Salary: $215,259.20 - $303,056.00 Annually
Position Description
Are you ready to take your legal career to the next level? Join our team at the City of Tacoma as our next City Attorney!
In this position, you'll serve as the trusted legal advisor to the City Council, City Manager, and all city officers, departments, and boards. Your expertise will guide us through complex legal matters related to city affairs, ensuring that we make informed decisions that positively impact our community. The incoming City Attorney will assume a pivotal leadership role with comprehensive management of a multifaceted department, encompassing a diverse array of functions. This position is responsible for the oversight of municipal prosecution, labor relations, the City Clerk’s office, litigation, and other legal functions for the City.
Your role will extend far beyond traditional legal counsel; you and your team will represent the City of Tacoma in litigation, contract review and negotiation, and in important advisory capacities for the Council, City Boards and Commissions, as well as City office, department, and division heads. At the request of the City Council or City Manager, you will provide official legal opinions. This role is expected to uphold the utmost in professional and ethical standards and support the policies and values of the City.
Applications that are submitted prior to September 10, 2023 (11:59 Pacific Time) will receive first consideration. First round interviews will be held as soon as September 19 - September 22, 2023.
Primary Responsibilities
- Oversight of civil and prosecution divisions, labor relations, City Clerk’s office, litigation, and other legal functions as necessary.
- Provide guidance, support, and expertise in the formulation, refinement, certification of legality, and finalization of ordinances, resolutions, orders, and regulations
- Represent the City in litigation. Determine legal strategy, content of legal documents, and scope of representation for litigation matters.
- Legal advisor to the City Council, Manager, and all officers, departments, and boards of the City in matters relating to City affairs. Determine when, what, how, where, and why of the legal advice to provided, and when duty is delegated to staff.
- Review for legal correctness contracts, bonds, franchises, and other instruments in which the City is concerned.
- Provide written legal opinion when requested by the Council, Manager, commissions, boards, or other City officers.
- Participate as a member of the City's Executive Leadership team.
The Community
The City of Tacoma is nestled along the shores of Commencement Bay in Washington State and offers many community parks, miles of beautiful waterfront, hiking & biking trails, golf courses, museums, and a world-class zoo with an aquarium. Tacoma also serves as a gateway to some of the most magnificent natural wonders in the world, such as Puget Sound, Mount Rainier National Park, and the Olympic Peninsula. Combined with the vitality of downtown, Tacoma has made it one of the most sought-after housing markets in the country. To see a few of the great things Tacoma has to offer, view this YouTube Video!
Knowledge & Skills
- Office practices, procedures, and equipment
- Organize and evaluate case facts, evidence, and other documentation
- Read, interpret, apply, and explain statutes, codes, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures
- Methods, materials, and practices used in legal research and investigation
- Meet schedules and timelines
- Establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with others
- Correct English usage, grammar, spelling, punctuation, and general and legal vocabulary
- Analyze situations accurately and adopt an effective course of action
- Work effectively under pressure and time deadlines
- Organization and analysis of case facts and legal precedents
- Provide professional legal services required in municipal government operations
- Participate in deliberative proceedings and provide effective legal counsel
- Principles and practices of criminal law
- Perform legal research and prepare legal opinions
- Communicate effectively both orally and in writing
- City organization, operations, policies and objectives
- Familiarity with Washington Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA), Robert's Rules
Compensation
- The City Attorney role follows a structured salary system, starting at Step 1 with a salary of $215,259.20. Placement on the salary scale will be Step 1 unless the candidate demonstrates exceptional experience and qualifications relevant to the responsibilities of the City Attorney position.
Benefits
In addition to important and meaningful work, this position offers a comprehensive total rewards package. Here are a few highlights:
- Investment in our employee’s health. We have invested in a robust employee wellness program that offers incentives and discounts on our already low health insurance premiums.
- Comprehensive benefits package
- Competitive salary
- Excellent health benefits. We have a highly competitive and generous benefits package for our employees and family with very low monthly premiums.
- Outstanding retirement plan. This position is included in the Tacoma Employee’s Retirement System , a defined benefits plan.
- Flexible hybrid work schedule options (some mandatory onsite attendance required as needed to meet the business objectives of the City Manager’s Office)
- Supportive work environment that fosters professional growth.
- Paid time off. This position includes a generous Personal Time Off (PTO) leave program, as well as paid holidays.
Qualifications
Minimum Education*
Juris Doctorate
Minimum Experience*
10 years of professional legal counsel experience (administrative, civil, criminal) including prior supervisory and managerial experience.
Licensing, Certifications And Other Requirements
Admission to the Washington State Bar Association and License to Practice Law in Washington
- Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet all of the qualifications listed. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may be one from a less traditional background. If you have transferable experience, please tell us about it!
- Equivalency: 1 year of experience = 1 year of education
Selection Process & Supplemental Information
This recruitment is being managed by Kye Merritt, if you would like to be notified of similar opportunities or stay connected with things going on at Tacoma Public Utilities and the City of Tacoma, connect with me on LinkedIn!
City of Tacoma Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion At the City of Tacoma, we're on a mission to make our workforce as diverse and inclusive as the community we serve. We're committed to eliminating racial and other disparities, and we actively seek out candidates from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures. Join our team at the City of Tacoma and help us build a more vibrant, inclusive, and equitable community for all.
Apply
Interested individuals should
apply on li ne. Please attach a detailed resume and cover letter that includes job experience, major responsibilities and accomplishments related to this position.
Applications will be reviewed as they are received for interview consideration.
Reference checks will be conducted on final candidates and appointment is subject to passing a background check.
Communication From The City Of Tacoma
We primarily communicate via e-mail during the application process. E-mails from cityoftacoma.org and/or governmentjobs.com must be placed on your safe domain list to ensure that you receive notifications in a timely manner. As a precaution, you may also want to check your junk e-mail folders.
If you have any additional questions regarding this position, please contact the Human Resources Department at 253.591.5400.
The City of Tacoma provides excellent medical, dental and vision plans for the whole family; paid holidays and paid leave; participation in the Tacoma Public Employees' Retirement System (alternate plan for Police/Fire); continuing education and advancement opportunities and a growing variety of City-sponsored health and wellness opportunities and incentives.
Medical Coverage: For eligible employees and their families, including domestic partners and dependent children age 26 or younger.
Dental Coverage: For eligible employees and their families, including domestic partners and dependent children age 26 or younger.
Vision Coverage: For eligible employees and their eligible dependents.
Paid Leave: City employees are entitled to received paid holidays, sick/vacation leave or personal time off (PTO), depending upon union affiliation and appointment type.
Insurance Plans: Employees are covered by a long-term disability plan. Short-term and expanded long-term disability insurance plans are also available to employees. The State Industrial Insurance Act also covers employees.
Deferred Compensation: Income can be set aside on a pretax basis and invested for supplementation of normal retirement income.
Retirement: All employees of the City, except members of the Police and Fire services, Tacoma Rail and certain project employees, are included in the Tacoma Employees' Retirement System. Information on the Tacoma Employees' Retirement System can be found at www.cityoftacoma.org or by calling (253) 502-8200.
Other Employment Information
Direct Deposit: Employees are paid on a bi-weekly schedule by direct deposit.
Salary Increases: Based on satisfactory job performance, the City provides for a regular progression of salary increases for most classifications according to the salary schedule.
Union Affiliation: Many job classifications are covered by union security provisions which require union membership, dues, or payment of equivalent service fees.
Note: The provisions of this job announcement do not constitute an expressed or implied contract. Any provision contained herein may be modified and/or revoked without notice.
Closing Date/Time: Continuous
