- ABOUT THE POSITION
- .The Office of County Counsel for Riverside County has opportunity for a Chief Assistant County Counsel. The Office is looking for experienced litigators with great leadership skills and a broad range of experience.
The Chief Assistant County Counsel is a trusted advisor and strategic partner to the County Counsel, playing a pivotal role in shaping the legal, operational, and organizational direction of the Office of the County Counsel. As a key member of the executive leadership team, the Chief Assistant provides oversight and coordination of daily departmental operations and leads a team of experienced attorneys in delivering high-quality legal services to County departments, boards, and commissions.This position oversees the Land Use, Real Estate & Business Transactional and Public Safety & Litigation divisions, ensuring the delivery of innovative, practical, and effective legal solutions in complex areas of public agency and special district law. The ideal candidate is an accomplished legal professional and people leader—skilled in mentoring, developing, and inspiring teams, while maintaining accountability and performance standards.
The successful candidate will bring a balance of legal expertise, political acumen, and collaborative leadership—someone who thrives in a dynamic public-sector environment and is adept at building strong relationships with County leaders, stakeholders, and the community.
For more information, click the brochure below.The Ideal Candidate Will Be:
A strong manager or supervisor who promotes professional development and cultivates talent across the organization.
An experienced litigator with an in-depth understanding of local government law, civil practice, and regulatory compliance.
A visionary leader who is solution-oriented, forward-thinking, and capable of addressing organizational challenges while fostering a clear strategic direction for the department.
A collaborative professional who is politically astute, approachable, and adept at building productive relationships with staff, elected officials, and community partners.
A principled public servant who models integrity, accountability, and ethical leadership in all aspects of their work.
This class has been designated At-Will by the Board of Supervisors, in accordance with the provisions provided under Article 6, Section 601E (2) of the County Management Resolution and serves at the pleasure of the County Counsel.Meet the Team!The Office of County Counsel is a full-service law office that provides advisory and litigation support on issues of vital concern to the County and its residents such as health care, public safety (sheriff, jail, fire, ambulance), child welfare, land development, code enforcement, environmental protection, public finance, taxation, and elections. - EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES
- • Coordinate departmental operations and workload distribution:
Work closely with the County Counsel to plan, organize, assign, and balance the workload among the various divisions and four regional offices throughout the County. Ensure that resources are effectively allocated to meet service demands, case deadlines, and departmental objectives, while maintaining consistency and quality across all practice areas.
• Provide professional leadership and staff development:
Offer guidance, training, and mentoring to attorneys and legal support staff to enhance professional growth, strengthen legal expertise, and promote a culture of collaboration and excellence. Establish performance standards, evaluate work products, and support succession planning efforts within the Office of the County Counsel.
• Advise boards, commissions, and County departments on complex legal matters:
Serve as a principal legal advisor to various boards, commissions, committees, special districts, and joint powers authorities, addressing the most intricate and sensitive legal issues. Provide counsel to County and special district officers and employees on matters concerning their powers, duties, and obligations under state and federal law.
• Represent the County in litigation and legal proceedings:
Represent the County and its officers in State and Federal courts, administrative hearings, and other proceedings. Conduct legal research, analyze and interpret statutes, regulations, and case law, and anticipate emerging legal issues affecting County operations.
• Prepare and review formal and informal legal opinions:
Draft clear and well-reasoned written and oral opinions on the most complex and precedent-setting legal questions. Prepare legal correspondence, reports, and memoranda to advise decision-makers and document departmental positions on legal matters.
• Assist in fiscal and administrative management:
Support the County Counsel in developing and administering the department’s budget, establishing legal service rates, monitoring expenditures, and ensuring compliance with County fiscal and administrative policies. Contribute to strategic planning initiatives and process improvements that enhance operational efficiency.
• Serve as Acting County Counsel:
Assume full responsibility for departmental leadership and decision-making in the absence of the County Counsel, ensuring continuity of operations and representation of County interests at the highest level. - MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience: Seven years of increasingly responsible professional level experience practicing law including experience in local governments or private practices including at least one year of supervisory or managerial experience.
Knowledge of: Legal principles and their application with an emphasis on administrative law; organization, powers and limitations of County governmental functions and the California Constitution; methods and problems of administering the work of a governmental law office; principles of personnel management and supervision; recent litigation practices including discovery and strong working knowledge of the court system.
Ability to: Analyze complex legal problems and apply legal principles and practices; research and draft opinions; analyze and draft ordinances and other regulations; prepare and present cases of law effectively; present facts, arguments and laws clearly and logically in written and oral form; work cooperatively with others.
Other Requirements:
A valid California Driver's License.
Active membership in the State Bar of California - SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
- What’s Next? This is open to all applicants. This recruitment will be open continuously until filled. Applications will be reviewed in the order received. For earliest consideration, apply now.To be considered for this exceptional career opportunity, please submit an application that reflects the years and months of employment and positions held as well as relevant work experience and skills.Recruiter Contact:For questions regarding this posting contact Angela Tavaglione at atavaglione@rivco.org or at (951) 966-3590.
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APPLICATION INFORMATION
Veteran's Preference
The County has a Veterans Preference Policy applicable to new hires. To qualify, upload a copy of your (or your spouse's) Member-4 Form DD-214 indicating dates of service, and a copy of your spouse's letter of disability (if applicable) with your application. For privacy reasons, it is recommended that you remove your social security information from the document(s). A Human Resources Representative will review the materials and determine if you qualify for veterans' preference. The Veterans Preference Policy, C-3 is available here: https://rivcocob.org/board-policiesReasonable Accommodations
The County of Riverside is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). Qualified individuals with disabilities who need a reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process should contact the recruiter for the position noted above. For additional information and/or to obtain the appropriate form for requesting a reasonable accommodation, please visit the Disability Access Office web page located at: https://rc-hr.com/disabilityProof of Education
If using education to qualify or when requested by the recruiter, upload a copy of any license(s), official/unofficial transcript(s), degrees, and/or related employment documents to your NeoGov account at the time of application and before the closing date. Official or unofficial transcripts will be accepted.If your education was completed outside of the United States, you will need to provide a copy of your Foreign Education Equivalency evaluation from a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. (AICE).
Work Authorization Requirement
Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of application. The County of Riverside does not participate in visa sponsorship programs, including H1-B visas, and will not provide sponsorship for any employment-based visas.Equal Opportunity Employer
The County of Riverside is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of the County of Riverside to provide equal employment opportunities for all qualified persons. All applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, ancestry, medical condition (cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, or denial of medical and family care leave, or any other non-job-related factors.Pre-Employment
All employment offers are contingent upon successful completion of pre-employment requirements including a criminal background investigation, which involves fingerprinting. (A felony or misdemeanor conviction may disqualify the applicant from County employment). A pre-employment physical examination and background check may be required.Probationary Period
As an Approved Local Merit System, all County of Riverside employees, except those serving "At Will," are subject to the probationary period provisions as specified in the applicable Memorandum of Understanding, County Resolution, or Salary Ordinance. Temporary and Per Diem employees serve at the pleasure of the agency/department head.General Information
Current County of Riverside and/or current employees of the hiring department may receive priority consideration. Qualified candidates may be considered for future County vacancies.Job postings may close without notice based on application volume. Submit your complete application by the recruitment close date; no late applications are accepted. Ensure all relevant experience/education is reflected on your application/resume, as a failure to demonstrate position requirements may disqualify applicants. A description of job duties directly copied from the job classification or job posting will not be considered.
Please read and follow any special application instructions on this posting. Click the 'Apply' link located on this page to submit your application. For additional instructions on the application process, examinations, Veteran's preference, pre-employment accommodation or other employment questions, please refer to our web site, www.rc-hr.com.
If you are experiencing technical problems, you may contact the governmentjobs.com applicant support desk Monday through Friday, 6 am to 5 pm Pacific Time at support@governmentjobs.com or toll-free 1-855-524-5627.
- $228,004.01 - $320,649.64/year
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