Assistant Director, Prosecution and Code Enforcement - City Attorney's Office

With competitive pay, great benefits, and endless opportunities, working for the City and County of Denver means seeing yourself working with purpose — for you, and those who benefit from your passion, skills and expertise. Join our diverse, inclusive and talented workforce of more than 11,000 team members who are at the heart of what makes Denver, Denver.

The City Attorney’s Office serves as the chief legal counsel to the Mayor, City Council, City Auditor, City Clerk and Recorder, and all City agencies. Its responsibilities include handling city lawsuits, prosecuting ordinance violations, providing victim support in criminal cases, representing the city in investigations and litigation, advising on contractual and transactional matters, offering regulatory and compliance assistance, addressing employment matters for the city's more than 12,000 workers, and providing guidance on local, state, and federal law.

With a team of over 250 individuals, the City Attorney’s Office is dedicated to protecting resident welfare, enhancing neighborhood quality of life, and responsibly managing taxpayer funds. As advocates for effective governance, transparency, and accountability, the office empowers the city to do its work and prioritizes ethical conduct in all city operations. Whether working with city agencies, engaging community stakeholders, or collaborating with external legal counsel, the office leverages its collective expertise to navigate complex legal challenges and advance key city priorities.

The City and County of Denver offers a competitive salary commensurate with education and experience. The salary range for this position is $155,000 - $202,000/year, based on experience and education. We also offer generous benefits for full-time employees which include but are not limited to:

• A guaranteed life-long monthly pension, once vested after 5 years of service

• 457B Retirement Plan

• 140 hours of PTO earned within first year + 11 paid holidays, 1 personal holiday and 1 volunteer day per year

• Competitive medical, dental and vision plans effective within 1 month of start date

The City and County of Denver supports a hybrid workplace model. Employees work where needed, at a job site several days a week and off-site as needed. Employees must work within the state of Colorado on their off-site days.

The Denver City Attorney’s Office is currently seeking an Assistant Director for the Prosecution and Code Enforcement (PACE) section.  This management position reports to the Director of the Prosecution and Code Enforcement Section of the City Attorney’s Office and will supervise a group of junior attorneys over their assigned section.

The PACE section staffs seven courtrooms in Denver County Court, including 4 trial courtrooms, 2 arraignment courtrooms, and 1 traffic courtroom. PACE also supports three additional dockets: a wellness docket, a  municipal juvenile docket, and a homeless outreach docket held at locations in the community. In addition to the courtroom work of traditional prosecution offices, PACE also staffs several other legal teams within the City.

In addition to the courtroom work of traditional prosecution offices, PACE also staffs other legal teams within the City. The PACE Public Nuisance Team litigates civil public nuisance cases filed against vehicles or real property used in certain crimes.  The Neighborhood Partnership Team works closely with other City agencies and community members to find solutions for neighborhood issues that don’t lend themselves to traditional prosecution methods. Through its Excise-and-Licenses and Marijuana Teams, the Section also provides legal counsel and administrative law support to the Department of Excise and Licenses, which administers and regulates over 100 types of business, liquor, and marijuana licenses. PACE's mental health team handles civil actions for mental health certifications, motions for involuntary medication and special procedures, involuntary commitment for drug and alcohol use disorder, petitions to impose a legal disability for those with developmental or intellectual disabilities, and extreme risk protection orders under Colorado's Red Flag law.

The Assistant Director role will be expected to perform and excel in the following areas:

• Legal excellence including: Serving as subject matter expert in a wide variety of local government and other applicable law with specialized demonstrated expertise in prosecution, mentoring attorneys under your supervision, providing excellent client service, assisting with responding to CORA requests, and performing other related duties as assigned

• Leadership and collaboration including: Providing day-to-day operational management to the Prosecution and Code Enforcement Section, demonstrating two-way communication regarding important updates among the section and with the leadership team, driving the strategic vision of the Section and the City Attorney’s Office, and other duties as assigned.

• Talent management including: Creating high-performing teams through careful recruitment and selection practices, ongoing coaching and mentoring, developing and implementing well thought-out performance standards, resolving team conflict as it arises, serving as a change agent for the Section, and other duties as assigned

• Other duties as assigned

Our ideal candidate is a leader and team-player who is a public servant, passionate about excellence in prosecution and community safety, is ethical and fair, has good common sense and sound judgment, is compassionate about victims, and demonstrates an ability to lead, manage, and motivate an experienced and dynamic legal team.

The preferred candidates will have (if applicable must be demonstrated on application):

• At least five (5) years of experience practicing law

• Supervisory experience

• Experience preparing training materials and providing training

• Ability to work closely and communicate effectively & transparently with the Director, other Assistant Directors, and colleagues on the leadership team

• Ability to communicate effectively with victims, witnesses, clients, attorneys, and other staff members

• Ability to multi-task, prioritize, and work effectively in a fast-paced environment

• Ability to “lead from the front” and to model a positive attitude and behavior

• Strong attention to detail

• Excellent problem-solving skills and ability to work well under pressure

If you are not currently licensed to practice in Colorado, and are selected for this position, you must begin the reciprocity process once you accept your formal offer letter in Workday.

• Education requirement: Doctor of Jurisprudence Degree or Bachelor of Laws Degree.

• Experience Requirement: Three (3) years of experience of the type and at the level of Assistant City Attorney – Senior with specialized experience in at least one area of law.

• Education/Experience Equivalency: No substitution of experience for education is permitted.

• License/Certifications: Possession of a license to practice law in Colorado from the Colorado Supreme Court by the date of hire or a reasonable expectation of becoming licensed by the Colorado Supreme Court by the date of hire in accordance with C.R.C.P. 203.2, 203.3, 203.4 and 205.6.

• Licenses and certifications must be kept current as a condition of employment.

This posting will accept applications until 11:59 PM on Sunday, November 17, 2024. Please submit your application as soon as possible to ensure consideration.

Job Profile

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The City and County of Denver provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, genetic information, age, or any other status protected under federal, state, and/or local law. 

It is your right to access oral or written language assistance, sign language interpretation, real-time captioning via CART, or disability-related accommodations. To request any of these services at no cost to you, please contact Jobs@Denvergov.org with three business days’ notice.

Applicants for employment with the City and County of Denver must have valid work authorization that does not require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the U.S.

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