City Attorney

Position Description

This job description outlines the general nature and level of work performed. It is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required.

Location: Rapid City, SD

Job Summary: This position serves as the chief legal officer for the City, providing trusted counsel to the Mayor, City Council, City departments, boards, and committees. This role supports the City in achieving its strategic and operational goals while ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local laws. This role leads the Attorney’s Office and oversees all legal services provided to the City.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Develops and executes legal goals and strategies in alignment with organizational priorities, leading and motivating team members to ensure high performance and a collaborative environment.
• Manages the department’s budget, outside counsel contracts, and legal service resources.
• Interprets and applies South Dakota Codified Laws, municipal ordinances, administrative rules, and relevant case law. Advises on open meetings, public records, ethics, procurement, land use, public finance, and other municipal matters, and provides guidance on parliamentary procedure, meeting notices, agenda preparation, and other governance processes.
• Develops and updates City policies, procedures, and ordinances to reflect best practices and legal standards.
• Prepares, reviews, and maintains City contracts, legal reports, records, and correspondence, and reviews and signs all municipal bond issues.
• Represents the City in civil litigation, administrative hearings, appeals, ordinance prosecutions, and other legal proceedings, coordinating with outside counsel when needed.
• Identifies legal risks and recommends strategies to mitigate exposure. Manages claims filed against the City, including insurance and risk-management matters.
• Advises on election-related matters, including ballot measures, petitions, and compliance with applicable laws.
• Prepares and reviews documents related to real estate transactions, easements, right-of-way, annexations, and development agreements, and supports economic development initiatives.
• Provides legal guidance on personnel and labor matters, including employment policies, discipline, grievances, compliance with state and federal employment laws, and collective bargaining strategy.
• Partners with Human Resources to develop the City’s bargaining position, proposals, and strategy for labor negotiations. Actively participates in labor negotiations and oversees the administration and interpretation of collective bargaining agreements.
• Regularly attends City Council meetings and other board/committee meetings as requested.

Qualifications:

• Juris Doctor degree required.
• Must be licensed to practice law in South Dakota and eligible to represent the City in all South Dakota courts.
• Ten years of relevant legal experience required. Experience in municipal, governmental, or public-sector law preferred.
• Strong knowledge of South Dakota municipal law, administrative law, civil procedure, and public-sector governance.
• Strong communication and interpersonal abilities with sound judgment and the ability to provide practical, solutions-oriented legal advice.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and adhere to deadlines.

Work Environment:

• Work is primarily performed indoors in an office environment where noise and interruptions often occur.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, talk, and hear.
• The employee may occasionally be required to stand, walk, use hands to handle or feel, reach with hands and arms, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, or smell.
• The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

Additional Information

City Attorney's Office