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Deputy City Attorney I/II | Assistant City Attorney | Chief Assistant City Attorney

$11,504 to $13,983 monthly | $138,048 to $167,796 annually – Deputy City Attorney I

$12,683 to $15,417 monthly | $152,196 - $185,004 annually – Deputy City Attorney II

$14,908 to $18,121 monthly | $178,896 - $217,452 annually – Assistant City Attorney

$17,145 to $20,893 monthly | $205,740 - $250,716 annually – Chief Assistant City Attorney

APPLICATION DEADLINE:  Apply by Wednesday, October 16, 2024, for first consideration

SUMMARY
The City is seeking to fill one key position at either the Deputy City Attorney I/II, Chief Assistant City Attorney, or an Assistant City Attorney classification/level. The successful candidate in the position will be joining the City’s passionate and skilled mid-management or executive team that inspires creative thinking and engagement, proactively pursues actions to ensure that San Rafael continues to be an amazing place to be, provides effective and easy access to City services, and supports work-life balance. If you are looking for a career where you can work in a fast-paced and positive environment, initiate and manage exciting projects, and be part of a dynamic leadership team, then this is the perfect opportunity for you!

THE COMMUNITY

Marin County’s first incorporated City, San Rafael lies midway between San Francisco and California’s famous Sonoma and Napa wine countries. With a population of approximately 60,000, San Rafael serves as the county seat and is the premier economic, financial, cultural, and service center. The City offers both a small-town feel and a lively urban atmosphere. Famous for its favorable climate, San Rafael makes a central base for taking day trips to scenic locations such as the Sonoma/Napa wine country, Point Reyes National Seashore, and Muir Woods. Surrounded by open space and the bay, San Rafael is a vibrant city in an incomparably beautiful natural setting.

San Rafael has a varied and rich economy fueled by high tech, entertainment, financial, service-oriented businesses, and industrial businesses. The City is home to major employers such as BioMarin and Kaiser Permanente and offers residents and visitors alike an array of regional retailers in addition to unique local shops. San Rafael is also one of the most ethnically and culturally diverse cities in Marin County. The City’s residential neighborhoods are distinctive, each with its own history, character, and identity. There is a wide diversity of housing, and the City is committed to creating and maintaining housing that is affordable to low/moderate income residents, the general workforce, families, and older adults. 

THE ORGANIZATION

Welcome to the City of San Rafael, the “City with a Mission!” The City of San Rafael has an outstanding team of public servants who pride themselves on delivering quality and customer focused services to the community. In 2022, the City was voted one of the top three Best Places to Work in local government by ELGL, a nationally recognized organization in the United States. The City was recognized for its cross-departmental work that is key to advancing community programs and projects. A strong emphasis on innovation, equity, and a commitment to providing ongoing learning opportunities to staff are just some of the perks that make San Rafael the Best Place to Work!

The City Council is highly engaged and seeks to: strengthen and promote the urban and commercial areas; facilitate measures to develop new, needed housing; be in the forefront on sustainability and planning for climate change; and protect the beautiful, natural environment that is part of the community setting. The City of San Rafael is a full-service charter city and functions under a City Council/City Manager form of government and has an annual budget for fiscal year 2023-24 of $172 million, with over 400 employees. City departments include the City Manager’s Office, City Attorney, City Clerk, Finance, Human Resources, Community Development, Fire, Library and Recreation, Police, Economic Development, and Public Works.

THE JOB

At the helm of the City’s legal leadership is a part-time elected City Attorney, Rob Epstein, who has served for seventeen years as San Rafael’s City Attorney with dedication and expertise. An elected City Attorney is fairly rare (a total of 10 statewide) and the part-time position is even more unique. For many years, this distinctive structure has delivered an effective combination of elected political leadership with professional legal support for the City. In this model, the elected City Attorney sits as a trusted counterpart to the elected City Council, providing both legal advice and political leadership.

In addition to the elected part-time City Attorney, the City’s legal office is comprised of two full-time attorneys and one legal assistant. The legal team has been known for its collegial, respectful, and inclusive environment. The City Attorney’s Office also oversees and collaborates with various outside legal counsel, focusing on areas such as land development, human resources, tort litigation, and labor negotiations. 

Due to the part-time nature of the position, the elected City Attorney does not manage or oversee the daily operations of the City’s legal affairs. Instead, this responsibility falls to a strong Chief Assistant/Assistant City Attorney, who provides operational leadership and management. While the elected City Attorney offers high-level legal oversight and representation, the Chief Assistant/Assistant City Attorney and support staff handle the bulk of the legal work, ensuring the City’s legal needs are met efficiently and effectively. The Deputy City Attorney will also work with departments to draft and review contracts, agreements, and other legal documents for daily operations, provide legal support and guidance on PRAs, and conducts legal research and prepares reports or memoranda, and make recommendations to the elected City Attorney. This structure balances the benefits of elected accountability and experience with the necessity of onsite professional legal expertise in managing the City’s legal affairs.

Deputy City Attorney I/II

This classification is part of the Mid-Management employee group, a team of highly qualified and dedicated individuals who work under general direction and supervision of their department Directors. Essential responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Consults with and provides legal advice to staff in various departments of the Cit. It is anticipated that that a key role of the new attorney will be to consult and support Human Resources with Labor Relations, Discipline, Investigations, ADA, and EEO issues, while also representing and consulting with other client departments.
• Reviews staff reports and advises staff on complex and controversial legal matters.
• Drafts and reviews ordinances, resolutions, contracts, deeds, leases and other legal documents and instruments.
• Represents the City at various City Council, commission and community meetings.
• Performs legal research and prepares opinions on various legal issues for City departments.
• Represents the City in civil and some criminal matters in both state and federal court and in administrative proceedings.
• Represents the City in arbitration hearings.

Assistant City Attorney and Chief Assistant City Attorney
Both classifications are executive management positions under the general direction and supervision of the part-time elected City Attorney. There is a high level of direct communication, coordination, and collaboration with the City Manager and two Assistant City Managers. Both classifications would be part of the City’s executive leadership team and support the City Manager’s Office directly.

Assistant City Attorney

Executive & Operational Management

The Assistant City Attorney focuses on delivering and overseeing the City’s legal services and providing direct legal support to City departments and City staff. 

Both the Chief Assistant City Attorney and City Attorney perform all of the traditional legal duties found in municipal legal operations such as, but not limited to:

• Ability to act as Acting City Attorney when part-time elected City Attorney is not available.
• Perform legal research; review and apply laws, rules, cases and ordinances; and prepare opinions on various legal issues.
• Proactively identify legal risks and develop strategies to reduce and manage those risks.
• Coordinate and supervise the work of outside counsel engaged by the City for special legal issues and litigation matters.
• Negotiate and draft and/or approve contract forms, complex contracts, deeds, leases and other legal documents and instruments.
• Prepare complex and routine opinions; advise City Council and staff regarding proposed courses of action and City policy.
• Represent the City at various City Council, board, and commissions meetings and in court as assigned, and render legal advice on agenda items.
• Represent the City in civil and some criminal matters in both state and federal courts and in administrative proceedings.
• Supervise, train and evaluate assigned staff attorneys and support staff.

Chief Assistant City Attorney

Executive, Operational and Strategic Partnership

The Chief Assistant City Attorney also manages the responsibilities outlined in the Assistant City Attorney and additionally handles the most complex legal issues in partnership with the City Manager and in support of the part-time elected City Attorney. The Chief Assistant City Attorney acts as a key advisor and strategic partner to the City Manager, and at times the City Council. The Chief Assistant City Attorney functions with a high level of executive level autonomy and independence.

IDEAL CANDIDATE

The ideal candidates will bring legal municipal expertise, a passion for public service, and a commitment to advancing the best interests of our community. This individual will play a pivotal role in providing sound legal counsel to City officials, ensuring compliance with municipal laws, and contributing to the overall success of our City’s operations.  Top contenders will also be skillful at analyzing and preparing a wide variety of complex legal documents. 

• Legal Expertise - Strategic and forward-thinking legal advisor who can operate at a high-level to provide advice and counsel on municipal operations. Strong understanding of public sector legal issues. Excellent at legal research, analysis, and writing.

• Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills - Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex legal concepts clearly and persuasively. Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders. Resourceful at building collaborative solutions and negotiating with diverse stakeholders to find positive solutions.

• Ethical & Strong Work Ethic - High ethical standards and a commitment to integrity.  Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines and to move matters to resolution. A proactive and results-oriented approach to legal issues.

• Collaborative, Communicator and Politically Astute - Cooperative and collaborative relationship builder. Creative problem solver. Excellent communication skills with the ability to concisely and effectively explain complex legal issues in lay terms. Astute political sense, without being politically aligned.

• Commitment to Public Service - A deep commitment to serving the public and enhancing the quality of life in our community.  Ability to balance legal responsibilities with the strategic goals of the city.  Dedication to fostering an inclusive and equitable work environment.

We invite qualified candidates who are passionate about public service and eager to make a meaningful impact on our community to apply for this rewarding opportunity. The ideal candidate will be energetic, self-motivated, dependable, results-oriented, and highly ethical leader with a proven track record for providing excellent and practical legal advice on a range of municipal law topics in both advisory and litigation roles. 

In addition, the ideal candidate will meet the following minimum qualifications:

• Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited law school
• Active Membership in the State Bar of California.
• Valid California driver’s license, AND
• Experience:
  • Deputy City Attorney I: No minimum municipal legal experience necessary
  • Deputy City Attorney II: 2 years of progressively responsible experience in municipal law.
  • Assistant City Attorney: 6 years of progressively responsible experience in municipal law.
  • Chief Assistant City Attorney: 8 years of progressively responsible experience in municipal law plus 2 years of responsible management and administrative experience.

SEARCH SCHEDULE

This position is open until filled with a first resume review date of Wednesday, October 16, 2024

Preliminary interviews – in person preferred: Tuesday, October 22, 2024

Finalist interview with City Manager’s Office – in person: Wednesday, October 23, 2024

These dates have been confirmed, it is recommended that you plan your calendar accordingly.

STEP INTO A CAREER THAT IS EXCITING, CHALLENGING, AND REWARDING!

The Novato Sanitary District is actively seeking qualified candidates for a

 COLLECTION SYSTEM WORKER I or II

 Collection System Worker I: $6578-$7996/ Monthly  $37.95-$46.13/ Hourly

Collection System Worker II: $7252- $8815/ Monthly  $41.84-$50.86/ Hourly

9/80 Work Schedule

Plus, an OUTSTANDING Benefits Package

Applications due Oct. 06, 2024 

The Novato Sanitary District is seeking a highly motivated, innovative, and goal-driven individual to join our Collection System team as a Collection System Worker (CSW). The District will hire at the level of CSW I or CSW II depending on skills, certifications and licenses held by candidates in the pool of qualified applicants. 

The CSW performs a wide variety of tasks associated with the maintenance of wastewater collection and reclamation systems, including inspection, cleaning, maintenance, and repairs on lines, pump stations, and treatment facilities. The successful candidate will possess experience in general maintenance tasks, including the safe and effective operation of a variety of hand and power tools and equipment. Possession of a commercial driver's license is highly desirable. Experience working with sewer cleaning trucks and equipment is also a plus.

The Office of the City Attorney is committed to providing excellent legal services, consistent with the highest professional and ethical standards, to the City with the goal of protecting and advancing its interests in serving the people of San José. The Office is seeking a motivated individual with the ability to work independently and also in a team environment.The Office of the City Attorney for the City of San José is seeking a senior level trial attorney with substantial civil experience in state and federal court, excellent interpersonal skills and a positive attitude.

The City's litigation portfolio includes a broad range of substantive legal issues arising under both state and federal law. As Sr. Deputy litigator, under supervision of a Chief Deputy, you will have primary responsibility for all aspects of assigned cases, including pleading, litigation strategy, client communication and coordination, discovery and document review, motion practice, settlement evaluation and negotiation, and trial. The City's varied and novel legal issues require excellent research, analytical, and writing skills as well as the ability to vigorously defend complex matters. Applicants must be an active member of the State Bar of California. The Office seeks applicants with a minimum of 10 years civil litigation and jury trial experience.Please send resume including complete employment history to: Nora Frimann, City Attorney, 200 East Santa Clara Street, 16th Floor Tower, San Jose, CA 95113, or e-mail to atty.res@sanjoseca.gov. Application review is ongoing, and the most qualified candidates will be invited for an interview. EOE

The Office of the City Attorney is committed to providing excellent legal services, consistent with the highest professional and ethical standards, to the City with the goal of protecting and advancing its interests in serving the people of San José. The Office is seeking an experienced individual to perform supervisory and administrative work in the management of legal support staff and services.
This position is responsible for performing a variety of duties requiring both sound judgment and analytical skills. Knowledge and experience with Public Records Act requests, claims investigations, information technology systems, human resources, and budget are desired. The successful candidate will also have strong writing, communication, supervisory, and interpersonal skills.

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.

Per the City’s COVID-19 Mandatory Vaccination Policy, the City requires all new hires to provide proof of vaccination as a condition of employment absent an approved medical or religious exemption. “Fully vaccinated” means the employee has received two doses of Pfizer, Moderna or Novavax or a single dose of Johnson & Johnson.

Please note that applications are currently not accepted through CalOpps or any other third party job board application system. To apply, applicants must complete an application via the City of San Jose’s website at www.sanjoseca.gov/citycareers.

This position is responsible for performing transactional paralegal duties related to legal transactions for the Housing Department. The ideal candidate will be a Paralegal experienced in preparation and/or review of real estate loan documents, closing of escrows for real estate financing transactions (including review of preliminary title reports and title policies), will be detail-oriented with good organizational and computer skills, and will have good writing and analytical skills. Typical assignments may include preparation and/or review of real property financing documents and other lender documents, real property acquisition documents, escrow instructions, and consultant and grant agreements. Other duties may include, but are not limited to, drafting and/or reviewing resolutions and ordinances, coordination with City or other government departments or agencies, involvement in the Council agenda process, and responding to public record act requests. The skill level of this position places strong emphasis on accuracy, attention to detail, and strong analytical skills. Incumbents must be proficient in the use of various types of software in the Windows environment.

Depending upon qualifications, the successful candidate may be hired at the Legal Analyst I or Legal Analyst II level. The annual salary range for a Legal Analyst I is $80,676.96 to $98,083.44, and the annual salary range for a Legal Analyst II is $88,058.88 to $107,016.00. Both ranges include an approximate five percent (5%) ongoing non-pensionable pay. Actual salary shall be determined by the final candidate's qualifications and experience.

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple positions in this department. 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.

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