Deputy Legal Counsel

Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) is seeking to fill the position of Deputy Legal Counsel (Limited-Term), offering an exciting opportunity to provide legal services in support of SCAG’s growing portfolio of contracts, MOUs, grants, and various operational programs. This role is ideal for a legal professional seeking to deepen their expertise in a regional public agency environment. This role offers significant opportunities for career development through hands-on experience with the responsibilities outlined below, as well as close mentorship and collaboration with the Chief Counsel and Senior Deputy Legal Counsel. As a member of the Legal Services division, the Deputy Legal Counsel will serve as a technical resource to SCAG’s executive management, staff, and governing bodies. This position involves a broad scope of responsibilities, including advising on agency operations and assisting the Chief Counsel and Senior Deputy Legal Counsel with complex legal matters. This position will collaborate with internal stakeholders, including SCAG’s Board Counsel, to ensure legal compliance and mitigate risk across operations. The Deputy Legal Counsel will have a key role in supporting SCAG’s increasing volume of contracts and agreements and providing legal counsel in various areas.
This is a limited-term position with an estimated term length of 3 years. Term length may be adjusted based on available funding.
The Legal Services division currently consists of two full-time attorney positions, plus an administrative assistant, who support over 200 employees and serves as the definitive internal strategic legal resource to SCAG. The Legal Services division’s mission is to capably and efficiently provide high quality legal assistance to the organization, while also offering creative solutions to advance operational goals.

WHO WE ARE

As a mission-driven organization, SCAG is committed to attracting and retaining talent who embody SCAG’s values. SCAG’s workforce is passionate and committed to innovation that improves the quality of life for all Southern Californians. When you join SCAG, you can expect a culture where collaboration and teamwork is fostered.
SCAG operates as a hybrid organization because we recognize that work can be successfully performed in various locations. Designing a work environment and culture where SCAG’s mission, effectiveness, and collaboration can be more flexibly served demonstrates our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) by supporting work-life balance for our employees, retaining our existing dedicated staff, and increasing access to new talent pools.
As part of our Work@SCAG hybrid approach, employees’ eligibility in the three work models (office, hybrid, remote) will depend on the department, position, responsibilities, and duties. All work models require employees to work from a location based within the SCAG region. This position is expected to be in the office two days per week.

WHAT WE BELIEVEMISSION

To foster innovative regional solutions that improve the lives of Southern Californians through inclusive collaboration, visionary planning, regional advocacy, information sharing, and promoting best practices.

VISION

Southern California’s Catalyst for a Brighter Future.

SCAG CORE VALUES

• Be Open: Be accessible, candid, collaborative and transparent in the work we do.
• Lead by Example: Commit to integrity and equity in working to meet the diverse needs of all people and communities in our region.
• Make an Impact: In all endeavors, effect positive and sustained outcomes that make our region thrive.
• Be Courageous: Have confidence that taking deliberate, bold and purposeful risks can yield new and valuable benefits.
• Cultivate Belonging: Embrace differences, foster equity, champion inclusion, and empower all.

In this role you can expect to:

• Draft, review, negotiate, and approve contracts, agreements, amendments, memoranda of understanding, task orders, and other legal documents, and provide related legal advice to the CFO and other staff.
• Advise on public agency contracting and procurement processes to ensure contracts and agreements comply with federal, state, and/or local funding requirements, particularly from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).
• Review grant agreements and offer guidance to staff on compliance with grant regulations, ensuring adherence to applicable laws and regulations during contract and grant implementation.
• Provide legal support to SCAG’s Regional Council and various committees, including reviewing meeting agendas and notices, ensuring meeting proceedings comply with public agency requirements such as the Brown Act and Rosenberg’s Rules of Order, and presenting and explaining legal issues and opinions in public meetings.
• Perform legal research and draft legal memoranda.
• Provide legal advice and opinions to SCAG’s executive leadership, management, and employees on a broad range of legal issues relating to SCAG’s programs, projects, and responsibilities.
• Monitor legal developments, including proposed legislation, regulation, and court decisions, evaluate their impact on SCAG operations and recommend appropriate action, and support SCAG’s legislative advocacy team in pursuing relevant legislation and regulatory changes.
• Assist in developing and implementing complex strategic programs of organizational importance relating to SCAG policies, procedures, and business practices.
• Oversee responses to Public Records Act requests.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

What you’ll bring to this role:

Any combination of training, education, and experience that would provide the required skills, knowledge, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be with 3 years’ experience in public agency legal representation and contracts and a graduate degree in Juris Doctorate.

REQUIRED LICENSES OR CERTIFICATIONS

License to practice law in California.

We’ll be a great match if you also have:

• Experience in developing, drafting, and negotiating agreements, including those between public agencies and with nonprofit entities and for public works projects.
• Demonstrated knowledge of legal principles and practices relating to contracts, prevailing wage laws, insurance, transportation, land use, environmental issues, and construction matters, particularly as applied to public agencies.
• Proficiency in interpreting and applying federal, state, and local laws, codes, policies, and regulations effectively.
• Understanding of public law topics, such as procurement, competitive bidding, state planning law, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), federal transportation law, open meeting laws (e.g. the Brown Act), the Public Records Act, and conflict of interest laws (e.g., Political Reform Act).
• Experience with statutes applicable to the FTA, FHWA, and the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans).
• Knowledge of public works construction law, including various project delivery methods and relevant procurement principles.
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to identify, quantify, and interpret legal principles to make recommendations that align with organizational strategies.
• Excellent organizational skills and a keen eye for detail, with the ability to meet deadlines on complex legal matters.
• Interpersonal skills that build trust and maintain integrity under pressure, with the ability to influence outcomes without direct authority.
• Strong analytical skills, with experience in conducting thorough research and preparing clear legal opinions, backed by strong communication and negotiation skills.
• A collaborative mindset, valuing the input and expertise of colleagues while supporting professional development and fostering a culture of open communication, trust, and accountability.

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