Assistant City Attorney II – General Counsel

Learn, Grow, and Make an Impact: 
The City of Salem is seeking an Assistant City Attorney II – General Counsel to join the City’s legal team. We invite experienced attorneys with a strong background in general counsel work to apply. This is an excellent opportunity for a motivated individual to contribute to the development of policy and the administration of community programs across a variety of municipal issues. Under the general direction of the City Attorney, the Assistant City Attorney II will play a key role in advising and representing the City on legal matters and supporting its broader objectives.

The City has an innovative and forward-thinking approach to government and community engagement that will provide a variety of opportunities in different practice areas for the successful candidate to advise, problem solve, and implement the City’s strategic plan.

What you will do:
The Assistant City Attorney II provides expert legal advice and representation on a diverse range of municipal law issues. The ideal candidate will have substantial experience and knowledge in land use, development, and real estate law within a public sector context. The Assistant City Attorney II role will advise the City’s planning staff, represent the City in negotiations and discussions with developers and their legal counsel, and attend Planning Commission and Historic Landmark Committee meetings, offering legal guidance to both staff and City-appointed officials.

Candidate must possess excellent communication and organizational skills, along with the intellectual agility to address the broad and complex legal challenges facing the City. The ability to collaborate effectively in a team-oriented environment is essential. The successful candidate will understand that the role of general counsel is not only to advise and assist the City in achieving its goals and objectives but also to mitigate risks and protect the City from potential liabilities.

Additional information on job responsibilities:

• Provide legal counsel to City departments, boards, and elected officials on matters related to land use, zoning, and development, ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

• Advise on code enforcement matters, including legal strategies for compliance, enforcement actions, and litigation.
• Support economic development initiatives by reviewing and drafting legal documents related to public-private partnerships, incentives, and infrastructure projects.
• Draft, review, and negotiate contracts, ordinances, resolutions, and other legal documents related to land development and infrastructure projects.
• Represent the City in legal proceedings related to land use, code enforcement, and infrastructure development.
• Provide expertise on federal, state, and local laws impacting land use, zoning, and development processes.
• Collaborate with internal teams and external stakeholders, including developers, government agencies, and community groups, to ensure the legal soundness of development initiatives.
• Assist in risk management efforts by identifying legal issues and advising on risk mitigation strategies for development and infrastructure projects.
• Communicate complex legal matters clearly and effectively, to diverse audiences, including elected officials, City staff, developers, and community stakeholders.

What can we offer you for all your hard work?

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your family.
• Paid vacation and sick time in accordance with City policies.
• Competitive pay.
• Employer-paid PERS contribution of 6%.
• Opportunity for voluntary pre-tax contributions to a 457b account.
• Health care and dependent care flexible spending accounts.
• Voluntary long-term care.
• Employee wellness program.
• Employee assistance program.
• Employee health clinic.
• Our team follows a hybrid work structure where employees can work remotely or from the office (295 Church St. SE Salem, Oregon 97301), as needed, based on demands of specific tasks and manager approval. This is subject to change based on business needs.
• Position Schedule: Monday through Friday 8am-5pm. Occasional early morning and evening meetings.
• The City of Salem offers a comprehensive and equitable base salary within the listed range based on your experience, skills, and education. We encourage you to clearly describe how you meet the minimum qualifications and essential attributes in your application materials. Learn more about Equal Pay.

What are the minimum qualifications?

• Must pass the pre-employment background check.
• Must pass criminal background check necessary to obtain Criminal Justice Information System clearance and Law Enforcement Data System certification within 30 days of hire (clearance must be maintained throughout employment).
• Doctor of Jurisprudence or equivalent from an accredited college or university of law, and two years of experience in the practice of law, preferably with relevant experience in municipal/government law.
• Admission to and good standing with the Oregon State Bar required.

Hiring managers do not have access to view resumes as part of the application review process, please make sure to give detailed information in your application that includes your experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities as requested in the supplemental questions and job advertisement.

Preferred Documents:

• Cover Letter.
• Resume.

About us:
Salem is the second largest city in Oregon and the capital city. Centrally located in the Willamette Valley, Salem is 49 square miles in size and extends across to counties, Marion and Polk. The community has well-established neighborhoods and carefully preserved historic buildings with wide diversity and a family-friendly ambiance. The city is home to nearly 180,000 residents. For a full community profile detailing demographics and housing statistics, visit the City of Salem website.

The City of Salem organization has eight primary departments: Community Services, Finance, Fire, Enterprise Services, Legal, Police, Public Works, and Community Planning and Development. Several departments also have functional divisions within their department. The City of Salem employs roughly 1,350 talented and dedicated staff members and works collaboratively with five labor unions.

Where can I find out more about the position?
Go to the menu option for Class Specifications and search for Assistant City Attorney II.

 

How can I apply?
The City of Salem invites individuals of all diverse communities and backgrounds to apply for our available job opportunities as we strive to provide the best service to everyone. The City of Salem is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all and has a culture that values diversity, equity, and inclusion. We believe that by welcoming differences, encouraging new ideas and views, listening to, and learning from each other, we are better able to serve the community.
   
To apply, click on the green “Apply” button to complete your application. Make sure that you specify how you meet the qualifications outlined in the class specification and complete the application.
   
Applicants that meet the minimum qualifications as outlined above but not selected for this position may be placed on an eligibility list, and candidates may be hired from the list. Eligibility lists are valid for six months. The City will send email notifications to eligible candidates about potential hiring opportunities so please ensure your email settings accept our system generated email notifications.

You may subscribe for automatic notification of job openings at the City of Salem through the Job Interest Cards – sign up today!

 For more information about employment at the City of Salem, please visit our website at www.cityofsalem.net/jobs.

This announcement is not an implied contract and may be modified or revoked without notice.

Salary : $9,206 - $12,371