Deputy General Counsel – Limited Duration

City of Portland Office of the Auditor is seeking applicants for a Deputy General Counsel – Limited Duration

Salary: $62.39 - $88.02/ hour (Adjusted for estimated COLA, effective July 1)

Opening Date: April 22, 2024

Closing Date:   May 19, 2024

THE POSITION:

The City Auditor’s Office is seeking a Deputy General Counsel to provide legal services to the Auditor’s Office. The Deputy General Counsel should be a well-rounded generalist or have significant experience in one or more subject matter areas on which the Auditor’s Office regularly requires legal advice. It is not necessary for candidates to have expertise in all areas where the Deputy General Counsel may be asked to provide legal advice; instead, a successful candidate will have a demonstrated ability to effectively research and quickly learn new areas of the law.

This is a part-time limited duration position for the primary purpose of assisting the Auditor’s Office’s General Counsel as the City prepares for the transition to a new form of government and an historic 2024 election cycle. The duration will be at least one year, with possibility for extending the term to two years; the hours will be 20-26 hours per week.

Work location: The Auditor’s Office is currently operating in a hybrid schedule, with employees working at least 50% of their time in-person. Given the unique nature of this position, it may be possible for candidates outside of the Portland metro area to work primarily remotely, with onboarding taking place at City Hall, 1221 SW 4th Ave. The Deputy General Counsel, however, must perform all work from within the states of Oregon or Washington.

As the sixth elected official in the City of Portland, the City Auditor is independent of the Mayor, City Council, and City offices and is accountable only to the public. The Auditor’s Office ensures open and accountable government by providing impartial reviews and investigations, access to public information, and services to City government and the public. It employs over 50 people across six divisions. The Auditor’s Office does this primarily through the following functions:

• Audit Services: conducts performance audits of City bureaus, agencies, and programs, and oversees the financial audit of the City. This division also houses the City’s fraud hotline.
• Ombudsman: responds to members of the public to resolve complaints about City services and practices and initiates investigations into systemic problems in the City government.
• Elections: implements the Auditor’s Charter responsibility to supervise City elections, and oversees enforcement of the City’s campaign finance and lobbying regulations.
• Council Clerk: administers City Council business, serves as the central repository for City contracts and Portland Policy Documents, and maintains City Charter and Code.
• Archives & Records Management: operates the City of Portland Archives and Records Center, making City administrative and historical records accessible for research and inspection in accordance with public records laws.
• Operations Management: serves as the City Auditor’s executive office, providing leadership, accountability, and support for all activities of the City Auditor’s Office, including human resources, contracts, and procurements.
• Hearings: conducts impartial administrative hearings and renders decisions in Land Use Hearings, Code Hearings, Appeals of City Decisions, Towing Hearings, and other administrative matters.

The Deputy General Counsel reports directly to the Auditor’s Office’s General Counsel. The Deputy General Counsel will conduct legal and policy research; prepare a broad array of written documents; and advise on policy development and compliance.

Responsibilities of the Deputy General Counsel include:

• Advising on subject matters such as: elections, campaign finance, lobbying/ethics, employment and labor, open meetings and public records laws, contracts and procurement, litigation, constitutional law issues, and general municipal law.
• Assisting the General Counsel with projects related to the transition to a new form of government.
• Assisting in developing legislative concepts and draft language.
• Drafting code and administrative rules.
• Advising on responses to public records.
• Reviewing contracts and preparing contract templates.
• Assisting in policy development.

Successful candidates will have:

• A demonstrated ability to quickly learn new areas of the law and an intellectual curiosity to develop subject matter expertise in new areas.
• An interest in holding government accountable to the public.
• Knowledge of relevant federal, state, and municipal statutes, regulations, and ordinances, and the ability to analyze, interpret, explain, and apply them.
• Knowledge of contracts, torts, constitutional law, civil rights, litigation, employment law, civil procedure, elections law, ethics law, campaign finance law, and/or statutes relating to municipalities.
• Ability to draft statutes, City Code, administrative regulations, contracts, and other legal documents.
• Ability to research complex legal questions using digital tools, libraries, professional resources, Oregon Revised Statutes, City Code and Charter, and other legal publications.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, and the ability to present information, proposals, and recommendations clearly and persuasively in public settings.

The Auditor’s Office values a diverse workforce and a culture of equity and inclusion in delivering public services and everyday interactions in the workplace. The Office encourages candidates with experience working with a broad range of individuals and diverse communities to apply. 

TO QUALIFY:

Candidates must have, at a minimum, the following:

• A JD from an accredited law school,
• Membership in good standing in the Oregon State Bar, and
• Three years of increasingly responsible experience in the practice of administrative, civil, and/or criminal law.

TO APPLY:

Submit two documents:

(1) A resume

List professional and relevant volunteer experience; education and training; and the time periods for each. If you speak more than one language or have specialized skills, please list them.

(2) Responses to Supplemental Questions

Describe how you meet the following qualifications, which are required to be successful in this position. Where possible, connect items in your resume and provide examples to demonstrate how you meet these qualifications. It is advised that you use the numbered list below to ensure that you respond to each item for which you have relevant skills or experience. When uploading this document to your online application, select “other” document. 

Question 1: Tell us about your experience researching and quickly learning new areas of the law.

Question 2: Tell us about your experience advising on one or more of these areas of the law: elections, campaign finance, lobbying/ethics, employment and labor, open meetings and public records, contracts and procurement, litigation, constitutional law issues, civil rights, and general municipal law.

Question 3: Describe your ability to communicate clearly and persuasively both orally and in writing, and to prepare memos, briefs, and letters.

Question 4: Describe experiences that would prepare you to be able to draft code, administrative rules and contracts.

Question 5: Tell us about your experience: as a member of a historically underrepresented group participating in government decision-making; ensuring equitable operations or program outcomes; making workplaces and/or public spaces more inclusive; or exposure to racial inequities and actions you took to help resolve them. If your experiences are different from those listed and you have a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, please explain how you will manifest that commitment in this position.

The Recruitment Process

Applicants must submit their resume and responses to supplemental questions through the City of Portland's online application system no later than 11:59 p.m. on the closing date. Emailed, mailed, or faxed applications will not be accepted. Answers to supplemental questions should not exceed a total of five pages. Please do not include materials not requested.

Recruitment Timeline (subject to change)

Application period: April 22, 2024-May 19, 2024

First interviews: Week of June 3, 2024

Second interviews: Week of June 17, 2024

Job offer: Week of June 24, 2024

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