Job Description
Salary : $160,476.00 - $218,448.00 Annually
Location : City of Oceanside, CA
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: 24-145
Department: City Attorney
Opening Date: 06/13/2024
Closing Date: 8/2/2024 4:00 PM Pacific
Introduction THE CITY OF OCEANSIDE IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. 3.5% base salary increase effective 7/7/24 The City of Oceanside invites applications for Assistant City Attorney. The City is seeking an experienced municipal litigator, who is detail and team-oriented, solutions driven with energy, focus, strong ethics, as well as the ability to make decisions independently while keeping the City Attorney informed.
** The closing date for this position has been extended to 8/2/24 *** Examples of Duties THE POSITION The Assistant City Attorney is a key member of the City's Management Team reporting to the City Attorney. The position is responsible for assisting the City Attorney in planning and directing the work of professional attorneys; defending the City and its employees in high exposure civil litigation cases; conducting administrative hearings; rendering legal opinions to the City Manager and department directors; conferring with citizens, and their representatives on wide array of municipal legal matters; preparing pleadings/ briefs and arguing cases in state and federal courts; drafting ordinances, resolutions, contracts and other legal documents; and supervising subordinate professional and support staff as directed by the City Attorney.
THE IDEAL CANDIDATE The City is seeking an Assistant City Attorney to focus on the defense of civil lawsuits in federal and state courts filed against the City and its employees and officers for acts or omissions within the scope of their duty. The ideal candidate will have at least five years of civil litigation experience involving the defense of public entities in both state and federal courts and will have a sound understanding of the governmental tort claim statutes, governmental immunities, as well as applicable federal and state rules of civil procedure and evidence. Significant trial and appellate experience is preferred.
Moreover, the City is seeking a highly qualified individual with technical expertise and strong interpersonal and creative problem solving skills. The ideal candidate will have strong oral advocacy, and research and writing skills. Qualified candidates will also be able to communicate in a clear, concise, and direct manner, including conveying technical information in a non-technical manner both orally and in writing. The Assistant City Attorney develops creative pre-litigation and litigation solutions to complex cases and will have the ability to effectively communicate directly with the City Council in closed session.
Candidates for this position must possess at least five years of experience as a practicing attorney, either in a governmental agency or in a private practice involving representation of local governmental agencies or pertaining to government-related civil law and be a member in good standing in the California State Bar.
Minimum Qualifications Knowledge of: - Duties, powers, limitations and authority of municipal corporations;
- Government tort claim statutes;
- California state and federal rules of civil procedure as well as applicable rules of evidence;
- Defenses applicable to common civil lawsuits filed against public agencies;
- Judicial procedures including California Rules of Courts and applicable local rules;
- Insurance-related issues including tenders of claims, claims handling guidelines, and reporting to insurance carriers.
Ability to: - Research and draft opinions;
- Analyze and draft legal documents and instruments;
- Appraise and organize facts and present evidence and other material clearly and logically in written or oral form;
- Analyze and apply principles of statutory and case law to difficult and/or complex legal questions;
- Prepare, present and conduct lawsuits and appeals effectively;
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with officials and employees of the City, court officials and the general public;
- Trains deputies and others on legal and procedural issues.
Experience and Training Experience: At least five years of experience as a practicing attorney, either in a governmental agency or in a private practice involving representation of local governmental agencies or pertaining to government-related civil law.
License/Certificate: Member in good standing in the California State Bar.
NOTE: PLEASE ATTACH YOUR CURRENT RESUME TO THE APPLICATION. Working Conditions and Selection Process Environmental Conditions : Office environment; exposure to computer screens. This position also requires occasional to routine travel to off-site locations for meetings, depositions, and court appearances, which may include exposure to the external environment or industrial type facilities. Extended hours may be required including evenings and weekends.
Physical Conditions: Essential functions may require maintaining physical condition necessary for sitting and standing for prolonged periods of time; speaking and hearing to exchange information; visual acuity to read and interpret information. May require occasional to frequent walking of up to .5 miles to off-site locations.
Selection Process: All properly completed applications will be reviewed and a limited number of those applicants deemed to be the most qualified for the position will be invited to continue in the selection process.
Note: Prospective employees will undergo, and must successfully pass, a background investigation, and a medical examination, which may include drug screening.
RESUMES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED IN LIEU OF COMPLETED APPLICATION FORMS.
CANDIDATES WHO REQUIRE A REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION IN THE SELECTION PROCESS SHOULD STATE THEIR NEEDS IN WRITING WHEN SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION.
THE PROVISIONS OF THIS BULLETIN DO NOT CONSTITUTE AN EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED CONTRACT. ANY PROVISION CONTAINED IN THIS BULLETIN MAY BE MODIFIED OR REVOKED WITHOUT NOTICE.
CITY OF OCEANSIDE Unrepresented Executive (Non-Safety) Benefit Summary The following is a highlight of benefits Retirement Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS)
- Employees hired after January 1, 2013 are subject to the State laws of the California Public Employees Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA) in regard to retirement benefits. Each individual's benefits may differ. Consult with Employee Benefits for further details.
- Third Level 1959 Survivor Credit
- Survivor Continuation option
Additional Retirement Credit Purchase Options
- Buy additional Service Retirement Credit prior to membership
- Service Credit for unused Sick Leave
- Buy additional Military Service Credit
Health Insurance Medical:
- Kaiser HMO
- Blue Shield HMO
- Blue Shield PPO
Dental:
- Delta Preferred Option (DPO)
- Delta Care USA (DHMO)
Vision:
- Vision Service Plan (VSP)
Pre-Tax Benefits Health benefits are offered on a pre-tax basis and employees cannot add or delete coverage or benefits unless a qualifying event has occurred.
Employee Assistance Program (EAP) The Anthem EAP is paid for by the City.
- Available to all members of your household
- 6 free confidential counseling visits per incident
- Self-service support online or by phone
Disability and Life Insurances The STD/LTD/LIFE and AD&D Voya premiums are paid for by City.
Short-Term Disability (STD) Insurance:
- First 90 days - benefits paid at 55% of weekly salary to a maximum weekly benefit of $700 for non-work related disability only
- Seven day waiting period unless hospitalized
- All sick leave must be exhausted before STD is used
Long-Term Disability Insurance:
- After 90 days - benefits paid at 66.7% of monthly salary to a maximum monthly benefit of $6,000 for any disability
Executive Life and AD&D Insurance:
- 1 ½ times annual base salary; minimum of $30,000 and maximum of $350,000 of Basic Life and AD&D
Voluntary Benefits Benefits are employee paid.
Supplemental Life Insurance through Voya:
- Premiums are determined by age
- Purchased up to a maximum $500,000 for employees
- Spousal coverage up to the employee amount
- Dependent coverage up to $10,000
Flexible Spending Accounts through BCC:
- Utilizes a debit card as a form of payment
- Health Care Spending Account - maximum annual deferral is $2,850
- Dependent Care Spending Account - maximum annual deferral is $5,000
Deferred Compensation - 457 and Roth IRA through ICMA-RC:
- 457 - Maximum annual pre/post-taxed amount is $22,500 for 2023; over age 50 may contribute an additional $7,500
- Roth IRA - Maximum post-taxed amount is $6,500; over age 50 may contribute an additional $1,000
Hyatt Legal
- Telephone and office consultations are avialable for an unlimited number fo personal legal matters with an attorney of your choice.
GotZoom Student Loan Relief
- Provides a no-obligation benefit analysis for federal student loans to identify, maximize and enroll employees into Federal Loan Repayment and Forgiveness Programs.
ScholarShare 529
- An easy to manage plan that helps make the most of your or a designated beneficiary's college savings with tax benefits.
Leave Benefits Vacation:
1 - 5 years: 4.62 hours
6 - 10 years: 6.15 hours
11 - 15 years: 6.65 hours
16 + years: 8.19 hours
Maximum accrual:
- 360 hours for those hired before 7/1/95
- 300 hours for those hired 7/1/95 or after
Holidays:
- New Years' Day
- Martin Luther King Jr Day
- Memorial Day
- Independence Day
- Labor Day
- Veterans' Day
- Thanksgiving Day
- Friday after Thanksgiving Day
- Christmas Day
- 48 hours Floating Holidays per fiscal year
- 70 hours of Executive leave per fiscal year
Sick Leave:
Max accrual: Unlimited
Annual pay off: Up to 50% based on annual usage
Sick Leave pay off at separation:
- Sick leave paid out depends on years of service and whether an employee retires or terminates
Bereavement Leave:
- Three days for death of employee's immediate family member
- Two additional days may be charged to sick leave upon approval
Tuition Reimbursement Up to $2,000 per fiscal year.
Car Allowance Dependent upon the position either monthly allowance or use of City vehicle
Term of Compensation Plan Effective July 1, 2022
This is a summary of available benefits. It is not intended to provide full details of all programs. The appropriate Memorandum of Understanding, Compensation Plan and/or Benefit Plan Documents will govern any discrepancies and provide program specifics.
01
Do you possess at least five years of experience as a practicing attorney, either in a governmental agency or in a private practice involving representation of local governmental agencies or pertaining to government-related civil law.
02
Are you a member in good standing with the California State Bar?
03
Describe your civil litigation experience, including the types of trial and/or appellate cases, the number of years of experience and employer(s) where this experience was gained.
04
Describe your experience filing and arguing motions in civil litigation cases, including demurrers and motions for summary judgment.
05
Describe your experience in conducting civil discovery in connection with your representation of public agency and/or private clients.
06
CERTIFICATE OF APPLICANT: I certify that all statements and information provided in this application and anyattachments are true, and I understand that any false or misleading statements or omission of material facts may forfeit my right to employment considerations by the City of Oceanside.
Required Question
Job Tags
Weekly pay, Holiday work, Full time, Contract work, Temporary work, Christmas work, Relief, Private practice, New year, Local area, Immediate start, Flexible hours, Afternoon shift,