Deputy Town Attorney

About The Position

Have you ever wanted to work 10 miles from Lake Tahoe and 5 miles from the nearest ski resort? Take your stand-up paddle board out on a glassy mountain lake before work? Get in trail rides on your mountain bike on your lunch break? Fly-fish for trophy trout after work? Have work-life balance and be part of a community just named as one of the 10 best US ski towns to live in year-round?

The Town of Truckee is seeking its first ever Deputy Town Attorney. Come join the Town of Truckee team and experience a different way of life in a four-season resort community surrounded by endless outdoor recreational opportunities.

Job Description

• Assists the Town Attorney in providing professional legal services, assistance, and advice to the Town Council, all Town departments, the Town Manager, and various boards, committees, and commissions;
• Reviews proposed actions of Town officials for legal compliance;
• Analyzes legislation affecting the Town;
• Performs legal research and renders legal opinions in writing and orally for Town Attorney, Town Council, Town Manager, boards, committees, commissions, and department staff regarding routine matters;
• Represents the Town in litigation, mediation, arbitration, and administrative proceedings;
• Works closely with Town departments, provides legal support for the development and implementation of policies, programs, and initiatives to address the priorities of the Town Council and legal requirements;
• Prepares, reviews, and negotiates proposed agreements;
• Prepares, reviews, and comments on ordinances, resolutions, bonds and financing papers, insurance policies, deeds, pleadings, contracts, and other legal documents relating to Town affairs;
• Participates in meetings and makes presentations to Town management and, as needed, the Town Council and a wide variety of committees, boards, and commissions;
• Serves as the acting Town Attorney in the Town Attorney’s absence;
• Maintains working and official departmental files;
• Responds to public inquiries and complaints and assists with resolutions and alternative recommendations.

Supervision Received and Exercised

Receives general direction from the Town Attorney. Exercises no supervision over staff.

Class Characteristics

This is a journey-level classification responsible for independently performing professional legal duties in support of the Town Attorney’s office. Positions at this level excercise judgment and initiative in their assigned tasks, receive only occasional instruction or assistance as new or unusual situations arise, and are fully aware of the operating procedures and policies of the work unit.

Typical Qualifications

• Knowledge of: Principles, practices, and methods of application of municipal law.
• Federal, state, and local trial and appeal procedures and methods of case preparation and presentation for both civil and criminal matters.
• Functions, authority, and responsibilities of an elected Town Council.
• Established precedent and sources of legal reference applicable to municipal activities.
• Methods and techniques of conducting legal research and developing presentations, business correspondence, and information distribution.
• General principles of risk management related to the functions of the assigned area.
• Research, reporting, and record keeping methods, techniques, and procedures.
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, and Town staff.
• Modern equipment and communication tools used for business functions and program, project, and task coordination, including computers and software programs relevant to work performed.
• Structure and content of the English language, including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Ability To Provide sound legal advice to the Town Council, boards, committees, commissions, and staff.
• Present legal information and advice clearly and persuasively in public sessions.
• Determine alternative legal and administrative approaches to solving problems.
• Prepare and present cases in court.
• Research, analyze, and apply legal principles, facts, evidence, and precedents to legal problems found in a government agency practice.
• Prepare clear and concise legal reports, correspondence, contracts, policies, procedures, and other written materials.
• Understand, interpret, and apply all pertinent laws, codes, regulations, policies and procedures, and standards relevant to work performed.
• Analyze, interpret, summarize, and present technical information and data in an effective manner.
• Conduct complex research projects, evaluate alternatives, and make sound recommendations.
• Effectively represent the Town in meetings with governmental agencies, community groups, and various businesses, professional, and regulatory organizations, and in meetings with individuals.
• Maintain accurate logs, records, and written records of work performed.
• Organize work, set priorities, meet critical deadlines, and follow-up on assignments.
• Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy and procedural guidelines.
• Effectively use computer systems, software applications relevant to work performed, and modern business equipment to perform a variety of work tasks.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, using appropriate English grammar and syntax.
• Establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Apply and uphold the Town-wide and departmental goals and the Town Employee values of Integrity, Teamwork, Accountability, Commitment, and Excellence.
• Demonstrate understanding of, sensitivity to, and respect for the diverse socio-economic, racial, ethnic, religious, and cultural backgrounds, diverse abilities, gender, gender identity and expression, and sexual orientation of Town staff and community served.

Education And Experience

A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be: Equivalent to the completion of a Juris Doctorate from a college or university accredited by the American Bar Association or the California Bar Association and five (5) years of professional legal experience as an attorney engaged in the practice of municipal law.

Licenses And Certifications

Possession of, or ability to obtain, a California State Bar license in good standing with the State Bar of California within one (1) year of appointment.

Town of Truckee Mid Managers Association Benefits

• 0-4 Years of Service – 10 days
• 5-11 Years of Service – 15 days
• After 12 years of service – 20 days
• 240 hour cap
• Sick Leave Accrual 8 hours per month, 1,000 hour cap
• Paid Holidays (complete List Following)
• 13 paid holidays, plus 8 hours of floating holiday and 8 hours of alternative schedule offset hours to be used as vacation hours
• Administrative Leave 80 hours of paid Administrative Leave each fiscal year
• Retail Plan CalPERS (formula based on CalPERS membership date)
• 2.0% @ 62
• Miscellaneous Employees
• 2.5% @ 55 for "Classic" PERS members w/o break in service of 6 months or more
• Health Insurance: CalPERS Health Insurance
• Variety of plans offered
• Employee contribution varies by plan choice
• Dental & Vision Insurance
• Employee contribution varies by plan choice
• Group Life Insurance $50,000 Term Life/AD&D insurance policy, Town paid
• Short & Long Term Disability
• Employee paid premium – Provides weekly benefit for non-work related illness/injury
• Voluntary Life Insurance (Optional)
• Employee pays premium based on selected coverage
• Supplemental Benefit Plans (Optional)
• AFLAC - Employee pays premium based on enrollment from a supplemental benefit plan selection
• Flexible Spending