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Overview:

Valley Water’s Office of District Counsel seeks a senior-level attorney to be the primary attorney on all labor and employment functions, draft and negotiate inter-agency agreements, and advise the Board, its committees, and staff on broad, agency-level policies and procedures. The Senior Assistant District Counsel will be one of three senior assistant counsels reporting to the District Counsel and will be designated as unclassified/at-will. This attorney role offers ongoing, time-sensitive legal support to Valley Water operations and its long-term strategic goals. This position is vital for addressing Valley Water's labor and employment law requirements. The incumbent also carries significant responsibility for public agency financing matters, making experience in that field a huge plus.

Key Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Day-to-day support of Valley Water's labor and employment law matters, including but not limited to employee discipline, grievances, internal investigations, and compliance matters as well as first-chair representation in labor arbitrations and administrative hearings.
• Second-chair management of employment litigation matters (“first-chair” experience is a plus).
• Assisting management with labor negotiations, including service on “second table” negotiating teams (“first table” experience is a plus). 
• Other operational support to the Valley Water business includes contract reviews, real estate transactions, and agreements with other government entities.
• Support to District Counsel, such as support on broad, agency-level policy matters, confidential Board matters, and filling in for District counsel during absences.

About Valley Water:

Valley Water’s (Santa Clara Valley Water District) mission is to ensure that Santa Clara County and Silicon Valley have access to safe, clean water to support a healthy life, environment, and economy.
 
Headquartered in San José, California, Valley Water operates with a Fiscal Year 2024-2025 budget of $1.1 billion and employs over 900 professionals. Their integrated water resources system encompasses clean water supply, flood protection, and environmental stewardship of streams.

Ideal Candidate's Background Includes:

Applicants whose experience and background best match the ideal experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, and education are considered ideal candidates for the position. To determine the top candidates, each applicant will be assessed based on the ideal candidate criteria as listed below.

Ideal Experience for Senior Assistant District Counsel:

• Fifteen years of recent experience in the active practice of law in the State of California, including at least six years representing public agency employers in labor and employment matters.  
• Experience with real estate transactions, inter-agency agreements, and agency-level policies and procedures is also desired.   
• Experience with public agency financing is a huge plus. 

Ideal Skills and Abilities:

• A can-do, solutions-oriented mindset is a must, as is a sense of humor. 
• A high degree of political acumen and the ability to think strategically and see the big picture.
• Maintain effective relationships with federal, state, regional, municipal, and local agencies, and with Silicon Valley’s major stakeholders. 
• Comfortable operating in complex legal and regulatory environments,
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues and adversaries.
• Analyze and apply principles of law, particularly with respect to highly sensitive labor and employment matters.
• Advise on the legal aspects of labor negotiations, including “second table” experience (“first table” experience is highly desired).   
• Provide significant first-line and strategic support to Valley Water's Finance team on debt issuances, refinancing, and Public Facilities Financing Corporation work. 
• Present statements of law and fact clearly, succinctly, and logically, both orally and in writing.
• Prepare legally sufficient transactional documents.
• Prepare a variety of reports, correspondence, and other written materials.
• Collect, interpret, and evaluate varied information and data and provide recommendations.

Ideal Knowledge:

• Principles and practices of law, particularly as related to public agency activities.
• Advanced principles of law related to labor and employment matters
• Judicial and administrative procedures and the rules of evidence
• Principles of legal research and writing
• Pleadings and practices and effective techniques in the presentation of judicial cases, administrative hearing cases, and labor arbitration cases
• Principles of governmental organization
• State and federal laws and constitutional provisions affecting Valley Water operations, particularly the Brown Act, the Public Records Act, the Fair Employment and Housing Act, Title VII, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Meyers-Milias-Brown Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act.  
• Knowledge of the laws governing public agency financing transactions is a plus.

 Ideal Training and Education: 

Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university, and graduation from an accredited law school plus a minimum of six years in the active practice of public agency-labor and employment laws and fifteen years of practice of law overall.

• Must be a current member, in good standing, of the California State Bar Association. 
• Must have pledged to comply or be willing to pledge to comply to the Santa Clara Bar County Association Code of Professional Conduct.

Please submit your application along with cover letter and resume by the application deadline. In your cover letter, please provide your CA State Bar Association number and address the following three prompts:

• Who is the client of an attorney for a public entity? How would that influence the performance of your duties as the Senior Assistant District Counsel for the Santa Clara Valley Water District? 
• Please describe the top three achievements of your professional legal career and why you are proud of them.
• Tell us about your experience representing public agency employers in labor and employment matters 
• Tell us about your experience with real estate transactions, inter-agency agreements, agency-level policies and procedures, and public agency financing matters.  

Following the closing date, resumes and cover letters will be screened according to the qualifications outlined above. The most qualified candidates will be invited to Zoom panel interviews with a Valley Water-appointed interview panel. A select group of candidates will be asked to provide references once they are anticipated to be recommended as finalists. References will be contacted only following candidate approval. Finalist interviews will be held with a Valley Water executive interview panel.

The County Counsel position, under direction of the Board of Supervisors, serves as principle legal counsel to the County of Glenn; plans, organizes, directs and reviews the functions and  activities for the County Counsel’s Office including advising County departments and employees on legal issues and representing those departments and employees in litigation; establish, monitor, evaluate and revise the office’s goals, objectives, policies, and procedures; coordinate assigned activities with other County departments and outside agencies.

The County of Yuba is currently recruiting for the position of Deputy County Counsel I/II/III in the Office of County Counsel. Under the direction of the County Counsel and Chief Deputy County Counsel, attorneys in this series perform professional legal work by preparing and trying civil cases and providing legal counsel and assistance to the County, it’s officers, associated boards and commissions, as well as outside agencies; assist departments in interpreting regulations on a wide range of topics; represent officers and employees in litigation; and perform duties as assigned.  The Deputy County Counsel I/II/III classification is flexibly staffed and depending on background and experience, may be filled directly at the Deputy County Counsel II or III level. Involvement in formal litigation and discretionary authority increases as the incumbent progresses through the various levels.

• Researches, interprets and applies laws, court decision, statutes, ordinances and other legal authorities for use in the preparation of legal opinions, briefs, pleadings, notes, and memoranda; prepares legal reports, opinions, briefs and appeals of average difficulty under general supervision.  
• Represents, confers with and advises County officials, employees and district representatives on legal questions pertaining to their respective powers, duties, functions and obligations; may attend meetings of boards and commissions in order to provide legal advice and counsel.  
• Represents, confers with, and advises clients of the Office of the County Counsel with respect to all aspects of civil law, including litigation in the area of probate, police powers, zoning, planning, social services, health care, child welfare, disciplinary appeals and grievances, real and personal property, assessment and taxation, and other civil areas of public law.  
• Researches and prepares formal written ordinances, resolutions, contracts, agreements, leases, conveyances and other legal documents.

Examples of Duties Level II (in addition to the above):

• Prepares pleadings and other papers in connection with trials, hearings and other legal proceedings; performs research, investigation and detailed legal preparation for the trial or defense of the County in cases involving condemnation, damage or other civil suits.  
• Makes recommendations to the County Counsel concerning the advisability to prosecute, compromise or dismiss civil litigation.
• Drafts proposed legislation, analyzes pending legislation and recommends County position on legislation.

Examples of Duties Level III (in addition to the above):

• Prepares difficult legal reports, opinions, briefs and appeals using independent judgment and discretion.  
• Attends meetings of boards and commissions in order to provide legal advice and counsel. 

The Department:
The responsibilities of the City Attorney's Office broadly consist of representing and advising the City Council, City officials, and employees of all City departments in all matters of law pertaining to their offices and departments. This includes appearing on behalf of the City in legal actions or proceedings, providing the City Council with information and advice on wide range of legal matters including litigation and new legislation, and staffing City Council and City Board and Commission meetings as necessary. The City Attorney's Office provides legal advice and support on matters initiated by the City Council, City Manager's Office, and all City departments. Typical work includes research and opinion on various issues; review and negotiation of contracts, leases, or permits; drafting employee policies; review and drafting of resolutions, ordinances, and agenda reports; and preparation of responses to Public Records Act requests.
 
The Position:
The City is recruiting to fill one (1) Assistant City Attorney position. Ideally, the position will be assigned to act as the primary advisor to the City’s Human Resources Department, with additional general municipal areas of work for other departments including but not limited to finance, governance, conflicts of interest, open meetings, and public records.
 
The position is expected to perform a wide variety of legal services ranging from litigation (or litigation management) of  administrative matters (such as internal disciplinary appeals, PERB UPC charges, and CalPERS determinations) to collective bargaining and MOU review/drafting; legal research and drafting opinions; negotiating contracts; drafting disciplinary documents; drafting resolutions and ordinances; providing on-call legal support to all divisions of the Human Resources Department (records, benefits, testing, classification, labor, workers compensation, recruitment, safety, risk management, etc.); and, staffing commission meetings such as the Civil Service Commission and Salary Setting Commission. This position is also expected to perform other duties as assigned.
 
The ideal candidate will have superior legal analytical ability and excellent research, writing and oral communication skills and the ability to deal effectively with City employees, opposing counsel, elected and appointed officials, and members of the public.
 
The ideal candidate will also have experience defending  allegations of misconduct in personnel matters, significant experience advising on human resource issues, including Fair Labor Standards Act, Meyers-Milias-Brown Act, labor negotiations, California Public Employees’ Retirement Law, state and federal benefits/leave laws, state and federal employment-related tax laws, and experience providing training in laws, regulations, policies and best practices in personnel management and workplace misconduct

This is a professional position in the Unclassified Service, is an “at-will” position, and the incumbent serves at the discretion of the City Manager. This position is responsible for performing a broad range of duties, which deal with more complex issues. An incumbent in this classification must exercise independent judgment and discretion; manage, control, and direct employees; and formulate administrative policies for the effective use of assigned personnel. The position requires a demonstrated ability to work well with management, professional and administrative support employees in the Office; with clients, professionals, managers, City’s executive management team and all City Departments and elected and appointed officials from the City and various boards, commissions, and committees. An incumbent in this classification must demonstrate strong ethical, professional, and service-oriented leadership and interpersonal skills, set a good example; and correctly apply and abide by the tenets of the City’s Code of Ethics and Values.
 
This recruitment may be used to fill multiple positions in this, or other divisions or departments. If you are interested in employment in this classification, you should apply to ensure you are considered for additional opportunities that may utilize the applicants from this recruitment.

Additional Information: 
Applications must be filled out completely (e.g. do not write “see resume, NA, or personnel file.”). To receive consideration for the screening process, candidates must submit a 1) Cover Letter 2) Resume, and 3) Writing Sample of maximum 5 pages (appropriate examples would be a staff report, public legal memo, redacted memo).  Incomplete applications will not be considered.
 
Application packets may be submitted online through the “Apply Now” feature on the job announcement at www.santaclaraca.gov. This job posting is open until filled: Applications will be reviewed on a monthly basis. If you are interested in applying you are encouraged to apply as soon as possible, before the posting is closed, which may happen at any time.

THIS RECRUITMENT MAY BE USED TO FILL MULTIPLE POSITIONS IN THIS, OR OTHER DIVISIONS OR DEPARTMENTS BESIDES THE POSITIONS LISTED BELOW.  IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN EMPLOYMENT IN THIS CLASSIFICATION, YOU SHOULD APPLY TO ENSURE YOU ARE CONSIDERED FOR ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT MAY UTILIZE THE APPLICANTS FROM THIS RECRUITMENT. MEETING THE MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS DOES NOT GUARANTEE ADMITTANCE INTO THE EXAMINATION PROCESS.  ONLY THE MOST QUALIFIED CANDIDATES WHO DEMONSTRATE THE BEST COMBINATION OF QUALIFICATIONS IN RELATION TO THE REQUIREMENTS AND DUTIES OF THE POSITION WILL BE INVITED TO TEST OR INTERVIEW. 

 

The annual salary range for this position is $213,185.04 - $275,895.96.  This position will be filled at or near the minimum of the salary range.
 

Minimum Qualifications

EXPERIENCE
• J.D. or L.L.B. from an accredited law school;
• Six (6) years recent experience in the general practice of law.  Four (4) years of the qualifying experience must include dealing with municipal, county or state governmental agencies in the State of California;
• One year of supervisory experience is desirable; and
• Trial experience is highly desirable.

CERTIFICATION
• Active member in good standing of the State Bar of California is required;
• Admission to the Federal District Court and Federal Appeals Court Bar is desirable.

LICENSE:
Possession of an appropriate California driver's license is required.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS
Must be able to perform all of the essential functions of the job.

Follow this link to view the entire Class Specification which includes more information on Typical Duties and Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.
SPECIAL CONDITIONS
May be required to work odd and unusual hours.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST
Incumbents in this position are required to file a Conflict of Interest statement upon assuming office, annually and upon leaving office, in accordance with City Manager Directive 100.

Federal law requires all employees to provide verification of their eligibility to work in this country. Please be informed that the City of Santa Clara will not sponsor, represent, or sign documents related to visa applications/transfers for H1B or any other type of visa which requires an employer application.  
The City of Santa Clara is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants for all job openings will be considered without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status or any other consideration made unlawful under any federal, state or local laws. The City of Santa Clara is committed to offering reasonable accommodations to job applicants with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please contact us at (408) 615-2080 or HumanResources@santaclaraca.gov.

TO VIEW JOB ANNOUNCEMENT, CLICK JOB PDF OR JOB ANNOUNCEMENT URL BELOW.