What are the responsibilities and job description for the Associate Legal Counsel/Senior Legal Counsel position at San Diego Association of Governments?
Overview of the Office of General Counsel
Working in close collaboration with the SANDAG Board of Directors, members of the Executive Office, and employees throughout the organization, the Office of General Counsel has a reputation for providing outstanding legal advice and partnering on projects and initiatives that contribute to the overall success of the agency. SANDAG functions in a complex environment and the Legal team is known for being innovative and proactive in facilitating decisions that support the achievement of the agency’s goals.
Role
As a member of the seven person Office of General Counsel, the Legal Counsel will serve as a technical resource to agency executives and project managers and will support various programs, projects, and services by conducting research and preparing resolutions, memoranda, opinions, and other legal documents, providing legal guidance related to agency contracting and procurement processes, assisting with litigation, overseeing the work of outside counsel, providing legal guidance and opinions to various committees and working groups, and providing assistance to the General Counsel. Examples of key projects include : 2025 Regional Plan Update; SR-11 / Otay Mesa East Border Crossing; Airport Connectivity Project; San Diego LOSSAN Rail Realignment Project; Bus Stopover Facility; and various bikeway projects.
This position will be filled at either an Associate or Senior level, depending on experience.
Positions at the Associate level perform the full range of job responsibilities, including project management, working independently, and exercising judgment and initiative, while receiving only occasional instruction and assistance as new or unusual situations arise. Positions at the Senior level perform more complex and difficult legal duties that require highly specialized skills, advanced technical knowledge, strategy development, and expertise, and exercise independent judgment in the performance of their duties.
- Provide legal guidance on public agency contracting and procurement processes ensuring contracts and agreements are consistent with federal, state, and / or local funding agency requirements and are written in a manner that protects the interests of SANDAG.
- Participate in the review and final approval of contracts, agreements, amendments, Memoranda of Understanding, task orders, and leases; provide advice to employees regarding pre-bid qualifications and bid protests.
- Analyze, review, and draft contracts, agreements, real property documents, releases, and other legal documents that bind or obligate SANDAG; provide legal opinions and recommendations to ensure SANDAG is properly and effectively represented; review rules, regulations, and policies to ensure legal compliance with all applicable state and federal laws.
- Participate in negotiating / reviewing third party agreements on high priority projects.
- Assist in the development and review of language regarding insurance and indemnification in agency contracts; review insurance certificates for adequacy and recommend levels of exposure to insure.
- Assist in representing SANDAG in legal proceedings before courts, administrative agencies and boards, arbitrators, and other administrative agencies; negotiate, defend, or settle legal disputes; assist with conducting legal research, preparing pleadings, briefs, motions, court orders, and other court documents; appear in court, and negotiate with other parties; coordinate the agency’s representation by outside counsel in proceedings.
- Assist with litigation involving construction claims, stop payment notices, false claims, performance bonds, payment bonds, and mechanic's lien claims pursuant to the public works construction law; oversee any outside counsel hired to represent the agency in such matters.
- Assist in the management of right-of-way acquisition for SANDAG projects, generally in coordination with outside counsel; present updates to SANDAG management and the Board of Directors.
- Ensure meeting proceedings, decisions, and recommendations comply with public agency meeting requirements.
- Provide legal guidance in areas of public law, public finance, and various regulatory compliance including the California Public Records Act, Brown Act, general municipal law, and various California regulatory compliance (e.g., CPUC).
- Respond to and defend SANDAG against consultant / contractor protests and claims under the Tort Claims Act.
- Develop project plans, Requests for Proposals (RFPs), scopes of work, project deliverables, budgets, and schedules; participate in the selection of consultants / contractors / vendors; administer and manage contracts; ensure projects progress on schedule, within the approved budget and at a consistently high level of quality; ensure projects are completed in adherence to funding agency requirements; coordinate project activities with other departments, outside organizations, stakeholders, and / or elected officials.
Associate
Senior
In addition to the experience and qualifications for Senior Legal Counsel :
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