Deputy City Attorney-Land Use

NACBA; Denton (TX); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Denton seeks a Land Use Attorney to join its City Attorney’s Office. The role handles municipal and land-use matters, planning, environmental issues, and collaboration with Planning and Zoning Commission, Zoning Board of Adjustment, and City Council.

The ideal candidate has 3+ years in municipal/land-use law and strong drafting, negotiation, and policy-recommendation skills, with Texas licensure within six months preferred.

Qualifications

• Three or more years of progressively responsible experience in municipal law, land use, zoning and environmental law, as well as substantial experience in planning and engineering matters.
• Licensed to practice law in the State of Texas, or ability to obtain Texas licensure within six months of employment.

Responsibilities

• Provides legal services to the Development Services Department, Planning and Zoning Commission, and Zoning Board of Adjustment.
• Gives legal opinions and advice to City Council, City Manager, and staff.
• Conducts legal research on municipal land use issues and documents results.
• Prepares, reviews, and analyzes contracts, agreements, and policies.
• Represents the City in negotiations and ensures compliance with city policy and law.
• Makes policy recommendations and can act as City Attorney in absence.
• Presents before boards and the City Council and prepares legal instruments.

Skills

Municipal law

Land use law

Planning

Environmental law

Engineering processes

Bilingual in Spanish and English

Education

Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school

Job description

Summary

Under the direction of the City Attorney, the Denton City Attorney’s Office seeks a well-qualified, motivated and highly collaborative Land Use Attorney to join its team. The position involves working in a fast-paced environment dealing with interesting and challenging legal issues experienced by few Texas cities. The ideal candidate will have experience with municipal law, land use law, planning, environmental law, and engineering processes. The City Attorney’s Office is small (twelve attorneys), so versatility, flexibility and adaptability is essential.

Essential Functions and Other Important Duties

Responsible for providing quality legal services to the City’s Development Services Department, the City’s Planning and Zoning Commission, and the City’s Zoning Board of Adjustment, and performing other duties as assigned by the City Attorney.

Provides legal advice and services to City Council, City Manager, and Staff.

Reviews documents and provides legal opinions and advice.

Conducts legal research on municipal land use issues, documents results and findings, presents legal advice and information and presents recommendations.

Prepares, reviews, tracks and analyzes contracts, agreements, policies and other legal documents.

Represents the City in negotiating legal issues; assures that legal issues are resolved within City policy guidelines and applicable law; assures effective communication of issues with the City Attorney and City principals.

Recommend changes in policies and procedures in order to meet legal requirements.

Acts as City Attorney in their absence if assigned.

Provides final decision making on legal matters affecting policy with possible significant cost impacts.

Makes professional presentations before boards, commissions, and the City Council.

Prepares legal instruments for boards and commissions, City Manager and City Council.

Supports the relationship between the City of Denton and the general public by demonstrating courteous and cooperative behavior when interacting with citizens, visitors and City Staff.

Additional Duties:

Performs other duties as assigned

Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school
Three or more years of progressively responsible experience in municipal law, land use, zoning and environmental law, as well as substantial experience in planning and engineering matters, either in a city legal department or in a private law firm.

OR

Any combination of related education, experience, certifications and licenses that will result in a candidate successfully performing the essential functions of the job

Core Competencies:

• Must possess required knowledge, skills, abilities and experience and be able to explain and demonstrate, with or without reasonable accommodations, that the essential functions of the job can be performed.
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to form and maintain effective relationships with coworkers and customers.
• Ability to maintain regular and punctual attendance.
• Exhibits strong knowledge in a variety of municipal law practice areas, including but not limited to: purchasing, employment/human resources, economic development, land use and planning, parks and recreation, general aviation, real estate, finance, Public Information Act and Open Meetings Act, and litigation.
• Exhibits interpersonal/human relations skills and the ability to support controversial position and/or negotiation skills.
• Ability to independently perform the full range of general and specialized legal work on a variety of topics, with emphasis in land use.
• Ability to provide administrative and professional leadership and direction to assigned administrative/clerical support staff.
• Ability to perform duties consistent with Denton’s mission to be a leader among cities.
• Ability to use word processing software and equipment.

Environmental Factors and Conditions/Physical Requirements

Licensed to practice law in the State of Texas, or be able to obtain Texas licensure within six months of employment

Must have a valid Class “C” Driver’s License and valid state required minimum automobile liability insurance prior to employment (must obtain Texas Class “C” driver’s license and state required minimum automobile liability insurance within 30 days of hire per state law)

Must pass a drug test, driver’s license check, criminal history background check, and social security number verification check

Must have the ability to present professionally before boards and commissions and the City Council

Must possess a high degree of interpersonal skill in order to professionally deliver municipal legal services to a public client

Preferences:

Bilingual in Spanish and English

Preference given to proven experience in the areas of Land Use, Zoning, Environmental, and Municipal law.

Physical Requirements:

Overall Strength Demands: The italicized word describes the overall strength demand of the functions performed by the incumbent during a typical workday.

Sedentary – lifting no more than 10 pounds

Light – lifting no more than 20 pounds; carry up to 10 pounds

Medium – lifting no more than 50 pounds, carry up to 25 pounds

Heavy – lifting no more than 100 pounds, carry up to 50 pounds

Very Heavy – lifting more than 100 pounds, carry more than 50 pounds

Physical Demand Codes: The following describes if the incumbent is expected to exert the following physical demands during a typical workday and the overall frequency.

Codes for “how often”:

Y = Yes

N = No

E = extensive (100-70%)

M = moderate (60-30%)

I = infrequent (20-10%)

A = almost never (<10%)

Task: Code:

• 1. Standing: A
• 2. Sitting: E
• 3. Walking: A
• 4. Lifting: A
• 5. Carrying: I
• 6. Pushing/Pulling: A
• 7. Overhead Work: A
• 8. Fine Dexterity: M
• 9. Kneeling: A
• 10. Crouching: A
• 11. Crawling: A
• 12. Bending: A
• 13. Twisting: M
• 14. Climbing: A
• 15. Balancing: N
• 16. Vision: Y
• 17. Hearing: Y
• 18. Talking: Y
• 19. Video Display: Y
• 20. Other:

Machines, Tools, Equipment and Work Aids:

The essential functions of this position require the use of a computer and telephone.

Environmental Factors:

The essential functions of this position are performed in an office environment and/or court of law.

EEO STATEMENT

The City of Denton is an equal opportunity employer. It is the policy of the City of Denton to prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type and to afford equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to any protected class, status, characteristic, or activity. All employment decisions, including decisions regarding recruitment, selection, hiring, compensation, benefits, training, advancement, discipline, discharge, and other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment are made without regard to any lawfully protected class, status, characteristic, or activity.

ADA/EOE/ADEA

This job description is not an employment agreement, contract agreement, or contract. Management has the exclusive right to alter this job description at any time without notice.

E-Verify:

The City of Denton participates in the federal E-Verify program in order to verify a new employee's authorization to work in the United States. Applicants must be lawfully authorized to work in the U.S.