Deputy City Attorney

#2024-04

The City of Sherwood is seeking an experienced and highly motivated professional

Sherwood, Oregon is a welcoming community with residents who enjoy the quality of life afforded by picturesque surroundings, economic opportunities and community engagement. Sherwood has maintained it’s small-town feel while growing it’s residential and employment base. Just over 20,000 residents call Sherwood home and enjoy being part of the Willamette Valley known for its delectable Pinot Noirs and views of the Tualatin and Chehalem Mountains. Sherwood is located in Washington County, a hub for microchip and advanced manufacturing, with a population of approximately 450,000 residents. Washington County communities serve as great places to raise families for those working in Portland as well as neighboring employment centers that make up the metro region. 


PURPOSE OF POSITION:
Serve as deputy legal counsel for the City government. Independently and with minimal supervision responsible for providing legal services  to the City Council, City Boards and Commissions, committees,  City Manager, and other City staff. Position encounters a wide diversity of work situations involving a high degree of complexity due to various legal issues. Decisions are made within a broad interpretation of applicable laws and governmental guidelines.ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
Assists the City Attorney in planning, organizing, managing, and administering legal services, functions, and activities; assists in developing and implementing program and strategic planning; implements and assists in the development of policies, procedures, and business practices; evaluates goals, objectives, priorities, and activities to improve performance and outcomes; recommends and establishes administrative controls and improvements; develops procedures to implement new and/or changing regulatory requirements.
Analyzes and reviews federal, state, and local laws, regulations, policies, and procedures in order to ensure compliance; conducts analysis on best practices and trends, and formulates and implements recommendations.
Reviews and interprets codes, laws, rules, case law, contracts, real property instruments, plans, and other legal documents; reviews staff reports prior to public hearings or presentations.
Provides expert guidance to staff, City officials, and volunteers on legal issues; represents the City to the public, elected officials, other agencies, governments, and organizations including making presentations and participating in meetings; responds to and resolves confidential and sensitive inquiries; investigates complaints and recommends corrective actions as necessary.
Reviews and edits contracts and contract procedures for major City purchases, franchises, and intergovernmental agreements, evaluating content and form; drafts City contracts, franchises, and intergovernmental agreements; negotiates contractual provisions with other parties or their attorneys.
Advises and provides legal interpretations to Planning Commission during all adjudicative and legislative hearings as well as work sessions; interacts with parties to pending hearings or with their attorneys to discuss or negotiate City legal positions or interpretations; makes procedural rulings during hearings; reviews proposed findings and orders for legal sufficiency.
Prepares and prosecutes municipal court traffic and code enforcement cases, including making charging decisions, performing legal research, drafting pleadings, negotiating cases, preparing witnesses, and conducting motion hearings, jury trials, and appeals.
Drafts legal opinions, agreements, findings, ordinances, orders, and other documents.
Assists in representing and defending the city, its officers and employees in legal actions and administrative proceedings.
Acts as the Interim City Attorney in the City Attorney’s absence. Complete other tasks as assigned.

AUXILIARY JOB FUNCTIONS:
Maintains proficiency in municipal law through training, professional journals, and technology-based resources.  Maintain work areas in a clean and orderly manner.JOB QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS: 
Considerable knowledge of all areas of municipal law, and court processes and procedures. Ability to perform legal research in complex areas. Ability to work independently and prioritize work to meet the needs of the City. Ability to communicate effectively in written and oral form with coworkers, management, elected officials, and the general public. Ability to display excellent interpersonal skills and awareness of controversial and/or sensitive issues.  Minimum of two (2) years in    the practice of municipal law with emphasis and experience in one or more specialty areas such as: land use, first amendment, public meetings and records, public contracts. Experience practicing as legal counsel for a public agency, progressively responsible experience in management and supervision, or any satisfactory combination of experience and training which demonstrates the knowledge, skills and abilities  to perform the above duties.
 
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS/LICENSES: Doctor of Jurisprudence degree. Must be admitted to the Oregon State Bar with no disciplinary history. Valid driver’s license with acceptable driving record.
 
DESIRABLE REQUIREMENTS: Local government experience as in-house legal counsel in Oregon is preferred.

City of Sherwood is committed to using a Merit Based System in which recruiting, selecting, and advancing employees is based on their relative knowledge, skills, and abilities.

THIS ROLE IS BEING ADVERTISED CONTINUOUSLY UNTIL FILLED.  INTERVIEWS WILL TAKE PLACE PERIODICALLY UNTIL THE POSITION IS FILLED.  WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE INTERESTED CANIDATES TO APPLY IMMEDIATELY.

Please include a copy of your Resume and a Cover Letter with your completed application

Selection Process

1. An evaluation of education, training and work experience of submitted application packets including a resume and cover letter will be screened by Human Resources. 

2. A Subject Matter Expert (SME) Panel will perform an in-depth evaluation of education, experience and training taken from your employment application materials to include your resume and cover letter and responses to the supplemental questions (if applicable).   Our goal is to schedule oral panel interviews with candidates that successfully passed the SME evaluation step as soon as possible. 

Veterans' Preference

If you are a Veteran and would like to be considered for a Veterans' preference for this recruitment, please make sure to upload the required documentation to your application and self-select your veteran status. For more information on how to qualify, visit our Veterans' Preference Form webpage.

 Accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act

Reasonable accommodation is available to anyone whose specific disability prevents them from completing this application or participating in the selection process for this recruitment. To obtain confidential assistance please contact Human Resources 503-625-4201 or e-mail to: hr@sherwoodoregon.gov at least 48 hours before any step in the recruitment and selection process for which you feel you need accommodation.

Status of Your Application You will be advised by e-mail of your status at each step in the application process, from initial application to final employment disposition. Please note that City of Sherwood communicates with all candidates via email. If you "opt out" or "unsubscribe" of email notification from notices in NEOGOV it will impact our ability to communicate with you about job postings.

Questions (?'s) Regarding This Recruitment
Lydia McEvoy, Human Resources Director
mcevoyl@sherwoodoregon.gov

Salary : $118,179 - $149,861