Assistant City Attorney II
The City of West Des Moines seeks an individual for the position of Assistant City Attorney II. Under the general supervision of the Deputy City Attorney, this position provides advanced professional legal assistance and support to the Office of the City Attorney and provides legal representation to city officials and staff.
This position is responsible for, among other things:
• Provides advanced legal support and maintains communication with the Deputy City Attorney and other city departments regarding day-to-day operations
• Provides legal advice, opinions and training to City Council, city boards, committees, commissions, agencies, and city staff
• Litigates issues on behalf of the city in administrative and judicial proceedings, including appellate proceedings
• Provides periodic review and advice to ensure city compliance with state, federal and municipal laws, rules, and regulations
• Drafts and/or reviews real estate documents and oversees all legal aspects of real estate transactions with high attention to detail
• Drafts and/or reviews complex development agreements, contracts, and regulatory documents with high attention to detail
• Drafts and/or reviews ordinances and amendments with high attention to detail
• Research legal opinions, memoranda, and data for the guidance of city departments
• Attends meetings, conferences and training sessions and reviews publications to remain current on the principles, practices, and new developments in assigned work areas
• Responds to citizens’ questions and comments in a professional, courteous, and timely manner
• Attends city meetings as requested by the Deputy City Attorney
• Ensures that the city’s mission, goals, and objectives are fully initiated and supported. This includes but is not limited to support of Mayor/City Council strategies and various other city-sponsored work teams
• Performs other duties and responsibilities as assigned
The desired candidate will have a Juris Doctor from an ABA accredited law school, will be licensed to practice law in the state of Iowa, and will have a minimum of five years of experience as a practicing attorney, with a minimum of two years trial experience (criminal, civil or administrative), with knowledge of employment law, real estate law, administrative law, municipal finance or public safety law preferred.
The desired candidate will have had significant exposure to negotiations, real estate transactions and administrative law and will possess the ability to provide a commonsense approach to dispute resolution and mediation of conflict through the use of tact, diplomacy, and professionalism.
The desired candidate will possess the ability to effectively conduct legal research, draft pleadings, motions, memorandums, and briefs and understand and interpret legal publications, caselaw, contracts, statutes, and ordinances in order to provide legal advice to city officials and staff and possess the ability to effectively represent the city in all manner of litigation, including judicial and contested administrative proceedings.
The desired candidate will also possess oral and interpersonal communication skills, including the ability to effectively communicate both verbally and in writing with citizens, elected and appointed officials and city staff in an effective and straightforward manner, while maintaining an understanding of the attorney’s role in a service-orientated municipal organization.
