Senior Assistant City Attorney

Purpose of Classification

The purpose of this highly professional legal position classification is to assist the City Attorney and Deputy City Attorney in the provision of legal services to the City. The Senior Assistant City Attorney will have experience and expertise in a variety of legal matters and will work on all aspects of municipal law. Duties include providing legal advice to the City Commission, City Manager, and Department Heads. Other duties include performing legal research and preparing legal opinions; preparing resolutions, ordinances, contracts, and other written documents; providing training to employees or boards; and representing the City in litigation and administrative proceedings.

The City offers a wide variety of excellent benefits to employees, including enrollment in the City's pension plan and employer-paid vision, dental, and health insurance. This job classification is in Management Tier 3 for benefits purposes, which includes $75,000 additional life and AD&D insurance, a car allowance, a cell phone allowance, and six (6) additional management vacation days per year.

Supervision Received and Exercised

This position is classified as an exempt, at-will, full-time position. This position will be required to work on-premises five (5) days a week or four (4) days a week, with one (1) day working remotely.

Work is performed under the direction of the City Attorney; however, the employee is expected to exercise considerable initiative and independent professional judgment in performing the technical aspects of the job.

Employment is contingent upon passing a criminal background check.

Essential Functions

The following duties and functions, as outlined herein, are intended to be representative of the type of tasks performed within this classification. They are not listed in any order of importance. The omission of specific statements of the duties or functions does not exclude them from the classification if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment for this classification. Other duties may be required and assigned.

Interfaces with the client and conveys professionalism and competence in terms of both the legal issues and the strategic practical issues regarding development agreements, procurement, bid protests, and/or planning and zoning issues.

Drafts contracts, amendments, procurement solicitations, and other written documents.

Prepares resolutions and ordinances for consideration by the City Commission.

Negotiate, draft and/or review contracts, leases, bid documents and bonds, resolutions and ordinances, easements, indemnification agreements, inter local agreements, and other documents.

Provides Sunshine Law and Public Records Act training to employees or boards as requested.

Evaluate current City practices, policies, and procedures and work with City staff to develop and implement new policies and procedures.

Prepares and files legal pleadings, briefs, and other litigation documents and represents the City in state and federal court and administrative proceedings.

Conducts legal research, renders oral and written opinions, and prepares summaries of legal issues pertaining to municipal issues, as required.

Support and advise City Commission, City Manager, and other special boards as directed by the City Attorney.

Supervises the work of assigned personnel; delegates and reviews assignments.

Monitors internal controls for fraud, errors, and omissions within the City.

Attend City Commission Meetings and workshops.

Additional Duties:

Provides assistance or coverage to the City Attorney and Deputy City Attorney as needed.

Performs additional related duties as assigned and/or required.

Minimum Qualifications

Undergraduate Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree and degree of Juris Doctorate from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association with a minimum of ten (10) years' experience practicing law.

Five (5) years of experience in municipal, local government, or related law is desired, including, but not limited to, the following subject areas: drafting municipal ordinances and resolutions, Sunshine law, public records, public procurement, grants, contract drafting and administration, labor and employment law, police, fire, land use/zoning, ethics, utilities, municipal pension law, construction law, code enforcement, public finance, civil litigation including section 1983 liability, criminal litigation, or other local government related experience.

Knowledge of Federal, State, and City laws. particularly in regard to general administrative and regulatory functions of municipal government.

Must be admitted to practice law in Florida and be a member in good standing with the Florida Bar.

Must possess a valid Florida Driver's License and have and maintain an acceptable driving record.

Supplemental Information

Knowledge of Job: Knowledge of municipal law, to include but not be limited to, providing legal services related to public procurement, public records laws, land use, and zoning, labor and employment law, police, fire, contract drafting, construction law, code enforcement, public finance, and civil litigation including section 1983 liability.

Qualityof Work:Maintains high standardsof accuracy inexercising duties andresponsibilities.Takes immediate remedial action to correct any quality deficiencies that occur in areas of responsibility. Maintains high-quality communication and interacts within the department and division, with co-workers, and with the general public.

Quantity of Work:Maintainseffectiveandefficientoutputofalldutiesandresponsibilities.

Dependability:Assumes responsibility for doing assigned work and meeting deadlines. Completesassignedworkonorbeforedeadlinesinaccordancewithdirectives,Citypolicy, standards, and prescribed procedures. Accepts accountability for meeting assigned responsibilities in the technical, human, and conceptual areas.

Attendance:ExcellentattendanceandadherestoCitypoliciesandproceduresregarding absences.

Initiative and Enthusiasm:Maintains an enthusiastic, self-reliant, and self-starting approach to meet job responsibilities and accountability. Strives to anticipate work to be done and initiatesproperandacceptabledirectionforcompletionofworkwithaminimumofsupervision and instruction.

Judgment:Exercises analytical judgment in areas of responsibility. Identifies problems or situationsastheyoccurandspecifiesdecisionobjectives.Identifiesalternativesolutionsto problems or situations. Implements decisions in accordance with prescribed and effective policies and procedures. Seeks expert or experienced advice and researches problems, situations and alternatives before exercising judgment. Provides appropriate and timely information to the Commission and understands what actions require policy enactment.

Cooperation:Oversees department goals and objectives and assists subordinates in meetingtheirgoalsandobjectives.Offerssuggestionsandrecommendationstoencourage and improve cooperation between all staff persons within the City.

Relationships with Others:Shares knowledge with managers, staff, and City Commission to benefit city operations. Ensures high morale among all employees. Ensures that cooperative and courteous relationships are formulated and maintained between staff and their departmentemployeesandwiththegeneralpublicsoastomaintaingoodwilltowardthecity and to project a good organizational image. Tactfully and effectively handles requests, suggestions, and complaints from departments and persons in order to maintain goodwill within the City. Interacts and ensures staff interaction is effective between fellow employees and the general public.

CoordinationofWork:Plansandorganizesdailyworkroutine.Establishesprioritiesforthe completion of work in accordance with sound time-management methodology.Estimates expected time of completion of elements of work and establishes a personal schedule accordingly. Presides over and/or attends meetings, planning sessions, and discussions. Implementsworkactivityinaccordancewithprioritiesandestimatedschedules.Maintaina calendar for meetings, deadlines, and events.

SafetyandHousekeeping:Adherestoallsafetyandhousekeepingstandardsestablished by the City and various regulatory agencies and ensures that they are not violated.

Planning:Plans,directs,andusesinformationeffectivelytoenhanceactivitiesandproduction of city operations. Knows and understands the expectations of the City and works to see that these expectations are met. Designs and formulates ways, means, and timing to achieve the goals and objectives of assigned projects and city operations. Within the constraints of City policy, formulates the appropriate strategy and tactics for achieving objectives. Oversees departmentsinorganizing,arranging, and allocating manpower, finances,andotherdesignated resources in an efficient and effective way to achieve the goals and objectives of the City. Ensure the City uses modern principles of strategic planning to assist the CityCommissioninsetting policy strategies.

Organizing:Organizes workwell. Ensures thatstaff members knowwhat results areexpectedofthemandthattheyareregularlyandappropriatelyinformedofallCityand department matters affecting them and/or of concern to them.

Leading:Provides a work environment that encourages clear and open communication. Has a clear and comprehensive understanding of the principles of effective leadership and howsuchprinciplesaretobeapplied.Exercisesenthusiasmininfluencingandguidingothers toward the achievement of City goals and objectives.

Delegating:Assignsdutiesasnecessaryand/orappropriatetomeetoperationalgoals.Confident in staff's ability to meet new or additional expectations. Delegates authority with responsibility.

Decision-Making: Uses discretion and judgment in developing and recommending courses of action affecting the organization. When a policy, procedure, or strategy does not appear to be achieving the desired result, movedecisivelyanddefinitivelytodevelopandrecommend alternatives.

Creativity:Regularlyseeksnewandimprovedmethodologies,policies,andproceduresfor enhancing the effectiveness of the organization. Employs imagination and creativity in the application of duties and responsibilities. Recommends changes in policy, programs, and services.

Human Relations: Strives to develop and maintain good rapport with all staff members. Listens to and considers suggestions and complaints and responds appropriately.Maintains therespectandloyaltyofstaff.

PolicyImplementation:Understands City policies regarding City functions clearly and comprehensively.Adheres to those policies in the discharge of duties and responsibilities.

Policy Formulation: Ensures compliance and recommends changes in the city's operating philosophies and policies. Retains policies to ensure that any changes in City philosophy or practice are appropriately incorporated. Also understands the relationship between operating policies and practicesandmoraleandperformance.Worksto ensure that established policies enhance morale and performance.

Litigation:Comfortable and experienced in litigating issues pertaining to municipal, local government, or related law.