Job Opportunities

Assistant City Attorney (2 Positions), City of Pensacola

Expires:  August 2, 2024, at 11:59 PM Central

Summary:  Each of these executive positions is exempt from Veteran’s Preference according to FL Statute 110.205 (2) (j). Salary range: $91,270.40-$150,592.00 annually dependent on knowledge and experience. Job Number 00895. Department / Division: City Attorney.

Minimum Preparation for Work:

• Graduation from an accredited school of law with a jurisprudence doctorate (J.D.) degree.
• Minimum of two (2) years of experience practicing law. Eight (8) or more years of experience practicing law preferred, but not required.
• Licensed to practice law in the State of Florida and membership in good standing with The Florida Bar.

        Or

• Combination of education, training, and/or work experience equal to or greater than the requirements listed above as determined by Human Resources.

Necessary Special Requirements:

• Possession of an appropriate driver license for equipment operated and any license, training or certification required by law or regulation to complete assigned tasks.

Nature of Work:  This is professional work in the area of legal representation and advocacy.
 
An employee in this class serves under the direction of the City Attorney and performs a variety of legal duties supporting the Office of the City Attorney, Mayor’s Office, City Council and City Departments. This employee has the opportunity to utilize their knowledge and experience in a meaningful way through their representation of the City while being actively involved with their local community.
 
Examples of Work: 

• Performs legal research and prepares legal opinions.
• Negotiates, drafts and reviews contracts on behalf of the City.
• Represents City departments as assigned by the City Attorney.
• Works with and manages outside counsel in relation to assigned City departments. 
• Represents and advises the City’s interests in all cases in state and federal courts, including appellate courts.
• Represents the City at various board and commission meetings.
• Drafts and revises ordinances, resolutions, memoranda and correspondence.
• Attends City Council meetings with the City Attorney or in the City Attorney’s absence.
• Assists City departments in formulating and implementing policies and procedures in accordance with applicable law.
• Attends seminars or other required training to enhance job knowledge and maintain bar license requirements.
• Makes decisions in accordance with applicable laws, rules, regulations and policies.
• Directs, supervises, assists, and supports legal clerical staff in the preparation and completion of legal forms, scheduling of meetings and maintenance of case management software system, and further is responsible for personnel matters related to legal clerical staff, including but not limited to preparation of evaluations, approval of leave, review of time records, and disciplinary action in cooperation with Human Resources.
• Prepares and conducts training for City personnel on various legal topics.
• Assists and oversees responses to complex or difficult public records requests.
• Maintains prompt and regular attendance.
• Performs other job duties and special tasks as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Experience in negotiating and drafting contracts preferred.
• Knowledge of and experience in employment and labor law preferred.
• Knowledge of local government law and practices preferred.
• Knowledge of Federal and State law affecting municipal operations preferred.
• Experience performing thorough and persuasive legal research and writing. 
• Ability to efficiently work and communicate as part of a team.
• Ability to advise a variety of persons and City departments on legal matters.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with the judiciary, other lawyers, elected officials, City staff and citizens.
• Ability to analyze complex scenarios to provide legal advice accordingly.
• Ability to organize and prioritize work for timely completion.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, elected officials and members of the public.
• Ability to think strategically to prioritize and integrate short-term and long-term goals.

 The mental and physical demands and the work environment characteristics described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.   Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
 
Mental and Physical Requirements:  While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands and fingers to hold or feel, reach with hands and arms, walk, talk and hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand, sit, climb, balance, stoop, and crouch. Specific vision abilities include near distance, far distance, color, peripheral vision and depth perception.
 
Work Environment:  Work is primarily sedentary in nature and performed in an office environment.  The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Some jobs may require an employee to be exposed to outside weather conditions, wet and/or humid conditions.
 
This description is not intended to be, nor should it be construed as an all-inclusive list of responsibilities, skills or working conditions associated with the position.  It is intended to accurately reflect the activities and requirements of the position, but duties may be added, deleted, or modified as necessary. This description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment.
 
Additional Information

Benefits: 

• Full-time position with a set schedule to promote work-life balance. 
• 20 hours of paid time off (PTO) earned at the end of each month that roll over each year, up to 600 hours.
• 80 hours of PTO upon start date.
• 40 hours annually of retention leave that accrue each year up to a 250 hour cap if you are employed at least 120 days prior to January 1st of each subsequent year.
• 13 paid holidays: New Year’s Day (January 1), Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday, President’s Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving Day, Friday after Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and the day after Christmas.
• 2 additional paid personal holidays every year starting in January.
  • Prorated for new employees depending on start date: January-March = 2, April-September = 1, October-December =0
• 1 additional paid day of leave every 5 year interval of service (Anniversary Day). 
• Florida Retirement System Pension or Investment Plan.
• Deferred compensation retirement savings plans (optional).
• $10,000 life insurance coverage at no additional  cost (extra coverage at affordable rates).
• Paid parental leave: After 1 year of employment, for birth or adoption of a child, employee uses 1 week of their PTO and then the City provides 4 additional weeks of paid leave to the employee.
• Optional affordable health benefits: health, vision, and dental insurance. 
• Free employee clinic for minor illness and injuries (located at City Hall).
• Free family health center clinic: If enrolled in City health insurance plan, no co-pay for appointments to employee and dependents.

Agency:  City of Pensacola, 222 W. Main Street, Pensacola, Florida, 32502, (850) 435-1660, (850) 435-1693, pensacolacityjobs.com.