City Attorney

JOIN THE CITY OF ORANGE AS THE CITY ATTORNEY!

The City is seeking a skilled and dedicated legal professional to serve as the next City Attorney. This person, under policy direction, provides a wide range of professional legal services, assistance, and advice to the City Council, all City departments, the City Manager, and various boards, committees, and commissions; plans, organizes, manages, and provides administrative direction and oversight for all functions and activities of the City Attorney’s Office, including the City’s Risk Management Division; coordinates assigned activities with other City departments, officials, outside agencies, and the public; fosters cooperative working relationships among City departments, with intergovernmental and regulatory agencies, and various public and private groups; performs related work as assigned.

The following duties represent the principal job duties; however, they are not all-inclusive. Other duties may be  and assigned. Management reserves the rights to add, modify, change, or rescind the work assignments of various positions and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job.

• Assumes full management responsibility for all programs, services, and activities of the City Attorney’s Office, including civil litigation, criminal prosecutions, administrative hearings, and risk management functions.
• Develops, directs, and coordinates the implementation of goals, objectives, policies, procedures, and work standards for the department; establishes, within City policy, appropriate budget, service, and staffing levels.
• Manages and participates in the development and administration of the department’s annual budget; directs the forecast of additional funds needed for staffing, equipment, materials, and supplies; directs the monitoring of and approves expenditures; directs and implements adjustments as necessary.
• Selects, trains, motivates, and directs department personnel; evaluates and reviews work for acceptability and conformance with department standards, including program and project priorities and performance evaluations; works with employees on performance issues; implements discipline and termination procedures; responds to staff questions and concerns. 
• Contributes to the overall quality of the department’s service by developing, reviewing, and implementing policies and procedures to meet legal requirements and City needs; continuously monitors and evaluates the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery methods and procedures; assesses and monitors the distribution of work, support systems, and internal reporting relationships; identifies opportunities for improvement; directs the implementation of change.
• Renders opinions in writing and orally for City Council, City Manager, boards, committees, commissions, and department staff regarding routine and complex matters; attends City Council, board, committee, and commission meetings as requested. 
• Prepares, reviews, and assists in the negotiation of proposed agreements; prepares and reviews ordinances, resolutions, bonds and financing papers, insurance policies, deeds, pleadings, contracts, and other legal documents relating to City affairs.
• Provides highly complex and professional staff assistance to the City Council, City Manager, and other City departments.
• Represents the department to other City departments, elected officials, and outside agencies; explains and interprets departmental programs, policies, and activities; negotiates and resolves significant and controversial issues.
• Prepares, reviews, and presents ordinances, resolutions, staff reports, various information updates, and reports on special projects to the City Council, City Staff, and a variety of boards, committees, and commissions.
• Attends and participates in professional group meetings; stays abreast of new trends and innovations in the field of municipal law and other services as they relate to the area of assignment. 
• Monitors changes in laws, regulations, and technology that may affect City or departmental operations; implements policy and procedural changes as required.
• Provides in-house training for the City Council, boards, committees, commissions, and staff relating to various matters.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Knowledge of:

• Administrative principles and practices, including goal setting, program development, implementation, and evaluation, and supervision of staff, either directly or through subordinate levels of supervision.
• Public agency budget development, contract administration, City-wide administrative practices, and general principles of risk management related to the functions of the assigned area.
• Organizational and management practices as applied to the analysis and evaluation of projects, programs, policies, procedures, and operational needs; principles and practices of municipal government administration.
• Principles and practices of employee supervision, including work planning, assignment, review and evaluation, and the training of staff in work procedures.
• Federal, State, and local laws, statutes and ordinances with emphasis on municipal law.
• Federal, State, and local trial and appeal procedures and methods of case preparation and presentation for both civil and criminal matters.
• Methods of legal research, including computer research.
• Record keeping principles and procedures. 
• Modern office practices, methods, and computer equipment and applications related to work.
• English usage, grammar, spelling, vocabulary, and punctuation. 
• Techniques for effectively representing the City in contacts with governmental agencies, community groups, and various business, professional, educational, regulatory, and legislative organizations.
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, and City staff.

Ability to:

• Provide sound legal advice to the City Council, boards, committees, commissions, and staff.
• Present legal information and advice clearly and persuasively in public sessions.
• Determine alternative legal and administrative approaches to solving problems.
• Analyze and prepare a wide variety of legal documents.
• Prepare and present cases in court.
• Develop and implement goals, objectives, policies, procedures, work standards, and internal controls for the department and assigned program areas; research, analyze, and evaluate new service delivery methods, procedures, and techniques.
• Provide administrative and professional leadership and direction for the department and the City.
• Prepare and administer budgets; allocate limited resources in a cost-effective manner.
• Interpret, apply, and ensure compliance with Federal, State, and local policies, procedures, laws, and regulations.
• Plan, organize, direct, and coordinate the work of professional and technical personnel; delegate authority and responsibility; select, train, motivate, and evaluate the work of staff and train staff in work procedures.
• Conduct effective negotiations and effectively represent the City and the department in meetings with governmental agencies, various businesses, professionals, regulatory, and legislative organizations.
• Prepare clear and concise reports, correspondence, policies, procedures, and other written materials.
• Conduct complex research projects, evaluate alternatives, make sound recommendations, and prepare effective staff reports.
• Establish and maintain a variety of filing, record keeping, and tracking systems.
• Organize and prioritize a variety of projects and multiple tasks in an effective and timely manner; organize own work, set priorities, and meet critical time deadlines.
• Operate modern office equipment including computer equipment and specialized software applications programs.
• Use English effectively to communicate in person, over the telephone, and in writing.
• Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy, procedural, and legal guidelines.
• Establish, maintain, and foster positive and harmonious working relationships with those contacted in the course of work. 

Education and Experience:

Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:

Equivalent to possession of a Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited school of law.

Six (6) years of recent and progressively responsible professional practice in the field of public agency law, and six (6) years of management and/or administrative experience in public agency law.

Licenses and Certifications:

• Possess and maintain a valid California Class C Driver License with satisfactory driving record and proof of acceptable automobile insurance at the time of appointment and throughout employment in the position is required.
• Possess and maintain active membership in the State Bar of California at the time of appointment and throughout employment in the position is required.

Must possess mobility to work in a standard office setting and use standard office equipment, including a computer; to operate a motor vehicle and to visit various City and meeting sites; vision to read printed materials and a computer screen; and hearing and speech to communicate in person, before groups, and over the telephone. This is primarily a sedentary office classification although standing in work areas and walking between work areas may be required. Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter, and retrieve data using a computer keyboard or calculator and to operate standard office equipment. Positions in this classification occasionally bend, stoop, kneel, reach, push, and pull drawers open and closed to retrieve and file information. Employees must possess the ability to lift, carry, push, and pull materials and objects weighing up to 25 pounds with the use of proper equipment.

ENVIRONMENTAL ELEMENTS

Employees work in an office environment with moderate noise levels, controlled temperature conditions and no direct exposure to hazardous physical substances. Employees may interact with upset staff and/or public and private representatives in interpreting and enforcing departmental policies and procedures.

WORKING CONDITIONS

This position requires regular and reliable attendance and the employee’s physical presence at the workplace. May be required to work various shifts, including, but not limited to, evenings, weekends, and holidays.

DISASTER SERVICE WORKER

All employees of the City of Orange are designated by both State law and City ordinance to be “Disaster Service Workers.” In the event of a declared emergency or any undeclared emergency or natural disaster that threatens the life, health and/or safety of the public, employees may be assigned to assist rescue and relief workers. Such assignments may be in locations, during hours and performing work significantly different from the employees’ normal work assignments and may continue through the recovery phase of the emergency.

CITY MISSION, VISION, AND VALUES

Incumbents in all City positions are expected to exhibit the behavior characteristics reflected in the City’s Mission, Vision, and Values statements in the performance of their duties: The City of Orange is committed to excellent service for our residents, businesses, and visitors. As an organization, the City of Orange is the leader in delivering the highest level of service to meet current and future needs of the community. The City’s values include Teamwork, Accountability, and Excellence.