Assistant Attorney General - 249550 Window Rock, AZ

Office of the Attorney General
Employment Type: Regular Full-Time
Work Schedule: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Position Sensitivity: Not Sensitive
Applicants must submit transcripts, degrees, certificates, and/or other required documentation with the employment application to receive full credit. The Navajo Nation provides preference to eligible and qualified applicants pursuant to the Navajo Preference in Employment Act and Veterans’ Preference.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Under the general direction of the Attorney General or Deputy Attorney General, the Assistant Attorney General (AAG) for the Water Rights Unit serves as the lead water rights attorney for the Navajo Nation. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Representing the Navajo Nation in multiple water rights adjudications pending in state and federal courts
• Representing the Nation in state administrative water rights proceedings and settlement negotiations concerning Navajo Nation water rights
• Directing and supervising all attorneys and contract attorneys assigned to the Water Rights Unit
• Working closely with technical staff within the Department of Water Resources, other Navajo Nation programs, and retained consultants and expert witnesses
• Providing legal advice on water rights matters to the Office of the President and Vice President, Office of the Speaker, the Navajo Nation Council, and its committees and subcommittees
• Collaborating with the Navajo Nation Water Rights Commission (NNWRC) to ensure the Nation’s water rights are effectively pursued and protected
• Overseeing administrative operations of the Water Rights Unit, including supervision of administrative staff
• Developing and submitting the Water Rights Unit budget to the NNWRC for approval, funded through the Water Rights Claims Fund
• Ensuring sufficient funding is available for all water rights litigation and related activities under the supervision of the AAG

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree AND Eight (8) years of professional experience as a state-licensed attorney, two (2) years of which must have been in a supervisory capacity. Licensed to practice law in Arizona, New Mexico, or Utah, and admitted to practice before the Navajo Nation

SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Knowledge of judicial procedures and rules of evidence
• Considerable knowledge of pleading methods, litigation practices, and effective courtroom presentation techniques
• Knowledge of the functions, policies, rules, and regulations of the employing department
• Ability to analyze, organize, and evaluate facts, evidence, and legal precedent
• Ability to present legal arguments and materials clearly and logically in oral and written form
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with consultants and outside counsel
• Knowledge of principles and practices of public administration