The City of Commerce City is excited to announce that our growing legal team is seeking a Senior Counsel Attorney with extensive experience in land use and zoning. This position will be the primary attorney assigned to represent the City’s Community Development Department, the Planning Commission and the Board of Adjustment.

Our ideal candidate will have wide-ranging knowledge of land use, development, and providing legal advice to planning commissions and boards of adjustment. The Senior Counsel provides a wide range of professional legal work, with a greater degree of responsibility and autonomy with limited supervision and direction, to City departments, officials, and boards relating to their official duties. Providing comprehensive, timely, and sound legal advice (including identifying legal issues, assisting in the revision of the City’s Land Development Code, conducting legal research, and communicating and documenting legal advice) is crucial to supporting the needs of our dynamic and growing community.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Provides comprehensive, timely, and sound legal advice to assigned City boards, officials, and staff in matters relating to their official duties, including investigating questions, identifying legal issues, conducting legal research, and communicating and documenting legal advice
• Acts as a lead to other attorneys, providing training and support in a variety of areas
• Drafts, reviews, and represents municipal clients in the negotiation of and advises municipal clients on the legal consequences of complex contracts, procurement documents, ordinances, resolutions, and other legal documents
• Advises the City Attorney and municipal clients of pertinent changes and proposed changes in municipal, state, federal, civil, business, and constitutional law and recommends action, if appropriate
• Communicates with municipal clients and third parties on behalf of the City Attorney and municipal clients
• Acts with professionalism and in conformity with the Colorado Rules of Professional Conduct.
• Investigates or monitors claims against the City as assigned
• Incorporates understanding of City goals and objectives, complex policy matters, sound judgment, and organizational perspective into legal advice
• Presents cases in administrative proceedings and, as needed, serves as back-up municipal court prosecutor
• Supervises, strategizes, and confers with outside counsel and assists with discovery, as assigned
• Prepares cases for litigation, as assigned
• Provides training to municipal boards, officials, and staff
• Assigns appropriate activities to paralegal
• Attends meetings as required and occasional evening meetings, as assigned

Performs other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications

Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school and licensed to practice law in the State of Colorado. A minimum of eight years’ experience as a practicing attorney is required including specific practice in service to municipal government. An equivalent combination of education, training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities may be considered. Must possess a valid driver’s license.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Sound knowledge of the principles and procedures of municipal, state, federal, civil, business, and constitutional law
• Sound knowledge of the Charter, ordinances, codes, policies, procedures, practices, and activities of the City
• Advanced knowledge in any required legal specialty
• Knowledge of the Colorado Rules of Professional Conduct. Knowledge of judicial procedures and rules of evidence
• Advanced knowledge of techniques and resources for conducting legal research.
• Strong conflict resolution and mediation skills
• Strong ability to review, read, interpret, and explain facts, abstract concepts, and law to a variety of audiences
• Strong ability to analyze and organize conflicting and ambiguous facts and evidence
• Ability to read, interpret, and analyze complex legal documents
• Discretion to respond effectively to sensitive inquiries
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with officials, employees, and the public
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Strong time and task management skills
• Ability to advocate legal positions on behalf of the City

Demonstrated expertise in at least two core areas of municipal law: Public Finance, Employment and Labor, Tax, Land Use, Development, Special Districts, Purchasing, Water, Environmental, or Municipal Litigation

Equipment Used, Work Environment and Physical Activities

• Driving: Drives a city or personal vehicle in the normal course of business
• Office Equipment: Daily use of computer, keyboard, copier, scanner, printer, calculator, phone (desk & cell), camera, and electronic diagnostic equipment. Daily use of software programs including Microsoft Office Suite, Outlook, Word, Excel
• Other Equipment: Occasional use of ladders.
• Physical Activities: Moderate physical activity that may include walking, sitting, standing, stooping, bending, reaching, lifting & carrying
• Lifting: Frequently lifts, carries, and exerts up to 40 pounds
• Vision and Hearing: Must have visual acuity to see and read paper and electronic documents. Must be able to answer telephones, communicate conversation and respond to verbal inquires. Must be able to recognize sound on construction sites that indicate nearby equipment and/or safety hazards
• Exposure to Environmental Conditions: Will be exposed to extreme heat, cold, dry, wet, odors, smoke, loud noises, vibrations, dust or intense light and hazards normally associated with construction sites. May be exposed to chemicals including cleaners, solvents, paints and other potentially toxic agents. Work may be performed in precarious or tight spaces.
• Schedule: Position generally scheduled Monday - Friday; occasionally weekend work. May require attendance at off-site meetings.
• Additional Working Conditions: May be exposed to work settings that vary in convenience and comfort. May be required to visit external, non-city work sites with the City having limited control over the work environment.

Reasonable accommodation may be made to individuals with disabilities for the essential functions of the job.

NOTE: This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and qualifications. Employees are accountable for all duties associated with this position.

The City of Commerce City is an equal-opportunity employer.

We strongly encourage all eligible candidates to apply as soon as possible. We will be reviewing applications on a continuous basis and will contact qualified candidates with further instructions on the next steps. However, please note that the job posting may be closed without prior notice once a sufficient number of eligible candidates have applied.

Please include a copy of a resume and cover letter to be considered.

Please provide in your cover letter a summary of your prior experience in land use, code enforcement, finance, tax, employment law, licensing, elections, public records, law enforcement, or other areas of municipal law.