Assistant City Attorney - Housing

About the role

The City of Oxnard's City Attorney's Office is seeking a well-qualified, highly motivated Assistant City Attorney to provide sound and ethical legal advice. The position focuses on California housing laws, local Housing Authority issues, City tenant protection laws, administrative hearings, and writ proceedings related to housing.

Responsibilities

• Represent the City in administrative hearings, superior court proceedings (writs and trials), and brief the City Council on housing litigation matters.
• Provide legal advice and opinions to the Oxnard Housing Authority, Oxnard Housing Department, and Oxnard City Council; and assist the City Manager regarding state and local housing-related matters.
• Serve as lead Assistant City Attorney implementing the City’s Tenant Protection Laws including Rent Stabilization, Just Cause Eviction, and Anti-Harassment Ordinances.
• Aid and advise department directors and staff; interface with members of the public/community, local organizations, and advocacy groups that represent property owners, landlords or tenants.
• Under general direction, the Assistant City Attorney provides a wide range of professional legal services to all City departments and divisions, City Council and various boards, commissions, committees; may assist in coordinating the work of contract attorneys on complex or specialized matters; and performs related duties as assigned.

Requirements

The ideal candidate will serve as the primary point of contact for legal advice and opinions to assigned City departments, and should be a hands-on leader with experience serving public sector organizations.

Qualifications

• A Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school.
• The equivalent of eight (8) years of experience in the practice of municipal law with emphasis on state and local housing laws and civil or administrative litigation experience or related experience.

Skills

A strong understanding of municipal law, landlord-tenant relations, and civil litigation/administrative proceedings, with an emphasis on compliance and dispute resolution.

Benefits

Enjoy CalPERS Retirement membership: Classic 2% at 55, New 2% at 62; your contribution secures your future; no Social Security participation. 12 paid holidays off per year. The City contributes 4.5% of employee base salary to the City-sponsored 401 (a) plan. The City contributes 1% of employee base salary to a Retirement Health Savings Program. Leave accrual rates vary between 6.24 – 11.78 hours per pay period based on years of service with the City of Oxnard. 60 hours of Administrative Leave per fiscal year. The City will contribute $2,054.00 monthly towards medical insurance premiums with no cash back. Employees who waive medical insurance will receive $500.00 per month cash back with proof of other qualifying coverage. The City will continue to provide $66.79 per month towards dental insurance. One-Time Cash Payments: In lieu of cost of living adjustments, the City will provide a one-time cash payment for the years specified below. Employees must have worked the 12 months (2080 hours) preceding the payment to be eligible for the full amount. Employees who worked less than the 12 months (2080 hours) requirement, will receive a prorated amount based on the total number of hours they have worked.

Pay

$198,059 to $257,477, negotiable based on experience and qualifications.

Schedule

The normal work week is Monday-Thursday, 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., and alternating Fridays, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Depending on the work assignment staff may be assigned to a shift that is outside the standard work hours. In addition, this position may be required to be available to work additional hours in response to peaks in workloads and changes in department needs.