Senior Assistant City Attorney

General Description

Essential Job Functions

• Assists the City Attorney by providing legal services for the City as assigned.
• Represents and advises City departments and boards on matters that require the professional services of an attorney.
• Conducts legal research concerning complex problems or projects; drafts opinions containing recommendations or solutions.
• Drafts, reviews, and analyzes resolutions, ordinances, and other proposed legislation of a unique or complex nature.
• Drafts and reviews of contracts, leases, real estate instruments, and other legal documents of a unique or complex nature.
• Confers with and assists City departments in drafting internal policies, procedures, and templates.
• Attend City Commission meetings, workshops, and advisory board meetings as assigned.
• Keeps up to date on relevant court decisions, administrative decisions, legislation, and issues pertaining to local government law and related municipal matters.
• Coordinates with special counsel, manages administrative matters and litigation, and attends hearings as assigned.
• Make presentations at public meetings and provides training to public officials and staff.
• Communicates with City leadership on progress of assigned legal work and its timely completion.
• Assists the City Attorney in providing guidance to and reviewing the work of outside counsel and other employees in the City Attorney’s Office, as assigned.
• Supervises staff in the City Attorney’s Office, as assigned by the City Attorney. Includes training and evaluating work performance.
• May be designated as Acting Deputy City Attorney in the Deputy City Attorney’s absence from office.
• May be designated as City Attorney in the City Attorney’s absence from office.
• Performs related duties as required or assigned.
  (These essential job functions are not to be construed as a complete statement of all duties performed. Employees will be required to perform other related duties as assigned, including City-directed work assignments in the event of a declared emergency.)

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Knowledge of the principles, methods, materials, and practices of legal research.
• Knowledge of proper English usage, punctuation, spelling and grammar.
• Substantive knowledge of relevant state and federal law and their application to the essential functions of the job.
• Skilled in using Microsoft Office products (Word, Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint) and Adobe.
• Skilled in conducting research on complex legal issues and drafting sound legal opinions.
• Skilled in using small office equipment, including copy machines or multi-line telephone systems.
• Ability to analyze and define problems, identify alternative solutions, estimate consequences of proposed actions, and implement recommendations in support of goals.
• Ability to prepare and present cases in court, mediation, and arbitration.
• Ability to review and draft resolutions, ordinances, contracts, leases, and other legal documents.
• Ability to interpret and apply legal principles and precedents in addressing complex legal problems.
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to meet deadlines, manage priorities, and multi-task while working in challenging and time sensitive situations with shifting priorities.
• Ability to organize work for timely completion.
• Ability to maintain effective professional relationships through contact and cooperation.
• Ability to learn and utilize new skills and information to improve job performance and efficiency.

Education, Experience, Licenses and Certifications

Education and Experience:

• Juris Doctor Degree from an accredited law school.
• Minimum of eight (8) years of work experience as a practicing attorney with at least 4 years’ experience representing local governments.
• Related fields include land use and zoning, labor and employment, real estate, litigation and appeals, administrative hearing, eminent domain, procurement/public finance, public records, and Sunshine Law, or another field as determined by the City Attorney.
• Supervisory experience preferred

(A comparable amount of relevant training, education and/or experience maybe substituted for the above qualifications.)

Must be an attorney eligible to practice law in Florida with an active Florida Bar license and in good standing with the Florida Bar. Board certification in local government law or another related field preferred.

All benefits are effective the 1st of the month following 30 days.

Aetna – Health Insurance

The City offers eligible employees the choice of 2 Open Access In Network plans and 1 Open Access PPO Plan. Premiums and co-pays are dependent upon your plan choice.

Cigna Dental– Dental Insurance

The City's dental plan is a PPO plan providing eligible employees with in network or out of network options. You are entitled to two (2) preventive care treatments per calendar year (6 months apart). There is a $1,500 lifetime maximum for Orthodontia (children up to age 19). Premiums will depend on which tier you choose.

EyeMed Vision Care – Vision Insurance

The City's vision plan allows eligible employees to stay in network or go out of network. Your co-pays will vary depending on the network you use. You are entitled to an exam, frames and lenses once every 12 months.

Cigna Life - Life, Voluntary Life, Dependent Life Insurance

The City offers eligible employees a basic term life insurance benefit equal to their annual salary up to a $75,000 maximum at no charge. You can purchase additional voluntary life insurance for yourself and your dependents.

Cigna – Short Term Disability

The City provides short term disability coverage to all eligible employees at no cost to the employee. This coverage is used in the event of an accident or illness outside of work. The plan pays 66.67% of your weekly salary up to a maximum of $1,000. Benefits begin on the 31st day of your disability. The City offers a buy-up to the Short Term Disability Benefit with a 7 day wait period.

E-Flex – Flexible Spending Account

A flexible spending account helps you pay out-of-pocket medical, dental, eye care, daycare and other expenses, with tax deferred money deducted from your paycheck each payroll. The maximum annual election is $2,500.00. Over-the-counter medications must be accompanied by a doctor's prescription although other medical supplies will still be eligible for reimbursement. This is a voluntary benefit.

Trustmark– Supplemental Polices

Trustmark Insurance Company offers voluntary supplemental Critical Illness/Cancer, Accident and Universal Life policies which are paid for by the employee.

LifeLock Benefit Solutions

Protect your personal information and defend against attacks with 24/7, proactive identity theft protection from LifeLock. This is an employee paid voluntary program.

ICMA-RC - Deferred Compensation Plans

The City offers eligible employees the opportunity to enroll in a deferred retirement plan. The money that is deducted from your paycheck each payroll is put into this account and is tax deferred at the end of the year. One-on-one meetings with each company are held quarterly so employees can speak with the representative confidentially on preparing for their retirement. This is a voluntary program.

Florida Retirement System – FRS

Eligible employees are enrolled in the Florida Retirement System with an 8 year vesting period. Employees contribute 3% of their gross earnings per payroll which is subject to change with the IRS.

Cigna – Employee Assistance Program

The City offers this program to all employees. This is a confidential counseling program for employees and their families. The City pays for 3 visits and if you choose to continue, you would use the specialist co-pay on your insurance plan. Counseling can include stress, alcoholism, family problems, marriage difficulties, financial trouble, depression, work/life and more.

VPI - Veterinary Pet Insurance

The City offers Pet Insurance as a voluntary benefit. This benefit is not payroll deducted.

Florida Prepaid College Board

Employees are eligible to enroll in college savings programs as well as 529 plans.

Educational Assistance Program

Employees are eligible for job-related or degree required educational assistance reimbursement up to $2,500 per fiscal year (subject to the availability of funds).

Paid Holidays

The City observes 13 paid holidays per year.

Sick Leave and Annual Leave

Full time employees accrue eight (8) hours per month starting on the first day of employment. Accruals and usage will appear on your pay stub each payroll. Full time employees accrue annual leave (vacation) bi-weekly, based on years of service.

Sick Leave Incentive

Employees receive an incentive of up to four (4) days per calendar year for every 250 hours remaining in their sick leave bank. Sick leave incentive days cannot be carried over to the next year.

Personal Leave

Employees are eligible for a maximum of two (2) personal leave days per calendar year when they have accrued 96 or sick more hours. This leave is approved by the department director through the department leave approval process.

Bereavement Leave

Employees are entitled to five (5) days of bereavement leave in the event of the death of an immediate family member. Employees should check the personnel policy or union contracts, whichever is applicable, for the definition of an "immediate family member".