplemental budgets for the City Attorney’s Office, including the forecast of funds needed for staffing, equipment, materials, and supplies.

The City Attorney provides proactive legal advice and representation to the City Council, City Manager, City staff, and all the City’s departments, agencies, boards, and commissions regarding a broad range of matters affecting the City’s policies and practices. They actively participate in the development of citywide goals, objectives, policies, and priorities and collaborate with the City Manager, department directors, and employees regarding significant policy and procedural changes. This position drafts, reviews, and/or negotiates the City’s contracts, agreements, and other legal documents, including ordinances, resolutions, orders, policies, and procedures. The City Attorney collaborates with their staff to commence, defend, or manage civil, criminal, and administrative proceedings at trials, hearings, and on appeal. In addition, the City Attorney directs the work of outside contract attorneys as necessary.

The Priorities

• Develop an understanding of our organization, become familiar with our City Council vision and priorities, and ensure alignment with the City’s strategic initiatives.
• Effectively partner with the City Manager to understand operational issues, identify and assess potential legal implications, and proactively provide guidance and advice to facilitate citywide initiatives.
• Engage as an active member of the Executive Leadership Team. Partner with colleagues and work across departments to advance Council goals and City priorities in alignment with Beaverton's organizational values and diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
• Quickly come up to speed on the current work of the City Attorney’s Office. Actively discuss cases, develop strategies as needed, and successfully partner with the staff to provide sound legal advice on ongoing initiatives.
• Embrace the values of the Beaverton community. Develop and maintain a deep understanding of the issues affecting the community, advance creative solutions, and balance political neutrality with recognition of Council and community goals in order to successfully navigate future complex legal issues.
• Work in partnership with the City Manager to support and implement the new City Charter and ongoing transition to the Council-Manager form of government. Educate the Council as needed to ensure they make informed policy decisions in the best interest of the Beaverton community.
• Ensure effective communication. Proactively provide ongoing updates to City Council on strategic initiatives, legal matters, and progress on the work of the City Attorney’s Office.

The Successful Candidate

The new City Attorney is a strategic systems thinker who will quickly understand Beaverton's values and easily see the big picture and long-term vision for the City. The ideal candidate maintains an understanding of the issues affecting the Beaverton community and leverages that knowledge to provide sound legal advice. With unquestioned integrity and ethics, the City Attorney is considered a thought partner and works in the best interest of the City at all times.

The ideal candidate is apolitical yet politically astute, with a strong history of developing effective relationships with elected officials to provide expert legal advice and interpretation that ultimately advance City Council goals and initiatives. Considered an active listener, the City Attorney is an effective communicator who promotes clear and concise communication to reduce ambiguity and is known for being candid in their interactions with elected officials. They are a confident leader who effectively navigates complex and controversial issues with ease and are strong enough and humble enough to stand up to pressure and provide unpopular advice when needed.

With a City first mentality, the City Attorney embraces collaboration and effortlessly partners with City leadership to identify solutions and provide legal advice and guidance in support of organizational goals. With a focus on customer service, the City Attorney partners with colleagues and legal staff to creatively solve problems while providing sound advice to complex local government problems. The City Attorney demonstrates a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion as a key organizational value and is committed to contributing to a culture that fosters belonging. They support a culture of accountability and actively promote the value of respect in a multicultural society.

The City Attorney is intellectually curious, has substantial local government law experience, and leverages that knowledge to anticipate issues, determine risk, identify solutions, and provide legal analysis. They embrace change and continuous improvement, challenge the status quo, and won’t shy away from complex legal issues. The successful candidate brings a broad and diverse background in municipal government with legal expertise in more than one area, including but not limited to land use, real estate, transportation, contracts, litigation, criminal, employment, public safety, legislative, and public meetings. Knowledge and experience with a municipal court is beneficial. The City Attorney values and appreciates all levels of government and works to build relationships with the state, county, and neighboring jurisdictions.

The City Attorney is a highly effective leader who employs a leadership style that invites participation, builds trust, and empowers staff. The ideal candidate brings a proven background in mentoring and developing employees and believes in effectively building the internal capacity of their team while also knowing when it’s appropriate to engage outside Counsel. They regularly solicit input from the team and leverage the in-depth knowledge and expertise of staff to collectively determine the City’s legal liability, defend claims, and ultimately seek efficient and effective resolutions.

Qualifications

A minimum of eight years of progressively responsible legal experience relevant to municipal law is required. Direct leadership experience managing attorneys and paraprofessional legal personnel is essential. A broad and diverse municipal government background with legal expertise in more than one area of law is required. Direct experience working in a large and/or complex agency with an elected body in the Council-Manager form of government is ideal. A strong budget and financial management background is essential. Knowledge of federal, state, and local civil and administrative law, including statutes, regulations, rules, and ordinances applicable to city operations, functions, and personnel, is required.

A Juris Doctor from a fully accredited law school is required. Must be licensed to practice law in the State of Oregon and be a member in good standing with the Oregon State Bar or licensed in a state with the ability to be admitted to the Oregon State Bar prior to start date. Oregon Criminal Justice Information Services security clearance must be obtained prior to the start date.

It is widely stated—and supported by studies—that candidates, especially women, are less likely to apply for a job unless they believe they meet 100% of the hiring criteria. The City’s talent acquisition goals include hiring the candidate who is best able to meet the performance objectives of the role. We, therefore, encourage persons with non-traditional skill sets and experiences to apply, even if you believe you do not meet 100% of the qualifications and hiring criteria described.

Inside the Organization

On January 1, 2021, the City of Beaverton transitioned from a mayor-council form of government to a council-manager form. Beaverton voters approved the new City Charter in May of 2020. Under this new form of government, the City Council consists of a Mayor and six Councilors, all of whom are elected at-large on a nonpartisan basis to four-year terms. The Mayor is the full-time political and ceremonial head of the city and presides over Council meetings. The City Manager is appointed by Council and charged with overseeing all city operations except for the City Attorney’s Office, and Municipal Court Judges.

Beaverton employs 640 talented and dedicated employees. Currently, eleven departments are responsible for the wide variety of public services within the City: City Attorney’s Office, City Manager’s Office, Community Development, Community Engagement and Communications, Finance, Human Resources, Information Technology and Services, Office of Equity and Inclusion, Library, Police, and Public Works.

Beaverton has an FY24-25 budget of $499.3 Million that reflects the priorities of the City Council. The City is committed to meeting its goals by embracing its community vision; advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion; proactively responding to climate change; and striving for fiscal sustainability. The City’s 2024 strategic goals are:

• Inclusive Community
• Good Government
• Safety
• Housing
• Economic Prosperity
• Quality Infrastructure
• Environmental Sustainability
• Community Wellness and Fun

The 2024 Council priorities are:

• Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging: Explore, understand, and address multicultural needs.
• Community and Organizational Wellbeing: Implement strategies to support a safe and thriving community and organization.
• Financial Recovery: Implement strategies to support fiscal health, recovery, and economic prosperity.
• Natural Resources: Facilitate and implement initiatives to conserve and restore natural resources and reduce energy consumption.

The City Attorney’s Office

The City Attorney’s Office comprises three divisions: General Counsel, Prosecution, and Risk Management. With a FY24-25 budget of $2.5 Million, the City Attorney’s Office provides services through a talented and dedicated staff of 13. The Mission of the City Attorney’s Office is to provide responsive, high-quality, cost-effective legal and risk management services in support of the City’s policy goals while ensuring that the official actions of the City, its elected officials, and employees comply with the law.

The General Counsel division provides legal counsel and representation to the City Council, City Manager, City staff, and all City agencies, departments, boards, and commissions. Legal services are provided on a broad range of matters including real estate, land use, urban renewal, housing, transportation, public finance, economic development, utilities, franchises, public records, public meetings, grants, contracts, intergovernmental agreements, procurements, intellectual property, bankruptcy, collections, ethics, civil rights, labor, employment, torts, risk management, workers' compensation, elections, legislation, the environment, and any other area of law involved in the operations of the City and its related organizations.

The Prosecution division works closely with the City's police department, providing legal training and prosecuting misdemeanor and violation offenses in the City's Municipal Court. The division is responsible for filing complaints, responding to discovery requests, conducting pretrial negotiations, filing and responding to motions, and preparing for and attending hearings, court and jury trials, and certain appeals. The prosecution team also provides critical services to support the City's two specialty court programs (B-SOBR and the Behavioral Health Court) and provides services to aid victims of misdemeanor crimes.

The Risk Management division identifies, analyzes, evaluates, and reduces the impact of risk on the City by managing and administering the City's insurance, safety, and loss control programs. The division assists in safeguarding the City from the adverse impact of loss by purchasing insurance, responding to and resolving risk claims, and developing programs, plans, and procedures to make the organization safer and more resilient.

The Beaverton Community

Located in the heart of the Tualatin Valley, midway between Mt. Hood and the Oregon coast, Beaverton combines the best of a big city and the peaceful surroundings of a small town. Just seven miles west of downtown Portland, Beaverton is Oregon’s sixth-largest city and the second-largest incorporated city in Washington County.

Beaverton is home to 97,500 people of all ages and backgrounds and is one of the most diverse cities in Oregon. One in three residents identifies as a person of color, roughly 20 percent were born outside of the U.S., and more than 100 languages are spoken in the Beaverton School District. This richness of cultural diversity is what makes Beaverton such a vibrant city.

Filled with eclectic charm, downtown Beaverton is a collection of mid-century shop fronts, turn-of-the-century landmarks, and the latest in mixed-use development. A new center for the arts with a large performing space recently opened and opportunities for shopping, entertainment, and exploration abound beyond the City’s core.

Through a partnership with Tualatin Hills Park and Recreation District, Beaverton residents enjoy many outdoor activities. With more than 100 parks encompassing 1,000 acres, every home in Beaverton is within a half-mile of a park. The City has 30 miles of hiking trails and a 25-mile network of bike paths. Within an hour’s drive, there are many more natural areas and opportunities for recreation, including ski slopes to the East and ocean beaches to the West.

Beaverton’s neighborhoods offer more opportunities for neighbors to have fun and make a greater impact on the community. Along tree-lined streets, neighbors are often out jogging, biking, dog-walking, and enjoying everything the City has to offer. From outdoor concerts to art, multicultural festivals, and celebrations, Beaverton’s annual events help bring the community together.

Beaverton has a long history of thoughtful planning, addressing housing, transportation, economic development, diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice, among many others. The Beaverton community vision project won awards for community outreach and substance and continues to be integral to the development of Council priorities. Beaverton is proud that its residents and businesses take advantage of many well-designed means to interact with the City.

Welcoming residents and visitors from everywhere, Beaverton is eager to share all that makes it the best in Oregon.

Compensation

The full salary range is $160,387 – $214,942 and will depend on the qualifications of the successful candidate. The salary range is currently under review with the Council and is expected to be updated. The City of Beaverton provides a generous benefits package. Learn more about our options and employee-based benefits here.

How to Apply

Applications will be accepted electronically by Raftelis. Applicants complete a brief online form and are prompted to provide a cover letter and resume. Open until filled with first review of applications on Monday, October 21, 2024.

The City of Beaverton is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, marital status, race, color, creed, mental or physical disability, religion, national origin, familial status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or source of income in the admission or access to, or employment in, its programs or activities. The City of Beaverton recognizes the significant contributions of veterans in protecting the liberties our residents enjoy. The City complies with Oregon’s Veterans’ Preference Law.

Questions

For more information or questions regarding the City of Beaverton or the City Attorney position, please contact Heather Gantz at hgantz@raftelis.com or Robert Colichio at rcolichio@raftelis.com.

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Salary

• $160,387 - $214,942