City Attorney

Job Description:

City Attorney

Description

The Position

**Initial recruitment and screening of candidates for this position is being conducted externally by SGR Executive Recruitment**



Position Advertisement: https://www.governmentresource.com/recruitment-employers/open-recruitments/hollywood-fl-city-attorney

Community, Organization, and Position Recruitment Information: https://www.governmentresource.com/home/showpublisheddocument/3651

The City Attorney is responsible for leading the in-house legal department of the City. The City Attorney is a charter officer of the City, responsible for all legal matters related to the City of Hollywood. The City Attorney provides legal advice and direction to the City Commission, City Manager, Department Heads and other officials in the best interest of the City. The City Attorney shall be a full-time government employee and shall not engage in the private practice of law. This position is also responsible for the hiring and supervision of employees and oversight of the office's budget.

The Requirements

Required:
J.D. from an A.B.A. accredited college of law
Licensed to practice as a member in good standing in the Florida Bar Association
Seven (7) years progressively responsible experience practicing law in the public sector
Four (4) years experience in a supervisory/management capacity

Preferred:
Experience representing a City of similar size and diversity
Experience as a lead attorney reporting to elected officials
Experience in trials, litigation, land use, zoning, development and redevelopment
Contracting experience for specialized litigation and City needs
Experience practicing law in South Florida

*Additional education and/or experience or an equivalent combination of training and experience may be substituted for the above requirements.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS :

• Member in good standing in the Florida Bar Association
• Valid Driver's License: With proof of automobile insurance
• Background Check: Must have an acceptable background record
• Driving Abstract: Must have an acceptable driving record

The Examination

• Serves as the Chief Legal Advisor to the City Commission, City Manager, Employees and certain Boards.
• Responsible for legal services for all Departments.
• Assigns, supervises, reviews and provides guidance to both professional and clerical employees in the performance of their duties.
• Provides legal advice and renders legal opinion to City officials in the performance of their duties.
• Prepares and reviews all contracts, leases, easements, agreements, bid documents, resolutions, ordinances, and other legal documents in which the municipality is concerned and shall endorse approval of each.
• When requested to do so by resolution, prosecutes and defends the City on all complaints, suits and controversies in which the City is a party.
• Handles litigation and claims.
• Handles trial preparation, depositions, memos and pleadings.
• Participates in commission, intra-departmental and inter-departmental meetings.
• Reviews collective bargaining proposals and contracts for negotiation and provides advice on the legality of same.
• Prepares annual budget estimates and tracks expenditures.
• Responsible for representing the City in litigation, ordinance and resolution drafting, and advising various boards/committees.
• Effectively presenting cases, deciphering laws, investigating legal data, negotiating settlements and legal disputes and filing appeals.
• Effectively and positively represents the City in delivering and performing work with colleagues and clients, irrespective of gender, race, religion, age, disability, political affiliation or belief, or sexual orientation.
• Establishes and maintains effective and professional relationships with work colleagues, supervisors and managers.
• Exercises and performs additional duties as the Commission may see fit, provided it is not inconsistent with the Charter.

Additional Information

• Extensive knowledge of federal, state, county and municipal law, common law and constitutional law affecting City government.
• Extensive knowledge of federal, state, county and municipal laws.
• Extensive Knowledge of laws relating to cities' rights and privileges.
• Knowledge of judicial procedures and the rules of evidence.
• Knowledge of trial, appellate and transactional practice.
• Knowledge of administrative practices and procedures of the court system.
• Skill in researching and analyzing day to day problems.
• Skill in communicating effectively orally and in writing.
• Skill in budgeting and office management.
• Knowledge, Skill and Ability in managing a full service office.
• Ability to comprehend, interpret, and apply laws, regulations, procedures and related information.
• Ability to direct employees including recruiting, training and retaining through personal development and growth using effective supervisory procedures.
• Ability to match deadlines with workload through proper scheduling.
• Ability to prioritize job tasks and manage individual as well as subordinate work and time schedules.
• Ability to logically research and present alternate solutions to complex problems.
• Ability to manage administrative details.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective and professional relationships with work colleagues, supervisors, managers and the public.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
While performing the essential functions of this job, the employee is required to stand, walk, sit, talk or hear, use hands, fingers, and stoop and kneel and reach with hands or arms. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, color vision, depth perception, peripheral vision and ability to adjust focus. The employee is required to read and work at a computer for extended periods of time. The employee is often required to work extended hours as necessary to prepare and prosecute court and administrative cases and complete other job duties. The work is generally performed in a sedentary environment. While performing the duties of this job, the employee may occasionally be required to exert up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:
Work is performed primarily in a relatively safe, secure, and stable work environment. The position frequently interacts with members of the City and members of the public who are witnesses in legal proceedings. The position requires the employee to perform under frequent pressures requiring the application of legal methods, theories and the analysis of complex legal issues.

**Initial recruitment and screening of candidates for this position is being conducted externally by SGR Executive Recruitment**



Position Advertisement: https://www.governmentresource.com/recruitment-employers/open-recruitments/hollywood-fl-city-attorney

Community, Organization, and Position Recruitment Information: https://www.governmentresource.com/home/showpublisheddocument/3651

SUMMARY OF BENEFITS FOR EXECUTIVE, MANAGEMENT, & TECHNICAL EMPLOYEES

• Executive, Management, and Technical level employees shall accrue two hundred (200) hours of vacation leave per vacation year, except for vacation leave directly approved by the City Commission (the vacation leave year shall begin on October 1st and end on the following September 30th). Employees in these classifications shall be required to utilize eighty (80) hours of vacation during the vacation year for which it is earned or it will be lost at the end of the vacation year (In individual circumstances, the City Manager may determine that vacation that is unable to be used may be paid out rather than lost or may remain in the employees bank). The remaining days may be carried forward and must be used within fifteen (15) months following the vacation year in which the leave is earned or be liquidated by cash payment at the end of the fifteen (15) month period. Such leave that is liquidated by cash payment shall be paid at the employee's rate of pay when the vacation time was earned. Such leave shall be earned on an accrual basis of 7.69 hours per bi-weekly pay period, except for the leave directly approved by the City Commission.

• Executive, Management & Technical employees accrue eight (8) hours of sick leave per month with no limit on the amount that is accumulated. Accrued sick leave shall be terminally paid at the following rates in relationship to years of service with the City:

Accrued Sick Leave Payout

• Less than five (5) year 20% sick leave
• Five (5) to ten (10) years 40% sick leave
• Ten (10) or more years 80% sick leave

Upon the accumulation of 200 sick leave hours, all employees have the option of converting up to forty-eight (48) hours of sick leave to vacation leave.

Employees may participate in the City’s Sick Leave Pool Program upon the completion of one year of employment and with a minimum accumulation of ninety-six (96) hours of sick and/or vacation leave. This program entitles eligible employees to participate in extended sick leave benefits for cases involving non-work related catastrophic or long-term illnesses or injuries.

• • Executive, Management & Technical employees shall accrue forty (40) personal leave hours per fiscal year. The personal leave year shall begin on October 1st and end on the following September 30th. Personal leave days will not accumulate from year to year and cannot be liquidated by cash payment. In the first year, employees hired after October 1 through February 1 will accrue 30 hours personal leave. Employees hired after February 1 through June 1 will accrue 20 hours of personal leave during their first year. Employee hired after June 1 will not accrued any personal leave during their first personal leave year.

• Executive, Management & Technical employees will receive two paid wellness workdays (either 8 or 10 hour days) each fiscal year. These days are provided to promote well-being and wellness. These paid workdays must be used within the fiscal year in which they are earned or will be lost.

• Executive, Management & Technical employees may receive the following paid holidays:

New Year's Day |Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday |President's Day |Memorial Day |Juneteenth |Independence Day |Labor Day |Veteran's Day |Thanksgiving Day |Day after Thanksgiving |Christmas Eve |Christmas Day |New Year's Eve

• Executive, Management & Technical employees will receive 40 hours of paid bereavement leave in the event of an immediate family member passing.

• Executive, Management & Technical employees will receive longevity compensation added to their base salary for the following cumulative years of service with the City:

• 5 years of service 5%
• 10 years of service 3%
• 12.5 years of service 2.75%
• 15 years of service 2%

• Executive, Management & Technical employees and families shall be provided the option of coverage in the City’s health insurance plans. The City will contribute 80% of the premium for employees electing single or dependent coverage on the OAP plan and the employee will be responsible for contributing 20% of the premium; The City will contribute 100% of the premium for employees electing single coverage on the OAPIN plan. For employees adding dependents, the City will contribute 90% toward the premium and the employee will be responsible for contributing 10% of the premium. For 2024, the biweekly rates are as follows:

Enrollment Tier |Medical OAP |Medical OAPIN
Employee Only |$87.89 |$0
Employee +1 |$175.78 |$39.34
Employee + 2 or More |$281.24 |$86.56

• Each member shall have the option of completing an annual wellness preventative physical through the City’s contracted provider currently named Life Scan with the costs of the scan paid for by the City up to $395 for each member which includes a comprehensive medical evaluation, ultrasound imaging, cardio-pulmonary assessments, vision and hearing test, and extensive laboratory blood profiles.

• Executive, Management & Technical employees shall be provided group dental with $19.00 of the monthly premium costs paid by the City. There are three benefit plan offerings. For 2024, the biweekly rates are as follows:

Enrollment Tier |Dental DPPO Low |Dental DPPO High |Dental DPPO Buy UP
Employee Only |$5.17 |$21.37 |$25.11
Employee +1 |$14.80 |$40.68 |$46.82
Employee + 2 or More |$23.69 |$58.51 |$66.86

• Executive, Management & Technical employees shall have the option to purchase vision coverage through payroll deductions. Three plans are offered. For 2024, the biweekly rates are as follows:

Enrollment Tier |VSP Option 1 |VSP Option 2 |VSP Option 3
Employee Only |$2.36 |$3.87 |$4.44
Employee +1 |$4.73 |$7.73 |$8.87
Employee + 2 or More |$7.61 |$12.45 |$14.28

• Executive, Management & Technical employees will receive from the City a “use it or lose it” Health Reimbursement Account annually. The amount to the employee is determined by the employee’s medical enrollment status or if no coverage is elected then it will default to the lowest level. The level of the City contribution will be reevaluated once a year. The levels are: Single or no coverage = $400; Employee plus one = $600; and Employee plus two or more = $1000. In addition, the employee may establish and contribute to a Flexible Spending Account.

• The City and the employee will make contributions into the employee's Retiree Health Saving Account based on the employee's years of service as follows:

• From 1 - 9 years of service = $10 bi-weekly
• From 10 to 19 years of service from = $25 bi-weekly
• 20 or more years of service = $35 bi-weekly

• Executive, Management & Technical employees shall be provided with term life insurance of $100,000 with all premium costs paid by the City. Employees shall have the option of purchasing additional term life insurance at group rates up to an additional maximum amount of $475,000.

• Executive, Management & Technical employees receive Disability Salary Replacement Insurance that will provide for a 60% base salary benefit after a ninety (90) day waiting period. During the ninety (90) day waiting period, an employee may utilize accrued sick and vacation leave. Upon entering the program, the employee may continue to use sick and vacation leave to make up the difference between 60% of salary and 100% of salary.

• Executive, Management & Technical employees (except the City Manager and City Attorney) are required to participate in the City Pension Plan. All employees will be required to contribute 8% pretax dollars to the employee’s retirement fund. An employee is vested in the pension plan after seven years of continuous service. To be eligible for normal retirement an employee must be age 65 with 7 years of service, age 62 with 25 years of service or age 60 with 30 years of service. The service retirement annuity (pension) is equal to 2.5% of the employee's average salary for the highest 130 consecutive biweekly pay periods of credited service multiplied by the employee's years of credited service. To file a claim for benefits under the General Pension Plan or to receive a copy of the Plan or a copy of the Summary Plan Description (SPD), contact the COHERF Pension Office at 954-921-3333.

• Executive, Management & Technical employees are eligible to apply for tuition reimbursement in accordance with the following guidelines:

Graduate Benefit
Grade of B or Better 100% Reimbursement at State tuition rates
Grade of Pass 100% Reimbursement at State tuition rates

Undergraduate Benefit
Grade of C or Better 100% Reimbursement at State tuition rates
Grade of Pass 100% Reimbursement at State tuition rates

Reimbursement may not exceed $3,000 for any employee in any one fiscal year. Any coursework eligible for reimbursement must have a direct relationship to the job requirements of the employee’s position.

Reimbursement may only be provided for attendance at an accredited college or university. Employees enrolled in a technical or vocational institution shall not be eligible for tuition reimbursement under this program.

Reimbursement shall be available for books and course fees subject to the approval of the Department/Office Director and City Manager or designee. Tuition is subject to the approval of the Department/Office Director and City Manager or designee.

Employees who receive benefits under this program, who voluntarily leave the City's employment within two (2) years of receiving such benefit, shall be responsible for reimbursing the City for the entire cost of this benefit.

To the considered for Educational Reimbursement, all coursework must be properly approved prior to the beginning of the class by the Department/Office Director and the City Manager or designee.

• Executive employees may be provided with the use of a City vehicle or a car allowance of $400 per month. Management employees may be provided with the use of a City vehicle or a car allowance or $300 per month. Such benefit shall be determined at the sole discretion of the City Manager.
• Executive, Management & Technical employees may be provided with a cellular phone allowance of $70.00 per month. Such benefit shall be determined at the sole discretion of the City Manager.
• Executive, Management & Technical employees have the option of joining the Sun Credit Union.
• Executive, Management & Technical employees have the option of participating in payroll Direct Deposit.
• Executive, Management & Technical employees may enter a Deferred Compensation Program through payroll deduction.
• Executive, Management & Technical employees have the option of participating in Pre-paid Legal/ID Theft Protection Plans and Supplemental Insurance through voluntary payroll deductions.
• Executive, Management & Technical employees are eligible to participate in the City’s Work/Life Assistance Program offering a wide range of services and support.
• Executive, Management & Technical employees may have access the City’s fitness facility free of charge.

IMPORTANT NOTICE - This document ‘BENEFITS SUMMARY’, is intended only as a summary of some of the benefits employees may be entitled to as an employee of the City of Hollywood. This is NOT a legal document, does NOT represent any guarantees, and is subject to change at any time.

Closing Date/Time: 4/12/2025 11:59 AM Eastern

Salary:

Depends on Qualifications