City Attorney

Internal Candidates must apply through Jobs Hub in Workday.

All positions close Friday morning at 12:01am.

Apply to join our team today! The City of Arvada promotes Equal Pay for Equal Work. Starting salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity. The range listed reflects the entire range and typical placement is entry to mid range.

**A Resume and Cover Letter are required upon application.

The salary range for the City Attorney position is $225,000 - $300,000 annually, with placement based on the selected candidate's qualifications and experience. Explore our Recruitment Brochure for additional information about the position, leadership opportunity, and the City of Arvada.

The recruitment process is expected to include initial interviews on Monday, January 11, 2027. Candidates selected to advance will be invited to interview with City Council on Tuesday, January 26, 2027.

Position Purpose

Appointed by and reporting directly to the Arvada City Council, the City Attorney serves as the City's chief legal officer and an executive member of the City's Leadership Team. The City Attorney provides independent, objective, and strategic legal counsel to the City Council and advises the City Manager, departments, boards, commissions, and authorities within the scope of the City's legal representation.

The City Attorney anticipates emerging legal issues, evaluates the legal implications of policy alternatives, and recommends lawful and practical approaches that advance Council priorities while protecting the City's legal interests, resources, and institutional integrity. The City Attorney also ensures the City Code is regularly reviewed, maintained, and updated to reflect current law and adopted City ordinances.

The City Attorney leads the City Attorney's Office and Risk Management function and serves as the lead administrator responsible for managing the staff, operations, and resources of both functions. The City Attorney is accountable for quality, timeliness, effectiveness, and fiscal stewardship. Responsibilities including municipal governance, transactions, civil litigation, municipal prosecution, insurance, claims, and organizational risk prevention.

The position exercises independent professional judgment and provides candid advice consistent with the City Charter, applicable law, and the Colorado Rules of Professional Conduct.

Council Accountability and Executive Relationships

Council establishes performance expectations and evaluates the City Attorney's performance consistent with the City Charter and applicable employment agreement. The City Attorney maintains a direct reporting relationship to Council and works collaboratively with the City Manager and executive leadership.

The City Attorney provides candid and impartial advice to the full Council, communicates significant legal issues promptly, and supports informed decisions through clear explanations of lawful options and their consequences. Council determines policy; the City Attorney advises on legal considerations and supports implementation of Council's lawful direction.

The City Attorney serves the City as the organizational client. Advice to officials and employees is provided in their official capacities within the scope of that representation. The City Attorney identifies conflicts of interest and arranges separate counsel when appropriate.

Essential Responsibilities

• Strategic legal counsel. Advise Council on significant policy proposals, initiatives, agreements, and decisions. Explain legal constraints, alternatives, and immediate and long-term consequences in clear, actionable terms.
• Strategic Risk Management. Lead the City's Risk Management function. Establish a coordinated approach to identifying, assessing, mitigating, and monitoring legal, operational, financial, and liability risks. Oversee insurance coverage, claims administration, loss prevention, and coordination with insurers and risk pools. Partner with departments on mitigation and elevate significant risks and coverage decisions to Council and executive leadership. Monitor risk related legislation and legal trends.
• Municipal governance. Advise on the City Charter, Council procedures, ethics, conflicts of interest, elections, open meetings, public records, and the respective responsibilities of elected officials and staff.
• Independent professional judgment. Provide candid, impartial, and consistent advice to Council and City leadership, including advice on difficult or sensitive matters. Protect confidential information and manage legal conflicts appropriately.
• Leadership and administration of legal services. Establish office priorities, assign responsibilities, maintain professional quality standards, and align legal services with Council priorities and organizational needs. Personally lead significant or sensitive matters as appropriate.
• Litigation and dispute strategy. Direct litigation, claims, appeals, administrative proceedings, and dispute resolution. Coordinate legal defense with Risk Management, insurers, and outside counsel. Advise authorized decision makers on strategy, exposure, and settlement options within applicable approval authority.
• Transactions and legislation. Oversee legal support for contracts, land use, development, real estate, public finance, procurement, employment, franchises, rights-of-way, special districts, and intergovernmental agreements. Direct preparation and review of ordinances, resolutions, policies, and Charter matters.
• Municipal prosecution. Oversee effective, fair, and legally sound prosecution of municipal violations, including case management, appeals, staffing, and professional standards, consistent with applicable law and prosecutorial obligations.
• Public safety and emergency support. Ensure reliable legal support for Police, code enforcement, and emergency operations through designated staff, after-hours coverage, and escalation procedures. Personally advise on significant or sensitive matters.
• Organizational legal readiness. Provide preventive advice, training, and practical guidance that help officials and employees recognize legal issues and involve counsel early. Support effective intergovernmental relationships and negotiations.
• People leadership and development. Lead, develop, and hold staff accountable for performance across the City Attorney's Office and Risk Management function. Establish clear expectations, foster a collaborative and service-oriented work environment, support professional development, address performance management, and promote continuous improvement.
• Administrative and financial stewardship. Develop and administer legal services and risk management budgets in collaboration with the City Manager and budget team; oversee insurance and risk financing recommendations; select and supervise outside counsel within applicable authority; and ensure the effective allocation and use of personnel, financial, and operational resources across both functions.
• Work planning and accountability. Develop annual legal services and risk management work plans with Council input. Report on priorities, significant matters, emerging risks, claims and loss trends, mitigation progress, insurance coverage, service performance, and spending while protecting privileged and confidential information.

Executive Competencies

• Executive judgment. Anticipates long-term consequences, distinguishes legal requirements from policy choices, and identifies practical and lawful paths forward.
• Integrity and independence. Demonstrates sound ethical judgment, professional courage, impartiality, confidentiality, and accountability.
• Communication and relationships. Explains complex legal issues plainly; listens effectively; and builds productive relationships with the full City Council, executive leadership, employees, and external partners.
• Political awareness. Works effectively in sensitive public settings, adapts to changes in elected leadership, and maintains consistent professional advice and service.
• Conflict resolution and de-escalation: Effectively navigates difficult, sensitive, and contentious situations; de-escalates conflict, facilitates constructive dialogue, and identifies practical paths toward resolution.
• Strategic and collaborative leadership: Aligns the work of the City Attorney's Office with the City's priorities, supports effective decision-making, and works collaboratively and constructively with City Council, the City Manager, department heads, and other stakeholders while balancing legal obligations, operational needs, and public interests.
• Leadership and staff development. Provides strong leadership, establishes clear expectations, delegates effectively, develops staff, and promotes accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Administrative and resource stewardship. Manages competing priorities and ensures the effective and responsible use of personnel, budgets, technology, outside counsel, insurance, risk financing, and other resources across the City Attorney's Office and Risk Management function.

Minimum Qualifications

Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school. Active license to practice law in Colorado, in good standing, and continuing compliance with the Colorado Rules of Professional Conduct.

Ten years of progressively responsible experience as an attorney, including at least five years of municipal law experience and five years of supervisory experience overseeing attorneys or a legal office. Qualifying experience may be concurrent. Experience must include advising elected officials or governing bodies, managing complex legal matters, and responsibility for staff, budgets, or outside legal services.

Comprehensive knowledge of municipal law and Colorado local government, including constitutional and administrative law, land use and zoning, public finance, contracts and procurement, employment, litigation, municipal prosecution, public meetings and records, franchises and rights of way, and special districts. Advanced legal analysis, negotiation, legislative drafting, and statutory interpretation skills are required.

Additional Requirements

Must pass applicable background screening. Must obtain and maintain required Criminal Justice Information Services certification when access or assigned responsibilities require it. An acceptable driving record and valid Colorado driver's license are required to travel to meetings and perform job-related duties at various City locations.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience overseeing or coordinating public-sector risk management, insurance, claims, or loss prevention. Knowledge of risk assessment, municipal insurance, risk financing, claims administration, and loss prevention.

Working Conditions

Work is primarily performed in an office and involves frequent sitting, standing, and walking throughout the business day, with attendance at Council meetings, hearings, and other meetings or events, including evenings. Availability for urgent matters outside normal business hours is required through established coverage and escalation arrangements. Duties may involve local and regional travel and occasional lifting or carrying of light materials. Essential functions must be performed with or without reasonable accommodation.

Performs other duties consistent with the office's responsibilities and as directed by City Council, subject to applicable law and professional obligations.

Other Qualifications

• Must obtain and maintain a Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Certification.
• Must pass a criminal background check and a driving record check.

Physical Demands

• Minimal physical effort typically found in clerical work. Primarily sedentary, may occasionally lift and carry light objects. Walking and/or standing as needed and minimal.

Hazards

• Minimal exposure to hazards are typically found in general office environment where there is rarely to no exposure to injury or accident

Work Environment

• Exposure to routine office noise and equipment

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