Assistant City Attorney (II or Senior) - Risk Management & Contracts

Position may be filled at the II or Senior Level, depending on qualifications and department needs.

The City of Littleton has a new opening for an Assistant City Attorney (II or Senior level) to join the City Attorney’s Office to provide in-house legal counsel to officers, employees, and departments of the city on a broad range of municipal law matters and topics.

This position will provide strategic vision and direction on determining the most effective methods of minimizing and managing risk, including assistance with identifying, assessing, and responding to operational risks. In coordination with city staff, this position will conduct financial analyses of the insurance fund to determine adequate funding and coverage, evaluate insurance coverage needs, analyze insurance bids, assist in managing claims against the city, address coverage issues, and recommend and write policies and procedures concerning coverage. Additionally, this position will oversee, review, and process city-wide contracts, manage the contract management system, assist with and advise on contract negotiations, and process final contract documents for execution.

The ideal candidate is detail oriented and collaborative with the ability to translate and communicate about complex topics with staff and vendors. Successful candidates will have experience in municipal contracts, working knowledge of procurement processes, and a strong understanding of insurance coverage, claims, and various risk management principles.

The City of Littleton is a vibrant community south of Denver and is consistently voted as one of America’s Best Small Cities, and a top place to raise a family. Learn more about everything Littleton has to offer at VisitLittleton.org. Home to a vibrant and historic downtown, and a variety of shopping venues, restaurants, parks and trails, there is a lot to offer to the wonderful people who live and work here. The City of Littleton offers outstanding benefits and perks to our employees. For more information, see the 2025 Benefit Guide.

The City of Littleton believes in attracting and retaining the best talent and our strategies include hiring in at market pay and creating career development opportunities. In addition to your application, please submit a cover letter that describes why you are the best candidate for this position with the City of Littleton.

Hiring pay range for Assistant City Attorney II level $124,260 - $137,340 per year

Hiring pay range for Senior Assistant City Attorney level $146,585 - $162,015 per year

This full-time position is exempt per FLSA and is not eligible for overtime compensation.

Work Schedule: This is a full-time position and has the option to work a hybrid schedule with some days teleworking and some days working in person at the office. 

Application Deadline: Applications will be accepted until finalists are identified or the position is filled, but preference will be given to complete applications received by June 18, 2025 Those who do not apply by this date may or may not be considered.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

The following duties and responsibilities are illustrative of the primary functions of the position but are not intended to be all inclusive.

• Provides a broad range of complex legal research and advice concerning matters related to the city code, city charter, state and federal law, and other administrative rules and regulations of the city.

• Drafts and reviews contracts, ordinances, resolutions, intergovernmental agreements, legal memoranda, council communications, pleadings, motions, and briefs.

• Drafts legal opinions of a specialized, unique, or complex nature and provides legal advice to City Council, city departments and officials, and various city boards and commissions.

• Acts as counsel for various city boards, commissions, and city departments including attending various boards and commission meetings as may be assigned.

• Identifies, analyzes, assesses, and helps manage legal risks and liabilities to the city associated with municipal operations and decision making.

• Reviews various applications before applicable boards and commissions to identify legal, policy, and technical issues.

• May represent city departments in response to subpoenas and in personnel hearings.

• May act as backup City Attorney.

• May act as backup municipal court prosecutor.

• Provides training to city staff as requested.

• Performs other related duties as may be assigned.

Risk Management and Contracts Specific:

• Provides strategic vision and direction on determining the most effective methods of minimizing and managing risk, including assistance with identifying, assessing, and responding to operational risks.

• In coordination with city staff, conducts financial analyses of the insurance fund to determine adequate funding and coverage.

• Evaluates needs for insurance coverage with a third-party vendor, and ensures responses are complete.

• Analyzes insurance bids, recommends the purchase of various types and levels of insurance based upon the overall bids and the price.

• Represents city insurance interests with various city boards and inter-departmental committees.

• Addresses any insurance coverage issues that arise concerning the city’s insurance policies and creates policies and procedures concerning coverage.

• Oversees and processes citywide contracts and handles the contract management system. 

• Reviews and negotiates, within established level of authority, contracts provisions with third-parties and approves, in conjunction with staff, final contract documents for execution.

• Advises on, in coordination with city staff, the evaluation and administration of external claims related to auto, general liability, and property.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Minimum Qualifications for Assistant City Attorney II level:

• Juris Doctorate from a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association; and

• Five (5) years of experience as an attorney, preferably with a municipal or government agency; or

• An equivalent combination of education, training and work experience that produces the knowledge, skill, and ability to perform the essential duties and responsibilities of the position may be considered.

• Must be licensed to practice law in the State of Colorado.  

• Must be able to pass a pre-employment criminal background check.

Minimum Qualifications for Senior Assistant City Attorney level:

• Juris Doctorate from a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association; and

• Seven (7) years of experience as an attorney, preferably with a municipal or government agency; or

• An equivalent combination of education, training and work experience that produces the knowledge, skill, and ability to perform the essential duties and responsibilities of the position may be considered.

• Must be licensed to practice law in the State of Colorado.  

• Must be able to pass a pre-employment criminal background check.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in municipal contracts, including working knowledge of procurement processes.

• Advanced knowledge and understanding of risk management principles.

• Advanced knowledge of insurance purchasing and practices, and claims evaluation, resolution, and administration.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES:

• Advanced knowledge of the Colorado Revised Statutes as it pertains to city and local government.

• Advanced knowledge of municipal law and related specific areas of concentration

• Advanced skills in legal writing, research, and proofreading.  Produces high quality documents that are logical, concise, accurate, and easy to follow for clients.

• Ability to manage multiple projects with varying deadlines.

• Ability to understand and interpret case law, statutes, and administrative rules and regulations.

• Ability to remain calm, respond and communicate clearly, accurately and appropriately, and deescalate situations when appropriate.

• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing for a wide variety of audiences.

• Exercises appropriate level of initiative and judgment to make decisions within the scope of assigned authority.

• Knowledge of the rules of evidence and of proper courtroom procedure.

• Understanding of how political and organization dynamics affect the legal work of the City Attorney’s Office and effectively manages those dynamics.

• Ability to work both independently and collectively to assist the city and clients in reaching goals and objectives.

• Interest in innovating and improving processes and the ability to participate in team project solving.

• Willingness and demonstrated ability to fill in for other attorneys in their subject matter areas.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT & PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES:

This position works in a standard office environment requiring the ability to sit for long periods of time. Physical activities required for this position include: occasionally lifting; carrying; pushing; and pulling objects weighing up to 20 pounds with or without assistance.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The City of Littleton is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and intends to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and job applicants regardless of age, ancestry, color, creed, disability, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, marital status, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law, and to hire and retain the best-qualified individuals without regard to any of these factors. This prohibition includes unlawful harassment based on a protected class.

The City of Littleton will consider reasonable accommodations throughout the recruitment process and employment. Applicants and employees can request an accommodation by contacting Human Resources at 303-795-3857 or emailing hr@littletongov.org.

Drug- and Alcohol-Free Workplace

The City of Littleton is committed to the health and safety of all its employees. To ensure a safe and productive work environment the city prohibits the use, sale, dispensation, manufacture, distribution or possession of alcohol, drugs, controlled substances or drug paraphernalia on any city premises or worksites. No employee shall report to work or be at work with alcohol or with any detectable amount of prohibited drugs in the employee's system. A detectable amount refers to the standards generally used in workplace drug & alcohol testing. This prohibition specifically includes marijuana, and decriminalized psychedelics whether used for medical purposes or obtained legally under state law.