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Job Description
Salary
- Description
- City of Kannapolis Invites Your Interest in the Position of City Attorney!Closing Date November 12, 2024View Recruitment Brochure HERE
Discover Kannapolis, North Carolina
A City with momentum, and a place where people are welcome. Kannapolis is the 20th largest city in North Carolina with a population of 63,000 located within minutes of the Charlotte Metro area.
A revitalized and amazing downtown is thriving, with a thoughtful mix of multiple attractions including the Atrium Health Ballpark, home to the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers, our minor league baseball team, the historic Gem Theatre, and the Swanee Theatre, a live music venue. Every week you will find a variety of events, programs and community activities to be engaged with.
The Kannapolis Community:
The City offers a low stress, family-oriented community with loads of southern charm in an ideal climate. Conveniently located to the interstate, local and national airports, and home to an Amtrak station, your workplace and home is a short travel time from the mountains, the beaches or anywhere along the East Coast of the United States. The City is a place where you can live a good life. A healthy holistic life. A community that welcomes new people, new ideas and new businesses.
A place where there is a balance between work, family, and social living. A unique place where health, nutrition, science and education are becoming the business of the City and where a significant investment of the business sector has already been made. Our internationally recognized North Carolina Research Campus, and numerous other companies are examples of how Kannapolis is creating opportunities for the people who live and work here. For more information, please visit www.kannapolisnc.gov
The Organization:
The City of Kannapolis operates under a Council-Manager form of government, with a seven-member council, who serve staggered four-year non-partisan citywide terms. City Management includes a stable administration with a City Manager and Deputy City Manager who have worked for over 20 years in Kannapolis. The current City Attorney has held the position in the municipality since the City's incorporation in 1984. The remainder of the Executive Team also have extensive experience and meld together to form one of the top municipal organizations in the state.
The City’s workforce is high energy and visionary with the goal of creating an exemplary municipality that prides itself with thinking outside-of-the box to achieve the services and culture its residents expect. Here, you will find award-winning employees, who pride themselves on rising to challenges and performing their jobs to the best of their abilities. They are active in the community in a variety of ways: supporting the local school system, community charities, volunteering with civic and spiritual organizations, serving as youth coaches, to name a few. - Example of Duties
The Position:
The City Council is excited to announce the recruitment of City Attorney for the City of Kannapolis. This position is appointed by City Council. The Council seeks an attorney with considerable broad local government experience to join the City Administration staff. This position requires experience with municipal codes, state processes and laws, legal requirements, statutes and municipal government authority. The City Attorney oversees one administrative assistant and is responsible for $650,000 budget. The Legal Department is housed in City Administration and works closely with staff in 14 departments across the organization.
Priorities for the next City Attorney:- Willing and ready to assist in the development of programs and comprehensive projects to further support the City’s strategic plan
- Quickly become an expert on the City’s ordinance review process including the recommendation of amendments
- Work collaboratively with the Mayor, City Council, City Manager and Departmental staff and other stakeholders
- Continued management of Public Information Request process
- Issue opinion letters on municipal authority, purchase, sale and real estate related agreements
- Legal support for utility agreements, stormwater Best Management Practice (BMP), Right-of- Way acquisitions, sidewalk easements and encroachment agreements
- Required attendance at all City Council meetings, Board of Adjustment meetings and occasional attendance at Planning Board meetings
- Legal support for code enforcement of minimum housing code violations, nuisance enforcement, condemnations, and other planning and zoning issues on a regular basis
- Oversight and management of all city litigation
- Draft and review ordinances and resolutions; prepare draft bills to the North Carolina General Assembly; advise City Manager and departments on proposed legislation
- Review and respond to subpoenas
- Prepare and review documents including complaints, answers, petitions, contracts, leases, deeds, easements, and legal notices
- Advises finance regarding issuance of debt by the City and communicates with financial advisors
- Typical Qualifications
Who are we seeking?
- The Kannapolis City Council is seeking a collaborative leader with impeccable integrity with the ability to manage both internal and external relationships.
- Must have extensive knowledge of North Carolina law pertaining to the public sector
- Willing to think progressively and seek innovative solutions to problems
- A partner willing to build relationships outside the walls of City Hall
- Skilled communicator willing to listen and hear the perspectives of others
- Juris Doctorate from an ABA accredited law school
- 7 years of experience in the practice of broad level municipal and/or public sector law
- Licensed to practice law in North Carolina or licensure reciprocity, 180 days from appointment
- Experience with municipal legal laws, regulations, and issues
- Significant experience in land-use, contract and law enforcement law
- Experience as City Attorney for similar sized full-service community
- Other Necessary Requirements
Resumes and cover letters must be uploaded with
the application.
Applications will be available until November 12, 2024 11:59 P.M. EST
Hiring Range: $180,000 - $230,000 annually
Questions: Please contact Heather James, Human Resources Director (hjames@kannapolisnc.gov) or (704) 920-4322
- $180,000 - $230,000/year
