City Attorney job in Port Townsend

For more information, click here:  http://cityofpt.us/hr/docs/attorney.pdf

JOB SUMMARY

The City Attorney is the chief legal officer for the City.  Under the direction of the City Manager, the City Attorney is responsible for the preparation and review of City ordinances and resolutions and provides legal advice and support for all departments of City government as well as to elected officials and advisory bodies of the City.  The City Attorney is responsible for conducting and supporting all litigation involving the City including supervision of criminal prosecution by the City Prosecutor.  The City Attorney supervises the City Clerk. The City Attorney works closely with the City’s insurance authority and attorneys it assigns to handle claims.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide guidance to the City Manager, City staff, and City Council on matters of procedure, legal interpretation, and policy implementation. Such guidance includes preparation and review of legislation, preparation and review of contracts, providing advice regarding personnel matters, providing advice regarding land use and other regulatory functions, providing litigation and technical support.
• Attend City Council meetings and meetings of other City bodies as needed, including City Council committees, Planning Commission, and advisory boards. Act as parliamentarian as required.
• Conduct investigations or interviews related to legal matters involving the City.
• Address complaints and resolve problems.
• Assist all departments in preparing Council agenda materials relating to legislation, contracts and other matters; review agendas for completeness and to identify legal issues and problems. 
• Function as a member of the management team of the City by attending staff meetings and assisting the City Manager and other department heads regarding executive functions. 
• Litigate on behalf of the City in civil or administrative actions, including code enforcement matters, and serve as liaison with outside counsel on specialized legal matters.
• May assist with negotiations with assigned bargaining groups; and respond to labor group issues as necessary.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Strong background in and knowledge of general municipal law, Open Public Meetings Act and Public Records Act, land use, zoning, annexation, labor law and contract law.
• Demonstrated ability and experience to handle litigation and advisory legal matters for the City independently and with competence.
• Ability to deal with the public and City staff and officials in a tactful and professional manner.
• Ability to work on complex legal and policy issues in a setting where different objectives and/or adversarial viewpoints may exist. 
• Ability to communicate complex legal issues verbally and in writing to a variety of audiences in a clear, comprehensive and effective manner. 
• Well-developed leadership and management skills
• Ability to prioritize and delegate workload efficiently. 
• Excellent negotiation and problem solving skills.
• Willingness and ability to work collaboratively in a small office environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and specialized software pertinent to legal applications. 

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Any combination equivalent to:
  • Law degree with admission to practice law in the State of Washington.
  • Minimum of five years’ experience in municipal law and related areas.
  • Member in good standing of the Washington State Bar Association.

Preferred

• Experience as an administrator and member of municipal management team preferred.

WORKING CONDITIONS                                                                                               

Duties are performed primarily in an office environment with sitting for long periods of time, utilizing standard office equipment and personal computer. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderately quiet. May be required to deal with upset individuals.  This position typically requires movement around the office, reaching, pushing, grasping, finger dexterity, hearing, seeing and repetitive motions. Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

OTHER CITY REQUIREMENTS

• Punctual and consistent attendance
• Possess a Washington Drivers License and maintain a driving record acceptable to the City’s insurance carrier. 
• Dress and grooming appropriate to the position.
• Safety attire, equipment and practices appropriate to the position.
• Deal tactfully and courteously with the public.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with fellow employees

The City of Port Townsend is an equal employment opportunity employer. The City employs, retains, promotes, disciplines and otherwise treats all employees and job applicants strictly on the basis of job-related qualifications and competence. These policies and all employment practices shall be applied without regard to any individual's sex, race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sexual orientation (including gender identity), pregnancy, age, marital status, military status,  disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Thisjob description in no way implies that these are the only duties to be performed. The employee occupying the position will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job related duties requested by their supervisors.

Thisjob description does not constitute an employment agreement between the City and the employee and is subject to change as the needs of the City and requirements of the job change.