Senior Assistant City Attorney

Closing Date: 20th September, 2026

Description:

Job Summary:
Perform advanced professional legal services handling more complex and highly sensitive work assignments. Provide legal assistance, advice, counsel to, and representation of City government, elected officials, officers, and employees regarding complex legal matters across various disciplines as assigned while exercising significant independent legal judgment.

Job Responsibilities:
City Attorney's Office

• Represent the City in complex and difficult matters, including administrative hearings, pre-trial preparation and all hearings and trials before state and federal courts. Ensure compliance with policy directives, resolutions, and ordinances approved by the City Council, South Dakota Codified Laws, and federal regulations and guidelines.
• Advise the City Council and other City officials by interpreting and providing complex legal opinions on Uniform Code enforcement, including building, electrical, mechanical, fire, minimum housing, dangerous and dilapidated buildings, zoning, health, sanitation, food and sanitation codes, state and federal laws, other City ordinances, and specialized documents.
• Prepare, review, and interpret complex ordinances, resolutions, contracts, bid requirements, and other legal documents for the City along with any amendments thereto.
• Coordinate and/or supervise the preparation and investigation of court cases, the research of law, interviewing of witnesses, and representation of the City in court; assist and coordinate with insurance attorneys who represent the City in cases in which there is insurance coverage; and direct negotiations with other attorneys involving claims by or against the City prior to litigation.
• Responsible for negotiation and preparation of complex major contracts and documents, including bid proposals, request for proposals, and request for qualifications. Interpret and provide guidance on enforcement of major contracts, deeds, leases, and other documents.
• Act as chief labor negotiator for the City as assigned including preparing and directing negotiations with labor unions. Responsible for labor relations matters including labor contracts, employment issues, and grievances. Consult with and advise Human Resources on City personnel matters.
• Analyze complex environmental issues and situations and evaluate the City's potential liability and/or its enforcement authority and counsel-elected officials, officers, and employees on recommended courses of legal action.
• Supervise potential and pending claims and litigation associated with both general and Public Works-related services. Prepare, initiate, and defend condemnation actions. Work proactively to limit potential City liability risks.
• Confer, establish, and maintain understanding and cooperation with federal, state, and local officials, legal departments, as well as citizen groups and special interest groups on varied legal matters, activities, and programs. Interact directly with the public, media, and City department directors and other City employees explaining complex City ordinances, City and state licenses and permits, rights of parties, trial results, various rights of trial and appeal, and responses to complaints.
• Maintain professional awareness of current literature and changes in law and attend continuing legal education to ensure efficient, cost effective, and accurate activities. Train law enforcement officers in civil liability and criminal and case law changes.
• Review proposed state legislation affecting assigned departments and prepare or supervise the preparation of state legislation relating to municipal and City government matters as directed by the City Council. Consult with City Council and Directors in regard to such legislation and testify before legislative boards.
• Attend briefings and meetings with and advise the City Council, various City boards and commissions, and other City officials on questions of law and legal issues, act as legal facilitator of various citizen groups.
• May supervise employees as assigned; make recommendations to superiors relative to hiring, promotions, discharge, layoffs or suspensions, disciplinary action, and the adjustment of grievances and employee performance evaluations.
• Perform other such duties and functions as are necessary or incidental to the proper performance of this position.

ADA Coordinator

• Oversee and administer aspects of the City's ADA compliance accountabilities as related to assigned areas of responsibility including working with City management and responding to applicable ADA grievances.
• Facilitate all City employees' reasonable accommodation requests, including engaging in the interactive process, as required by law.
• Coordinate and provide technical expertise to departments, elected officials, and Transit on programs, public rights-of-way, and facility access for compliance with Title II of ADA.
• Direct the activities of the ADA Accessibility Review Board and Disability Awareness Commission; supervise preparation of minutes and record keeping.
• Oversee all aspects of the ADA Transition Plan barrier removal projects. Review scoping, engineering, and architectural plans for ADA compliance and conduct on-site facility access reviews as needed.
• Receive, investigate, and issue findings on Paratransit rider eligibility appeals. Make recommendations on remedial policy and work rules, as needed.
• Perform other such duties and functions as are necessary or incidental to the proper performance of this position.

Human Relations Division

• Responsible for the planning and day-to-day administration of the Human Relations Division. Independently perform investigation and conciliation of discrimination complaints. Duties include intake, administration, mediating, investigating, writing findings/conclusions regarding probable cause, and conciliating, or direct oversight of a variety of complex and highly sensitive cases involving discrimination in the areas of employment, housing, public services, public accommodations, financial institutions, insurance companies, labor organizations, and educational institutions.
• Review, analyze, and approve all cases submitted by internal staff and contract employees.
• Supervise employees, assign work, and provide work direction; make recommendations to superiors relative to hiring, promotions, discharge, layoffs or suspensions, disciplinary action, and the adjustment of grievances and employee performance evaluations.
• Direct and coordinate the activities of the Human Relations Commission and Disability Awareness Commission; supervise preparation of minutes and record keeping.
• Conduct presentations on various investigative techniques and aspects of the City's Human Relations ordinances, ADA, and applicable federal and state laws.
• Develop, evaluate, and recommend division goals and objectives, policies and procedures, programs, and projects to ensure timely and effective customer service and compliance with legal and procedural requirements.
• Prepare and submit annual budget requests as directed and ensure that operations are maintained within budget limitations.
• Perform other such duties and functions as are necessary or incidental to the proper performance of this position.

Minimum Qualifications:
Graduation from an accredited school of law and a minimum of eight (8) years' experience in the practice of law, preferably in public sector law, regulatory compliance work experience, or diversified program management experience including conducting research and/or investigations and analyzing data; or any such combination of education, experience, and training as may be acceptable to the hiring authority.

Admission in good standing to the State Bar of South Dakota.

Supplemental Information:

• Admission to practice law in federal courts and in South Dakota state courts.
• Knowledge of common law; local, state, and federal laws; and constitutional provisions affecting City operation including ADA compliance with ability to apply knowledge to varied legal problems.
• Knowledge of judicial procedure and rules of evidence.
• Skill in preparation and trial of cases.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills including the ability to draft, proof, and construct professional documents and correspondence.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with the general public, coworkers, elected and appointed officials, and members of diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, regardless of race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, disability, or familial status.
• Skill and ability to function tactfully and effectively in confrontational situations with the general public, elected officials, parties and institutions charged with discrimination, and lawyers representing both respondents and charging parties.
• Knowledge of principles, techniques, and procedures of investigating civil rights cases.
• Ability to plan, organize, and conduct investigations.
• Must have mobility and ability to perform field duties in various locations throughout the city.
• Ability to gain knowledge within a defined period of time of the content and provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act; Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG); and other disability-related laws, rules, and regulations.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality

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