Closing Date: 31st March, 2026
Description:
General Definition of Work:Performs managerial and professional duties as required to carry out the efficient and effective litigation of civil or criminal cases and the ongoing legal processes of city government. Serves as the lead city legal advisor in all civil and criminal matters.
Supervision Received:
Works under the general supervision of the Mayor and/or City Manager.
Supervision Exercised:
Provides broad policy guidance and direction to Assistant City Attorney(s) and temporary and contract staff.
Essential Functions:
- Acts as a city principal legal advisor; directs the ongoing legal processes of the city and delegates projects and cases to subordinate attorney(s); attends city council meetings to advise on procedures, issues, projects and cases; attends various advisory, committee and commission meetings to provide legal assistance; apprises and advises elected and other city officers on questions pertaining to legal duties of such officer(s); takes the lead and serves as the first-line contact for legal processes and functions; represents the city in the enforcement of municipal ordinances in Municipal and district court; generally oversees criminal prosecution cases.
- Performs legal research, makes recommendations and prepares legal opinions for the city manager, mayor and council; provides legal support in areas related to procurement, land acquisitions, land use codes, personnel actions, water law issues, etc.; represents the city and appears in court to secure and maintain legal rights, privileges, and ownership; serves as defense counsel on issues related to appeals on planning and zoning issues; directs, supervises and/or contracts the prosecution of all DUI/DWI citations and various code violations.
- Prepares and administers legal department budget; assures that assigned areas of responsibility are performed within budget; performs cost control activities; monitors revenues and expenditures in assigned area to assure sound fiscal control; prepares annual budget requests; assures effective and efficient use of budgeted funds, personnel, materials, facilities, and time.
- Drafts all ordinances, contracts, leases, conveyances and all instruments of writing as may be required by the governing body or city manager; performs contract management; monitors the administrative processing of agreements proposed to be entered into by the city; conducts legal review and analysis; writes contracts, establishes contract templates; oversees tracking and numbering of contracts and monitors contract status and disposition; writes opinions and legal directives; initiates sanctions and exercises legal processes for the collection of outstanding revenues or obligations owed to the city. • Drafts and conducts legal review of proposed legislation to update or amend city resolutions and ordinances as requested; renders and publishes public opinion as to form of proposed resolutions and ordinances; initiates sanctions and exercises legal processes for the collection of outstanding revenues or obligations owed to the city.
- Reviews and investigates claims; determines legitimacy of claims in cooperation with Self-Insurers Fund; negotiates settlements of claims filed against the city for actions arising out of the course of conducting city business or providing city services; promotes timely settlement to avoid costly litigation as much as is possible; causes executions to be issued on all judgments in favor of the city and attends to their prompt collection.
- Participates in pretrial conferences and attends municipal court; negotiates for mutually agreeable solutions and charges; makes recommendations for sentences and represents the city in show cause hearings; conducts investigation of complaints determines quality of the case and whether or not evidence is sufficient to proceed with prosecution.
- Performs related duties as assigned.
- Prepares, justifies, and/or administers the budget for program areas; plans, administers, and monitors expenditures to ensure cost-effective support of programs and policies; assesses financial condition of an organization.
- Develops goals, documents performance, reviews, develops, and/or modifies work plans, methods, and procedures, determines work priorities.
- Provides work instruction, assists employees with difficult and/or unusual assignments, and encourages innovation.
- Resolves problems, mediates conflicts encountered during daily operations, determines appropriate solutions, and promotes teamwork. Encourages regular communication and informs staff of relevant business issues and their impact on the organization.
- Develops work schedules to provide adequate staff coverage and approves leave and timesheets. Assigns and distributes work, reviews work for accuracy and completeness, and returns assignments with recommendations for proper completion.
- Provides performance feedback and formally evaluates the work of employees. • Conducts hiring interviews and selects candidate(s) for job opening(s).
- Provides reward and recognition for proper and efficient performance.
- Assists staff to achieve performance standards and identifies opportunities for continual improvement and development to performance standards.
- Documents causes for disciplinary action, initiates letters of reprimand, and makes formal recommendations for disciplinary action. Responds to formal and informal employee grievances and prepares written responses.
- Ensures staff is attending training, including safety training on a regular basis.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Ability to understand and interpret complex laws, rules, regulations, policies, and guidelines.
- Attention to Detail – Ability to be thorough when performing work and conscientious about attending to detail.
- Coaching – Provides others with clear direction, motivates, and empowers. Recruits staff of a high caliber and provides staff with development opportunities and coaching.
- Conflict Management – Manages and resolves conflicts, grievances, confrontations, or disagreements in a
- constructive manner to minimize negative personal impact.
- Customer Service – Ability to interact with customers in a friendly and professional manner, ability to work to resolve issues quickly and effectively, and is knowledgeable about products and services.
- Deciding and Initiating Action – Takes responsibility for actions, projects and people; makes quick, clear decisions which may include tough choices, after considering risks.
- Decision Making – Specifies goals and obstacles to achieving those goals, generates alternatives, considers risks, and evaluates and chooses the best alternative in order to make a determination, draw conclusions, or solve a problem.
- Delivering Results – Ability to set high standards for quality, quantity, and timelines. Focuses on customer needs and satisfaction. Consistently achieves project goals.
- Interpersonal Skills – Ability to show understanding, respect, friendliness, courtesy, tact, empathy, cooperation, concern, and politeness to others and relate well to different people from varied backgrounds and different situations.
- Knowledge of federal, state, and local laws and ordinances (as they apply to city government and its operation); legal procedures including the rules of civil and criminal procedure and evidence; the principles, methods, materials and practices used in legal research; case law related to a variety of city government subjects; criminal law issues.
- Learning – Uses efficient learning techniques to acquire and apply new knowledge and skills; uses training, feedback, or other opportunities for self-learning and development.
- Mathematical Reasoning – Solves practical problems by choosing appropriately from a variety of mathematical and statistical techniques.
- Planning and Evaluating – Organizes work, sets priorities, determines resource requirements, determines short or long-term goals and strategies to achieve them, coordinates with other organizations or parts of an organization, monitors progress, and evaluates outcomes.
- Reading – Understands and interprets written material, including technical material, rules, regulations, instructions, reports, charts, graphs, or tables; applies what is learned from written material to specific situations.
- Resilience – Deals effectively with pressure; remains optimistic and persistent, even under adversity. Recovers quickly from setbacks.
- Teaching Others – Helps others learn through formal or informal methods; provides resources to help teach others; acts as a mentor.
- Thinking Strategically – Thinks strategically and promotes best practices and leading-edge ideas.
- Writing – Writes in a clear, concise, and organized manner for the intended audience.
- Written Communication – Composes, reviews, edits, and issues written materials for diverse audiences and communicates purpose in a succinct and organized manner that is appropriate for context, time, and place.
Education Requirement:
A Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited college or university.
Licensure and Certifications:
- Must possess a valid driver's license.
- Must possess a license to practice law in the State of New Mexico.
Special Requirements:
Obtain and maintain a City of Santa Fe driving permit within three (3) months of hire
Physical Requi
