City Attorney

Full-time

No

City of McMinnville Logo
CITY OF MCMINNVILLE
invites applications for the position of:

City Attorney

SALARY: $105, - $158, Annually
DEPARTMENT: Legal
OPENING DATE: 04/26/22
CLOSING DATE: Continuous
JOB ANNOUNCEMENT:
We're looking for our next City Attorney to join the City of McMinnville's executive team and support the City in achieving the mission of delivering high-quality services in collaboration with our partners for a prosperous, safe, and livable community.

As the City of McMinnville's City Attorney, you will provide general counsel to the Mayor and City Council and legal services for all aspects of City government. Working closely with the City Manager and other department heads as part of the City's executive team, you will provide objective, timely, and cost-effective legal advice that supports the City's policy goals, organizational strategy, and ensures the City, its employees, and its elected officials comply with the law.

We're looking for a City Attorney who can advise the City of McMinnville on a variety of subjects including, but not limited to, the following:

Constitutional law
Civil Rights
Labor law
Records management
Land Use Planning
Revenue and Taxation
Franchise Agreements
Tort Claims
Policing
Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Services
Code Enforcement
Telecommunications
Construction Law
Civil Rights

While we'd love for you to be well-versed in many aspects of municipal law, we understand that no one will be an expert in all legal subjects. You will also be responsible for securing outside counsel for areas outside your expertise. Currently, the City of McMinnville contracts with outside counsel on land use planning, prosecutorial services, and labor relations and employment. We have contracted for general counsel while this position has been vacant.

In addition to providing general counsel, you will advise the City's elected officials and committee members in a variety of settings, including quasi-judicial proceedings, such as City Council meetings and committee meetings related to land use planning and the City's budget.

The City Attorney must be present at City Council meetings which occur on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month. There are also other Council obligations such as work sessions, retreats, or goal-setting meetings that may also occur during evenings or (very rarely) on weekends.

The City Attorney’s Office also includes a part-time (approximately 20 hours/week) legal assistant, who you will recruit shortly after you join our team. We offer a hybrid work environment with the ability to work remotely approximately 50% of the time.

About Our City and Community:
We have a supportive Mayor, City Council, City Manager, staff, and community. Our Council-Manager form of government ensures we deliver on the City Council's priorities with best practices in city management. McMinnville is a full-service city with approximately 230 FTE providing a broad range of public services including police and fire protection; ambulance services; municipal court; wastewater treatment; street maintenance; engineering and planning; building permitting and inspection; parks, recreational and cultural activities; a library, and a municipal airport. We have a statewide reputation for financial stability and effective governance and want to work with a City Attorney to maintain that reputation.

McMinnville is an easy-going, progressive city nestled in the heart of Oregon's Willamette Valley. The American Planning Association has recognized our historic downtown as one of its prestigious Great Streets in America. McMinnville's central location means our nearly 35,000 residents aren't far from the scenic Oregon Coast, our State Capitol, the "Big City" of Portland, or the slopes of Mt. Hood. Home to world-class pinot noir and other varietals, McMinnville attracts winemakers and food and wine tourists from around the globe. Whether it's a glass of wine or a cup of coffee on our beloved Third Street or a bike ride through the Willamette Valley, there is always something fun to do in McMinnville.

There is an abundance of opportunities for families of all types in McMinnville. Our school district boasts a high school graduation rate of over 90%, and there are plenty of opportunities for higher education at Chemeketa Community College or Linfield University, one of the nation's most respected small universities. Childcare is available at a variety of privately managed daycare and preschool centers throughout the area. Our city also offers plenty of senior services through Yamhill County, NorthWest Senior & Disability Services, and our own McMinnville Senior Center.

Ideal Candidate:
We're looking for a City Attorney with the ability to provide thoughtful, informed, and timely legal counsel for our Mayor and Council and City staff. Your ability to work effectively on a high-performing executive team as well as with a variety of cross-departmental and cross-functional teams is critical.

We’re specifically looking for our next City Attorney to embody the following traits and attributes:

Ability to provide clear and thoughtful legal advice
Awareness of changes to laws that impact our service delivery
Excellent communication skills with a variety of audiences
Experience in drafting and presenting legal opinions
Strategic problem-solver with the ability to research and understand multiple perspectives
Empathetic, kind, and responsive
Flexible, adaptable, and creative

Ideally, you will have a Juris Doctor degree and at least five years of experience practicing as legal counsel for a public agency, however, any combination of education and experience that demonstrates your ability to perform the duties of the position will be considered. You must be a member in good standing of the Oregon State Bar Association or be able to obtain membership within a reasonable amount of time following your appointment to the position.

We hope our City's values of stewardship, equity, accountability, and courage resonate with you. If so, please consider joining our team!

To learn more about where we're going, check out our strategic plan, Mac-town 2032.

Compensation and Benefits:
The salary range for this position is $105,974 - $158,962.

The City will happily cover your dues in professional associations related to your position and supports your professional development through conferences and trainings.

The City offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical and vision insurance through Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield or Kaiser Permanente and three different dental plans through Willamette Dental, Delta Dental, and Kaiser Permanente. Additionally, the City provides a VEBA of up to $3,000 per year for a full family. The City is a PERS employer and also offers two 457(b) retirement options.

Application process:
This position is considered open until filled. Please submit your materials by Friday, June 3, 2022, for best consideration. The following items are required as part of the application:

Current resume
A cover letter that describes how you have successfully provided general legal counsel to a public agency. We are especially interested in learning how you have supported public agencies as they’ve navigated complex legal issues.

We plan to conduct an initial interview via Zoom Wednesday, June 8, and in-person interviews Friday, June 17. Tentatively, we plan for the finalist to meet with our City Council Wednesday, June 22, in an evening executive session where you will provide a brief presentation on a topic of your choice. We would like our next City Attorney to begin their duties in early August.

To view the full City Attorney job description, click here.


The City of McMinnville is an equal opportunity employer.

Applicants with disabilities who need a reasonable accommodation (., assistive listening devices)
to participate in the recruitment and/or selection process should contact Kylie Bayer, Human Resources Manager.

The City of McMinnville is proud to hire veterans.
If you qualify for veterans' preference please attach a copy of your DD-214 (certificate of release or discharge from active duty.)
If you need to request a copy of your DD-214, click here.

The City of McMinnville prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. We are committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions at the City of McMinnville are based on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, age, religion or belief, gender, sexual orientation, ability, family or parental status, or any other status protected by state and federal law. We do not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics.
EXAMPLES OF DUTIES AND TASKS:
TYPICAL QUALIFICATIONS:
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:


APPLICATIONS MAY BE FILED ONLINE AT:


230 NE 2nd St
McMinnville, OR 97128




Position #FY2021-00054
CITY ATTORNEY
KB

Legal