Listing Summary

Chief Assistant County Attorney       

This position is to provide legal counsel to assigned departments, boards, elected officials, and employees and assist the County Attorney with legal operations of the County with limited supervision. The Douglas County Attorney’s Office (DCAO) serves as in-house counsel for all non-criminal legal matters in Douglas County. The DCAO handles a broad range and high volume of transactions and lawsuits that touch upon all operational aspects of the County, as well as handling routine and complex litigation. Matters handled in this office span from administrative to constitutional law, with clients and practice areas that include public health and safety, labor and employment, compliance, real estate, finance, taxation, emergency services, licensing and code enforcement, personal injury, premises liability, community development, arts and culture, film industry, information technology, public works and infrastructure, elections, libraries, courts, boards, and authorities.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The following duties are normal for this position. The omission of specific statements of the duties does not exclude them from the classification if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment for this classification. Serves as counsel in representing the legal interest of the County for departments in accordance with state and federal laws and rules of professional conduct.

• Provides legal advice to County management and other department heads, elected officials or managers as requested or assigned.
• Attends all regular and special called meetings of the Board of Commissioners, the Planning and Zoning Commission, the Zoning Board of Appeals and the Personnel Review Board.
• Assesses nature of the legal issue presented and provides well-researched legal advice.
• Provides legal support to County Attorney.
• Handles complex transactional assignments independently.
• Researches and analyzes internal regulations, policies and procedures or relevant state and federal law.
• Advises County of legal solution and execution of appropriate steps and implementation.
• Researches legal issues and writes legal opinions and memoranda.
• Provides information regarding updated laws and regulations as needed.
• Manages and oversees litigation of assigned cases to outside counsel.
• Defends County in in-house litigation matters.
• Represents departments in personnel matters.
• Attends classified employee hearings and other proceedings.
• Drafts and reviews contracts and agreements, including review of contracts for compliance with internal policies and procedures, as well as local, state and federal laws; identification of contract issues and analysis of terms and conditions to ensure County's interests are protected and safeguarded against potential liability.
• Represents County in tax appeals.
• Develops and reviews policy, legislation and resolutions.
• Maintains a comprehensive, current knowledge and awareness of applicable laws, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Communicates with County officials, supervisor, other employees, clients, court personnel, third-party service contractors, the public, and other individuals as needed to coordinate work activities, review the status of work, exchange information, or resolve problems.
• Collaborates with Elected Officials and Appointing Authorities to achieve best results in assigned matters.
• May provide lead guidance and direction to paralegals and administrative staff, including instructing and training, and assigning and reviewing work.
• Performs other related duties as required and assigned.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:   

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job functions herein described.  Since every duty associated with this position may not be described herein, employees may be required to perform duties not specifically spelled out in the job description, but which may be reasonably considered to be incidental in the performing of their duties just as though they were actually written out in this job description.

MINIMUM EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:

• Juris Doctorate Degree required; supplemented by three (3) to five (5) years of experience in law as a practicing attorney or licensed judicial law clerk; or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this job.

SPECIFIC LICENSE OR CERTIFICATION QUALIFICATIONS:

• Must possess and maintain certification and licensure from the State Bar of Georgia.  
• Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license. 

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

• Must be able to demonstrate proficiency in the performance of the essential functions and learn, comprehend, and apply all county or departmental policies, practices, and procedures necessary to function effectively in the position.

PERFORMANCE APTITUDES:

• Data Utilization: Requires the ability to coordinate, manage, and/or correlate data. Includes exercising judgment in determining time, place and/or sequence of operations, referencing data analyses to determine the necessity for revision of organizational components, and in the formulation of operational strategy.
• Human Interaction: Requires the ability to function in a director’s capacity for a major organizational unit requiring significant internal and external interaction.
• Equipment, Machinery, Tools, and Materials Utilization: Requires the ability to operate, maneuver and/or control the actions of equipment, machinery, tools, and/or materials used in performing essential functions.
• Verbal Aptitude: Requires the ability to utilize consulting and advisory data and information, as well as reference, descriptive, and/or design data and information as applicable.
• Mathematical Aptitude: Requires the ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division; the ability to calculate decimals and percentages; the ability to utilize principles of fractions; and the ability to interpret graphs.
  Functional Reasoning: Requires the ability to apply principles of logical or synthesis functions; to deal with several concrete and abstract variables, and to analyze major problems that require complex planning for interrelated activities that can span one or several work units.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:

• Possess and maintain a valid Georgia Driver's License (Class C) and a satisfactory motor vehicle record (MVR).

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

 

• Knowledge of or ability to learn county and department operations, ordinances, policies, procedures, terminology, and materials as they relate to assignment.
• Knowledge of administrative and bookkeeping principles, practices, standards, terminology, and software; employee supervision; payroll; purchasing.
• Knowledge of building codes and county ordinances.
• Knowledge of business English, spelling, and grammar.
• Knowledge of basic business mathematics: addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
• Knowledge of mechanical systems, building interior and exterior maintenance, chillers, various control systems, and preventative maintenance schedules.
• Knowledge of modern office practices, methods, and equipment.
• Knowledge of specialized software, materials, terminology, and forms essential to the assignment.
• Skill in creating, maintaining, and organizing accurate, detailed, and complete records in accordance with standard record-keeping procedures.
• Skill in effective inter-personal and public relations and customer service; excellent oral and written communication skills to satisfactorily resolve conflicts and issues, and to explain established policies and procedures to employees and the general public.
• Skill in performing tasks which require attention to detail and completing assigned jobs efficiently and correctly.
• Skill in planning, prioritizing, and organizing work; ability to handle multiple work assignments efficiently, accurately, and professionally; skill in planning, prioritizing, organizing, reviewing, and evaluating the work of others.
• Skill in the use of personal computers, MS Office Suite, databases, spreadsheets, and word processing.
• Ability to apply common sense to understand, follow, and complete verbal and written instructions.
• Ability to communicate and interact clearly and effectively with all those contacted in the course of work in a professional and courteous manner, both orally and in writing; establishing and maintaining effective, professional, and cordial working relationships.
• Ability to drive and operate assigned vehicles and equipment in a safe and responsible manner.
• Ability to handle confidential information professionally and to exercise discretion in performing assigned job duties; inability to maintain confidentiality will be grounds for dismissal.
• Ability to make sound, independent decisions within policy guidelines by exercising good judgment and intelligent situation-assessment.
• Ability to provide instruction and direction; effective leadership skills; ability to train, supervise, and motivate staff and/or volunteers.
• Ability to read, analyze, interpret, and comprehend a variety of documents such as memos, instructions, correspondence, technical and legal documents, blueprints, ordinances, policies, design plans, maps and deeds, et cetera as they relate to assignment.
• Ability to reconcile data; make necessary additions, revisions, and updates.
• Ability to research, analyze data, and compile information to create clear and concise reports, records, correspondence, and other written material; ability to create clear, accurate, and effective presentations; ability to develop promotional materials; ability to compose high-level correspondence without assistance.
• Ability to analyze and resolve routine, non-routine, and complex problems, evaluating alternative solutions and adopting effective course of action by applying or adapting established policies and procedures, and through negotiation and counseling.
• Ability to work in a team setting.
• Ability to work independently in the absence of specific instructions or direct supervision.

Salary: $120,000 - $127,762.34 annually, plus full benefits package 

Employment Opportunities (Section 13-50)

“The recruitment, selection, appointment and promotion of employees shall be in such a manner as to promote equal employment for all persons without regard to race, age, color, creed, religion, ancestry, gender, national origin, physical handicap or political affiliation or sexual preference.”