Closing Date: 15th October, 2025

Description:

General Description:
The Senior Assistant County Attorney performs complex, highly skilled legal services, and analytical support, under the direction of the County Attorney. Provides legal analysis and advice to the Board of County Commissioners, the County's staff and various County-related agencies, boards, and committees. Takes all legal action necessary to achieve County goals and protect County interests.

This full-time, exempt position is located in Inverness, Florida.

Essential Functions:

Advocates building organizational culture through aligning decisions with core values including integrity, honesty, respect, diversity, innovation, accountability, and communication.
Prepares independently pleadings, discovery documents, motions, briefs, and other legal documents in matters involving litigation of a complex and difficult nature and of substantial importance. Obtains and evaluates expert testimony and participates in settlement negotiations, serving as trial counsel for the County as needed.
Serves and participates as a member of the Negotiation Committee to represent the County during Union negotiation sessions.
Drafts or files a variety of documents, which may include contracts, deeds, resolutions, policy recommendations, legal correspondence, motions, memoranda of law, legal opinions, or other legal documents.
Conducts legal research regarding complex problems or projects; prepares reports and memoranda, drafts opinions containing proposed or recommended courses of action or solutions.
Interprets and applies legal principles and precedents in resolving complex legal issues.
Reviews documents and renders opinions as to their legal validity and/or acceptability.
Advises and assists County officers with legal matters.
Represents departments, officials, boards, and commissions in matters that require the professional services of an experienced attorney.
Represents the County in hearings and litigation, as directed and necessary.
Prepares resolutions, ordinances, and other proposed legislation of a unique or complex nature.
Attends meetings of the county commission, boards, agencies, and other County Attorney's Office clients; may require attendance at meetings outside of normal working hours.
Performs other duties as required.

Minimum Requirements:
Education, Training, and Experience

Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited college or university school of law.
Minimum of ten (10) years' experience as a practicing attorney with litigation experience.
Licensed to practice law in the state of Florida and minimum of ten (10) years membership in the Florida Bar.
Local Government experience required.

Skills and Abilities:

Knowledge of statutory and State and Federal constitutional law and their application to County operations and ordinances
Ability to litigate cases and follow judicial procedures and the rules of evidence.
Ability to effectively communicate (verbally and in writing) in a clear, confident manner using proper grammar.
Ability to analyze complex legal issues, facts, evidence, and precedents in moderately complex cases and to present such materials effectively in oral or written form.
Ability to perform assignments with minimal supervision and guidance. Ability to prepare contracts, court presentations and other legal documents.
Ability to draft complaints, orders, motions, respond to discovery, request discovery, resolutions, interrogatories, and other legal documents.
Ability to answer complaints, interrogatories, and other legal documents. Ability to prepare for trial, such as requesting proper witnesses, reviewing case law, and preparing for all possible scenarios.
Ability to work after normal business hours (may include nights and weekends).
Knowledge, skill and application of business English, spelling, grammar, punctuation, word usage, sentence structure and business mathematics.
Ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks and projects in a fast paced, complex organizational environment with a high degree of accountability.
Ability to use discretion and good judgement in handling politically sensitive information and issues.
Requires ability to maintain courteous and effective relations with County staff, elected officials, community interest groups and the public.
Must have a strong working knowledge of computers and be proficient in the use of Microsoft Office Suite of Products (i.e., Outlook, Word, Excel, etc.).

Certificates, Licenses, and Registration

Valid Florida Driver License (or must obtain within 30 days of establishing residency in Florida), or valid Florida Identification Card is acceptable only for positions not required to drive a county vehicle.
Must have or be able to obtain within 90 days certification in FEMA National Incident Management System (NIMS) courses:

IS-100.c: Introduction to the Incident Command System (ICS)
IS-200.b: ICS for Single Resources & Initial Action Incidents
IS-700.b: An Introduction to the National Incident Management System
IS-800.c: National Response Framework, an Introduction

Must have or be able to obtain within 6 months certification in FEMA National Incident Management System (NIMS) courses:

ICS-300: Intermediate ICS for Expanding Incidents
ICS-400: Advanced ICS and General Staff

Physical Requirements/Work Environment

Requires a combination of sitting, standing, and walking.
The job involves frequent lifting and carrying up to 10 pounds, and occasionally up to 20 pounds.
The job requires frequent balancing and occasional bending and twisting.
The job requires the completion of tasks that involve frequent typing, simple grasping, and occasional pushing, pulling, and fine manual manipulation.
The job requires normal visual acuity and field of vision, depth perception and color vision, hearing, and speaking.
Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Emergency Response/Recovery Activities
All employees will be required to work before, during, or after an emergency. During an emergency, employees may temporarily be assigned to work and perform duties outside the normal scope of their position, location, and work schedule to fit the needs of the County and its citizens. Emergency response duties may also include driving and/or operating a county vehicle or equipment and employees must obey all safety policies, and roadway rules and laws.

Supplemental Information:
Employee Benefits at a Glance: Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance, Employee Health & Wellness Center, Florida Retirement System (FRS), Basic Term Life and AD&D Insurance $20,000, Long Term Disability Insurance, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), 11 Paid Holidays, Vacation and Sick Leave. Please visit the Benefits tab of this posting for additional information and a link to the Employee Benefits Highlights booklet.

Basis of Rating: Applications will be carefully reviewed to assess each individuals' qualifications. Selected persons will be interviewed to determine who will be hired for the job. The kind and length of related work experience, training and education shown on the application will be an important consideration in the screening process.

Must successfully pass a criminal background check. Drug screens will be in accordance with the Drug Free Workplace Act and/or the Omnibus Transportation Employee Testing Act of 1991.

Citrus County, Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.

Citrus County, Florida Board of County Commissioners (BOCC), is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), national origin, age (40 or older), marital status, citizenship, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other protected trait.

Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the Citrus County, Florida Board of County Commissioners in advance to allow sufficient time to provide an accommodation.

Pursuant to Chapter 119, Florida Statutes or the “Public Records Law,” applications, resumes and personnel records are subject to public inspections. Details regarding the “Public Records Law”/ “The Sunshine Law” / Florida Statutes and the statutory exemptions are available on websites such as the Florida Office of the Attorney General, Florida Senate and Florida Legislature. Additionally, Citrus County Board of County Commissioners Public Information section is located on our website.