Assistant City Attorney - Housing

Assistant City Attorney

The City of Oxnard's City Attorney's Office is seeking a well-qualified, highly motivated Assistant City Attorney to provide sound and ethical legal advice.

The City seeks an Assistant City Attorney with a litigation and transactional background, and requires experience representing state or local government. This position will focus on California housing laws; local Housing Authority issues; City tenant protection laws; administrative hearings and writ proceedings related to housing; working in partnership with the City Attorney; and may include workon general municipal matters. The ideal candidate will serve as the primary point of contact for legal advice and opinions to assigned City departments, and should be a hands-on leader with experience serving public sector organizations.

WHAT YOU'LL DO:

• Represent the City in administrative hearings, superior court proceedings (writs and trials), and brief the City Council on housing litigation matters.
• Provide legal advice and opinions to the Oxnard Housing Authority, Oxnard Housing Department, and Oxnard City Council; and assist the City Manager regarding state and local housing-related matters.
• Serve as lead Assistant City Attorney implementing the City's Tenant Protection Laws including Rent Stabilization, Just Cause Eviction, and Anti-Harassment Ordinances.
• Assist and advise department directors and staff; interface with members of the public/community, local organizations, and advocacy groups that represent property owners, landlords or tenants.

Under general direction, the Assistant City Attorney provides a wide range of professional legal services to all City departments and divisions, City Council and various boards, commissions, committees; may assist in coordinating the work of contract attorneys on complex or specialized matters; and performs related duties as assigned. This position requires a strong understanding of municipal law, landlord-tenant relations, and civil litigation/administrative proceedings, with an emphasis on compliance and dispute resolution.

PAYROLL/CLASSIFICATION TITLE: Assistant City Attorney

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS: The Assistant City Attorney is the advanced journey level in the professional legal series. This class is distinguished from the next lower class of Deputy City Attorney IV by the level of difficulty and complexity of responsibilities performed. An incumbent in this class is expected to use a high degree of independent judgment and is expected to represent the City Attorney at various meetings, functions and proceedings as required.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED/EXERCISED: General direction is provided by the City Attorney. The Assistant City Attorney may exercise technical or functional supervision over Deputy City Attorneys, paralegals and clerical staff.

WORK SCHEDULE: The normal work week is Monday-Thursday, 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., and alternating Fridays, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Depending on the work assignment staff may be assigned to a shift that is outside the standard work hours. In addition, this position may be required to be available to work additional hours in response to peaks in workloads and changes in department needs. The standard work environment varies depending on assignment but is typically either dependent on each position which is primarily in an office setting or out in the field. The City does not offer hybrid or remote work.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Works closely with the Housing Department providing advice and Opinions to the Oxnard Housing Department regarding the City's Tenant Protection Laws, including Rent Stabilization, Just Cause Eviction, and Anti-Harassment Ordinances.
• Confers with and renders assistance to department directors and division managers in establishing policies by developing and applying legal analysis and procedures; recommends changes in policies and procedures to meet legal requirements.
• Prepares matters for administrative hearings and represents the City in such hearings; handles litigation related to the City's Tenant Protection laws, such as writs of mandate.
• Drafts ordinances, resolutions, contracts, deeds, leases and other legal documents and instruments; reviews such documents and offers opinions as to legality.
• Performs legal research and prepares opinions on various legal issues for City departments and divisions, the City Council and various boards, commissions and committees.
• Attends meetings of boards, commissions and committees as may be required; renders legal advice as requested.
• Represents the City Attorney at various meetings, functions and proceedings when necessary.
• Responds to citizen complaints and requests for information.
• Represents the City in the community and at professional meetings as required.
• Conducts and oversees investigations into complaints of ordinance violations, including gathering evidence, conducting interviews, and coordinating with external agencies such as fair housing organizations.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• A Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school.
• The equivalent of eight (8) years of experience in the practice of municipal law with emphasis on state and local housing laws and civil or administrative litigation experience or related experience.
• Membership in the State Bar of California.
• Additional certifications, licenses, endorsements and training may be required, depending on assignment. You may be required to submit documented proof of these requirements.
• Must be able to effectively communicate in English, both orally and in writing.

ABOUT THE BENEFITS:

In exchange for all your hard work and determination, you will receive a competitive salary of $198,059 to $257,477, negotiable based on experience and qualifications, along with a wide host of benefits including:

• Enjoy CalPERS Retirement membership: Classic 2% at 55, New 2% at 62; your contribution secures your future; no Social Security participation.
• 12 paid holidays off per year.
• The City contributes 4.5% of employee base salary to the City-sponsored 401 (a) plan.
• The City contributes 1% of employee base salary to a Retirement Health Savings Program.
• Leave accrual rates vary between 6.24 – 11.78 hours per pay period based on years of service with the City of Oxnard.
• 60 hours of Administrative Leave per fiscal year.
• The City will contribute $2,054.00 monthly towards medical insurance premiums with no cash back. Employees who waive medical insurance will receive $500.00 per month cash back with proof of other qualifying coverage. The City will continue to provide $66.79 per month towards dental insurance.
• One-Time Cash Payments: In lieu of cost of living adjustments, the City will provide a one-time cash payment for the years specified below. Employees must have worked the 12 months (2080 hours) preceding the payment to be eligible for the full amount. Employees who worked less than the 12 months (2080 hours) requirement, will receive a prorated amount based on the total number of hours they have worked.
• • First full pay period July 2026- 3% of base salary
  • First full pay period July 2027 - 3% of base salary

If you share our passion for city growth and possess the skills for success, apply now!

APPLICATION PROCESS:

• Submit NEOGOV/Government Jobs on-line application.
• Complete and submit responses to the supplemental questions, if required.
• Upload resume, cover letter, proof of degree (transcript), or other requested documents.

Your application may be rejected as incomplete if you do not include the relevant information in the online application and include the information only on the resume. Applications and/or Supplemental Questionnaires that state "see my resume" or "see my personnel file" are considered incomplete and will not be accepted. Cover letters and/or optional resumes are not accepted in lieu of a completed application.

The list of qualified candidates established from this recruitment may be used to fill other full-time, part-time, regular, and temporary assignments. There is currently one (1) full-time vacancy in the City Attorney's Office.

UNION MEMBERSHIP:

Regular full-time and part-time positions in this classification within the City Attorney's Office are unrepresented and follow Resolution 16,006.

Selected candidate(s) must pass a thorough background investigation

NOTE:

For most positions, the City of Oxnard relies on office automation (Microsoft Office/Google) and web-based enabled tools, therefore candidates must be proficient and comfortable with computer use to perform functions