Deputy City Attorney

Job Description

The Deputy City Attorney, under the direction of the City Attorney, is responsible for professional and administrative legal work assisting the City Attorney in directing the activities of the Legal Department. The position requires a team player capable of assisting in planning, directing, managing and overseeing the activities and operations of the City Attorney's Office. This position requires an individual who is able to exercise direct supervision over professional, technical and clerical staff in a busy, high volume legal department and who is well-organized and self-directed. The position requires excellent written and verbal communication skills; and a detail-oriented perspective, including ability to read, analyze and interpret complex contracts, judicial opinions, constitutional and statutory provisions and other legal documents. The position also requires in-depth and comprehensive knowledge of legal proceedings and the ability to act independently, problem-solve, analyze risk and use sound judgment; and perform other related assigned duties in order to assist the City Attorney as the chief legal officer of the City of Broken Arrow.

Essential Job Functions

• Assists the City Attorney in planning, assigning, supervising and reviewing the work performed by the Legal Department Staff and assumes the City Attorney's duties in his or her absence.
• Assists the City Attorney in developing a Legal Department budget including forecasting funds needed for staffing, equipment, materials and supplies and monitoring and approving expenditures.
• Assists in creation of a department that encourages mentoring and professional development and encourages cross-training of professional and support staff and proactively works to develop best practices in the department in a continuous effort to cooperatively and jointly provide quality seamless customer service.
• Assists the City Attorney in resolving interdepartmental issues.
• Assists the City with formulating and implementing departmental policies and procedures.
• Advises City officials and personnel on legal matters in order to minimize the risk of litigation.
• Investigates tort claims filed against the City of Broken Arrow by interviewing the personnel involved in the tort claim, and gathering, reviewing and analyzing relevant evidence.
• Drafts Economic Development Agreements for the City and City Trusts.
• Provides professional legal advice to the City Council, its Boards and Commissions, department directors, and employees.
• Reviews, prepares and approves as to form contract documents for construction projects, for the purchase, lease or sale of goods, services and professional services including specifications, bid documents and requests for proposals, contracts, deeds, leases, bond and financing papers, insurance policies and other documents effecting the City.
• Performs legal research and prepares and reviews formal and informal legal opinions and memoranda for study and consideration of the City Attorney or other City officials and advises departmental officials and employees on legal questions.
• Reviews rules, policies, plans and forms prepared by other City personnel for compliance with applicable law.
• Reviews and drafts correspondence for various department to assure legal accuracy upon request.
• Prepares, revises and edits governmental and private industry contracts, economic development agreements, vendor contracts, franchises, leases, licenses.
• Reviews bids to ensure compliance with Oklahoma Competitive Bid Act and Purchasing Manual.
• Manages the processing of Brady/Giglio requests.
• Oversees the Regional Metropolitan Utility Authority Agreements and attends Board Meetings.
• Reviews and drafts items for the City Council Agendas, Broken Arrow Economic Development Authority and the Broken Arrow Municipal Authority and other City Boards.
• Responds to questions and problems presented by private individuals and City personnel regarding City business.
• Maintains and updates professional knowledge and skills.
• Serves on special boards and committees as assigned.
• Assists in the development and implementation of comprehensive training programs for City employees.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Education and Experience

Requires graduation from an accredited School of Law, supplemented by three to five years of related experience; or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities. Possession of or ability to readily obtain a valid Driver's License issued by the State of Oklahoma for the type of vehicle or equipment operated. Possession of an Oklahoma Bar License to practice law, Admitted to practice in Federal Court for the Northern, Eastern, and Western District Courts of Oklahoma, as well as the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Physical Requirements

Tasks involve the ability to exert minimal physical effort in sedentary work, typically involving some combination of balancing, feeling, handling, hearing, kneeling, mental acuity, reaching, repetitive motion, speaking, standing, talking, visual acuity, walking and which involves some lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials of moderate weight (up to 10 pounds). Tasks may involve extended periods of time at a keyboard or workstation.

An offer of employment is contingent on the verification of credentials and other information required by the City of Broken Arrow policies, including the successful completion of a background check and drug/physical screening.

City of Broken Arrow is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity at all levels of the workforce. Employment selection and related decisions are made without regard to sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, race, age, disability, religion, national origin, ethnicity, color, genetic information, marital status, or any other protected class. Broken Arrow is committed to reasonable accommodation, and a smoke free/drug free workplace.