THE CITY OF RICHMOND
Richmond is a waterfront city of 110,000 on the east shore of San Francisco Bay, five miles north of Berkeley and seven miles “as the crow flies” from downtown San Francisco. In WWII, Richmond had the largest and most productive shipyards in the world, proudly celebrated today by the Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park. Richmond is one of the most racially and ethnically diverse cities in the Bay Area with a population that is 40 percent non-white Latino, 22 percent African American, 17 percent white, and 15 percent Asian, and has one of the most progressive city governments in California. Richmond’s economic advantage is based on its affordability, its central location in the Bay Area and its access to multimodal water, rail, transit, bus, and freeway transportation.
Richmond has an unusually mild climate, more miles of Bay shoreline and more miles of San Francisco Bay Trail than any other Bay Area city. Richmond enjoys access to thousands of acres of regional parks, much of which is on the waterfront and is full of fantastic places to explore. From the Bay Trail and dog friendly parks to beaches and watersports, museums, golf, art centers, cultural performances, antique shops, ethnic foods, music and restaurants; Richmond has something for everyone. Richmond is a warm and welcoming city because of the diversity of its residents, businesspeople, land use and its historic contributions to the future.
THE ORGANIZATION
The City of Richmond is a full-service city operating under the Council-Manager form of government, with a seven-member City Council. The City Attorney, City Manager, City Clerk and the Citizens Police Review Commission Investigative Officer report to the City Council. The City Council also sits as the governing body of the Housing Authority. The City of Richmond provides a full range of municipal services including police and fire protection; construction and maintenance of streets and infrastructure; library services; storm water and municipal sewer systems; and the administration of recreational activities and cultural events. The City also operates the Richmond Memorial Convention Center and the Port of Richmond. The City is supported by a FY2019-20 general fund budget of approximately $176.2 million and 722.5 FTEs. To learn more, visit the City’s website at: www.ci.richmond.ca.us
THE POSITION
The City Attorney is appointed by the Mayor and City Council and is responsible for the management and oversight of all legal matters involving the City of Richmond. The City Attorney provides leadership and timely and reliable legal advice, support, representation, and counsel in an expansive range of areas; and works collaboratively in support of the seven-member City Council, City Manager, City Boards and Commissions, City Departments and agencies within the City to achieve established goals and objectives. The City Attorney attends and represents the City’s legal interests at all City Council meetings (including Closed Sessions and Council Workshops) and other committee meetings; reviews, approves and prepares ordinances, resolutions, staff reports, contracts, deeds, leases, legal opinions, and other legal documents; reviews and advises on all claims filed against the City; directs and supervises the defense of all litigation involving the City, and oversees services provided by outside legal specialists engaged by the City for specialty work. The FY 2019 – 2020 operating budget for the Office of the City Attorney is approximately $1.8 million. The Office of the City Attorney currently includes a staff of six attorneys and three support staff.
THE IDEAL CANDIDATE
The City of Richmond seeks a City Attorney with broad legal experience, who will be a team builder and a hands-on manager and leader with a track record of successfully managing a municipal legal office, and who will have exceptional verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills, and who will thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced, and complex organization. The ideal candidate will be politically astute, while being neutral and independent and will be able to stand firm on positions, and remain independent and objective in recommendations and counsel. The City Attorney will evaluate complicated and controversial situations, and present options and complicated legal concepts in a clear and concise fashion. The legal professional selected for this position will have a collaborative style, will establish and maintain effective working relationships, will understand the nature of active citizen participation within a community, and will be comfortable working with people from diverse ethnic, economic and political backgrounds, and operate in a transparent and relatively high-profile environment that supports innovation, and community engagement. The City values a City Attorney who is recognized as an inclusive and thoughtful legal advisor who listens first, seeks input, and then, after a thorough analysis of all aspects of an issue, will consistently present legal options and advice that are based on precedent, facts, and research. Other personal attributes include being a strong manager of people and resources combined with an approachable, business friendly, can-do attitude, customer service orientation. Additionally, a commitment to public service and the core values of integrity and honesty are vital to the long term success of the ideal candidate.
THE QUALIFICATIONS
The City Council will select a City Attorney who has a unique and compelling combination of skills and experience in California municipal law. As a result, any combination of education and experience that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. The top candidates will have credibility in the legal profession and be known as a legal strategist and innovative leader, well-versed across a broad range of issues. Being skilled as a generalist in municipal law and being able to manage a law office on a multitude of issues will be critical. The City of Richmond will also expect candidates to demonstrate depth of expertise and knowledge in some of the following key areas: land use and planning, environmental law (CEQA, NEPA), parliamentary procedures, real estate, Brown Act, contract and franchises, election codes, California Public Records Act, public safety, preparing ordinances and resolutions, property rights and acquisition, code enforcement, ports and maritime law, transportation, and housing.
Education: Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school is required.
License: Current active membership in good standing with the California State Bar.
Experience: At least three (3) years of progressively responsible experience in the practice of public law, including experience supervising professional and clerical legal staff.
THE COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
The salary range for this outstanding opportunity is $148,056 – $235,680 and appointment will be made within this range depending upon qualifications. The salary is complemented by a generous benefits package that includes:
Retirement – CalPERS 2.7% @ 55 for classic employees (8% employee contribution); 2% @ 62 for employees new to CalPERS (6.75% employee contribution).
Medical – Managed through CalPERS with multiple options. Maximum benefit paid by the City of Richmond is the Kaiser HMO family rate.
Delta Dental, Vision Service Plan and Employee Assistance Program are provided at no cost to the employee.
Life Insurance – 2x annual salary up to $250,000 benefit
Long Term Disability Insurance – 60% of salary up to $5,000 per month after 30 day waiting period.
Paid Holidays (12 per calendar year), floating holidays (five per calendar year), and administrative leave (11 day per fiscal year).
Vacation: Ten days, increasing after three years and vacation credit for prior employment.
Sick Leave: Twelve days annual sick leave and payment for unused sick leave.
THE SELECTION CRITERIA
Following the closing date, all resumes will be evaluated based on the qualifications criteria outlined in this brochure. The most qualified candidates will be invited to a panel interview with subject matter experts. Finalist will be invited to an interview with the City Council. Appointment to the City Attorney position will be based on best fit, competency, education, training, and experience as it relates to the position of City Attorney and is contingent on successful completion of background and reference checks.
HOW TO APPLY
Please visit www.koffassociates.com/jobs to apply. Follow the brochure link above for the full job listing or call 510.658.5633 for more info.
You can also reach the Koff & Associates Recruiting team at recruiting@infokoff.com
The deadline to apply for this position is TUESDAY, JULY 7th