Deputy City Attorney

COME JOIN OUR TEAM AND HELP GRAND PRAIRIE BUILD ITS FUTURE!

The City of Grand Prairie has experienced explosive development and growth over the last few years, creating increased complexity in providing legal services. The City Attorney's Office has been able to add additional staffing in the last year to accommodate these needs. Retirements and restructuring of key roles in 2023 and 2024 have created an exciting opportunity to grow and reposition the City Attorney's Office for the future. This is a once-in-a-career opportunity to become a part of an established, first-class city and City Attorney's Office with opportunities for growth within the department. The ideal candidate will match the personality of the City: dynamic, forward-thinking, assertively friendly, hard-working, and bold.  

Under the direction of the City Attorney, this position provides a variety of legal services for the City of Grand Prairie, its departments and employees. This role is responsible for assisting in all aspects of civil municipal law, including counseling and advising City departments; zoning and land use; property acquisition and disposition; right-of-way matters; economic development; contracts and procurement; drafting and reviewing contracts and ordinances; attending boards and commission meetings; and occasionally representing the City in litigation. This position includes supervisory responsibilities.

Applications received on or before May 13, 2024 will be considered for the initial interview process. Applications received after this date will be reviewed at the City's discretion until the position is filled.

• Provides legal counsel to elected and appointed officials, boards, commissions, committees, and City departments based on interpretation of federal, state, county, and city constitutions, charters, statutes, ordinances, resolutions, rules, regulations, court decisions, administrative law decisions, and other legal authority; provides legal counsel and analysis on variety of matters, including zoning and land use, economic development, right-of-way issues, procurement and government contracts, bond and finance, facilities and construction, real estate transaction documents, environmental law, open records, open meetings, public utilities and water law issues, and housing and community developments.

• Performs accurate, thorough, and timely legal research and prepares opinions, briefs, presentations, memorandum, real estate documents, and correspondence on various legal issues for the City.

• Attends City Council meetings and conferences for the purpose of learning policies underlying official action, and gives advice on legal questions, including advice as to alternative legal and administrative strategies and solutions of major City issues.

• The City's legal department has a collaborative relationship with the other City departments. Versatility, flexibility, and innovative thinking are essential. The candidate must demonstrate continuous effort to provide quality, seamless customer service.

• Prepares or reviews City contracts, agenda items, and Public Information Act documents. Prepares text for new ordinances or amendments to current ordinances upon request of City departments.

• Researches, analyzes, and prepares legal opinions and training bulletins on civil law, department policy, case law, and legislative updates as necessitated by law or as requested by the City Attorney.

• Represents the City, or works with outside counsel for the City in some litigation.

• Maintains current information on all pertinent federal, state and municipal laws and case rulings; monitors and advises on legislation that could impact the operations of the City. Attends and participates in various meetings, by conducting presentations, participating in discussions and writing documents.

• Regular and dependable attendance is required.

• Performs other duties as assigned by a supervisor/manager within department/division. This role will be required to also assist in other aspects of municipal law.

• This position has supervisory responsibility.

• Required Education: Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school

• Required Licenses: Licensed by the State Bar of Texas; Valid Class C Driver's License

• Seven years minimum practicing law, with five or more years of experience in municipal law with preference for specialization in one of the following: municipal zoning and land use, economic development, contracts and procurement, right-of-way and property acquisition/disposition matters

• Licensed by the US District Court for the Northern District of Texas and/or 5th Circuit Court of Appeals

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Reading: Ability to read and understand advanced literature, books, reviews, legal or technical journals, legal decisions, abstracts, financial reports.  Ordinarily, such education is obtained at the college level or above. However, it may be obtained from experience and self-study.

• Math: Knowledge of intermediate math to deal with system of real numbers; practical application of fractions, percentages, ratios/proportions and measurement. Ordinarily, such education is obtained in high school up to college. However, it may be obtained from experience and self-study.

• Writing: Ability to write at an advanced level to write editorials, journals, speeches, manuals, legal opinions or critiques.  Ordinarily, such education is obtained at the college level or above. However, it may be obtained from experience and self-study.

• Managerial: Within this job, the employee normally performs the duty assignment within broad parameters defined by general organizational requirements and accepted practices. Total end results determine effectiveness of job performance.

• Budget Responsibility:  Has little to no budgetary responsibility.

• Supervisory / Organizational Control: Work requires direction of senior and junior level attorneys, helpers, assistants, seasonal employees, interns, or temporary employees.

• Complexity:  Work is of the broadest scope dealing with highly complex concepts or issues of great importance to the City.  Highly important policies, procedures or precedents may be approved, rejected or recommended to a Department Head, the City Attorney or City Manager's Office by individuals in this classification.

• Interpersonal / Human Relations Skills: Final decisions regarding policy development and implementation are made and/or recommended.   Interaction with others outside the City requires exercising participative management skills that support team efforts and quality processes.

• Persuasion: Convincing others to approach things differently.

• Negotiation: Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.

• Functional Supervision: Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work.

• Active Listening: Listening to what others are saying and asking questions as appropriate.

• Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

• Critical Thinking: Using logic and analysis to identify the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches.

• Judgment & Decision Making: Weighing the relative costs / benefits of a potential action.

• Active Learning: Working with new material or information to grasp its implications.

• Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.