and other proceedings as requested. The position is responsible for general oversight of the City's risk program including general liability management, contractual and property risk analysis, coordination with the Washington Cities Insurance Association (WCIA), and general City contract process support.
The City of Tumwater is located at the southern tip of Puget Sound. The rugged Olympic Mountains rise in the distance and Mount Rainier seems close enough to touch on a clear day. Tumwater is just adjacent to our state capital, the city of Olympia, and 60 miles south of Seattle on the I-5 corridor. Tumwater is part of metropolitan Thurston County which has a population of 269,500. Thurston
County offers ample opportunities for both rural and urban living. Many employees enjoy living in the ruralcounty area while still keeping their commute short due to the close proximity of the metropolitan tri-city area of Tumwater, Olympia, and Lacey.
Tumwater is a great place to live, work, and raise a family! First review of applications 1/3/2024ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES The essential functions of this position include, but are not limited to: Provide regular counseling and strategic advice to City departments, both orally and in writing, on various facets of municipal law with an emphasis on contracts, procurement and risk management. Assist City departments in policy and code development,
including drafting code amendments, ordinances and resolutions for adoption by the City Council.
Provide advice and training to City departments on implementation of new laws and regulations. Draft and review a variety of legal documents and instruments, including ordinances, resolutions, contracts, real estate documents, franchise agreements, settlement agreements, and other legal agreements with other governmental entities and third parties. Represent the City in contested matters before administrative and judicial bodies and provide oversight and monitoring of cases and issues assigned to outside counsel. Prepare oral and written presentations and attend a variety of hearings, legislative meetings, internal staff meetings, conferences, and other gatherings as directed by the City Attorney.
Provide legal support to City departments on procurement and contracting matters, including assistance with competitive bidding procedures and creating, analyzing, negotiating, and executing contracts. Maintain city-wide written policies, procedures, and forms for contracting goods and services. Ensure compliance with state and federal rules and laws governing contracts and procurement. Identify opportunities to improve contract preparation and routing processes and devise plans to implement changes.
Provide general oversight of the City's risk management program. Analyze trends and recommend risk mitigation strategies. Coordinate with WCIA in response to general business risks and act as the primary delegate to WCIA on all matters related to risk management. Provide and coordinate WCIA supported audits, training, and grant programs to reduce risk. Provide legal support on claims and liability matters as needed. The Assistant City Attorney has significant, daily contact with a variety of city departments and staff for the purpose of information sharing and providing legal counsel.
Contacts require the communication of abstract legal concepts to persons with varying degrees of legal sophistication. Some contacts may be challenging in nature, requiring the exercise of persuasion and arbitration skills. Contact with the local legal community is encouraged to stay engaged and current on trends in municipal law. SELECTION CRITERIA To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job function satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Ability to support the relationship between the City of Tumwater and the constituent population by demonstrating courteous and cooperative behavior when interacting with clients, visitors, and City staff; enthusiastically promote the City goals and priorities in compliance with all policies and procedures. Ability to maintain absolute confidentiality of work-related issues, client records and City information; performs related duties as required or assigned.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communications with elected officials, City staff, regional organizations, and the general public. Possess the skill to backss and prioritize multiple tasks, projects, and demands. Considerable knowledge of municipal law and legal requirements that apply to governments or cities. Knowledge of State of Washington statutes, rules, case law, and applicable Federal rules and regulations. Familiarity and competency with legal research and case management procedures, including legal research methods, techniques, sources, databases, and other research tools.
Ability to communicate effectively, clearly, and concisely both orally and in writing. Minimum Qualifications: Graduate of an ABA accredited law school with a Juris Doctor degree. Currently licensed and in good standing to practice law in the State of Washington. Minimum of one year of relevant municipal or other government experience is preferred. Minimum of one year of experience related to public contracting and procurement and/or risk management is preferred. Preferred: Experience working for a local government. Prior risk management experience preferred, including program administration, knowledge of current trends related to risk management and insurance and experience advising clients on risk related issues.
Prior contract administration experience preferred, including an in-depth knowledge of procurement regulations, contract documents, and legal specifications. Training/Licenses/Certifications: Obtain and maintain the WCIA risk management certificates are required within the first two years of service. For more details: jobs-search. org/finance_tumwater-c450329/assistant-city-attorney-tumwater_i1968523252
