Job Description:

ABOUT THE POSITION

The County Counsel has an opportunity for a Chief Deputy County Counsel that will be located in downtownRiverside.

The Chief Deputy will work with clients in all phases of the public contracting process, including team formation, proposal preparation and submission, purchasing contracts for goods and services, public contracting bidding requirements and processes, pre-and post-award bid protests, contract negotiation, regulatory compliance and performance issues during contract performance. In addition the incumbent will be responsible for the negotiation of contract amendments, change orders, analysis and preparation of claims, dispute resolution with contractors, design professionals, and non-party interest groups.

The Chief Deputy will also oversee and supervise attorneys that handle a broad range of public contracts, financial transactions, including public financing and bonds, assessment appeals board matters, and general advice and counsel to the County's financial team, including the Treasurer-Tax Collector, Auditor-Controller and Assessor-Clerk-Recorder. Ideal candidate will also have experience with simplified acquisition and purchasing (SAP) contracts, public private partnership (P3) contracts and software contracts.

The Department desires candidates that possess a thorough understanding of the legal principles, practices, and precedents with experience in all aspects of Public Works contracts. As well as a competent manager of both issues and staff-promoting a respectful and productive work environment that inspires teamwork and positive results, values staff contributions and development.

Applicants with experience handling a broad array of transactions and dispute resolution matters, including initial drafting, preparation, review and negotiation of public contracts, project development issues, delay and disruption claims, bid protests, negotiation of restructuring agreements, cost overruns, default terminations, multi-party construction defect, mechanic's liens, surety, warranty, environmental contamination, product liability, insurance, risk management, and regulatory issues are highly encouraged to apply.

This class has been designated At-Will by the Board of Supervisors, in accordance with the provisions provided under Article 6, Section 601E (2) of the County Management Resolution and serves at the pleasure of the County Counsel.

Meet the Team!

The Office of County Counsel is a full-service law office that provides advisory and litigation support on issues of vital concern to the County and its residents such as health care, public safety, child welfare, land development, environmental protection, public finance, taxation and elections.

EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES
• As a member of the County Counsel Management Team, plan and organize the work of attorneys by assigning, reviewing, and balancing the workload among the various sections of the office.

• Supervise, assign, and review the work of subordinate deputies in the practices of the County Counsel's Office; give advice and recommendations to other deputies on difficult and complex legal problems.

• Assist deputies in the development and refinement of skills and talents; serve as advisor to various boards and commissions whose legal problems are complex and exacting.

• Confer with and advise County and district officers and employees on the complex legal questions pertaining to their respective powers, duties, functions, and obligations.

• Represent the County in all State and Federal Courts; study and interpret laws, court decisions, ordinances, and other legal authorities.

• Draft contracts, deeds, leases, ordinances, resolutions, and other legal instruments; prepare written opinions and render informal opinions on complex or legal questions.

• Assist with office administration, employee evaluation, and staff direction; prepare correspondence and reports.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Membership: Active membership in the State Bar of California.

Experience: Seven years of experience as a journey level attorney providing the full range of legal counsel to governmental agencies or departments. Must have extensive experience with public work contracts and P3 construction projects .

Knowledge of: Legal principles and their application; rules of evidence and the conduct of court proceedings; organization, powers, and limitations of complex County governmental functions, and of the California Constitution; principles of civil law and their application to governmental subdivisions; methods, procedures, and practices used in the conduct of litigation and the preparation of legal instruments; principles of supervision, including training methods and techniques.

Ability to: Analyze complex legal problems and apply legal principles and practices; present facts, arguments, and laws clearly and logically in written or oral form; perform legal research; draft ordinances, contracts, and legal instruments, including pleadings and briefs; assign, supervise, and review the work of attorneys; establish and maintain cooperative relations with subordinates, superiors, and others contacted in the work.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

Application Deadline

Applications will be reviewed in the order in which they are received. Based on the number of applications received, this posting may close without notice.

Reasonable Accommodations

The County of Riverside is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). Qualified individuals with disabilities who need a reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process should contact the recruiter for the position noted above. For additional information and/or to obtain the appropriate form for requesting a reasonable accommodation, please visit the Disability Access Office web page located at: http://dao.rc-hr.com/ .

Degree/Membership Verification:
Prior to the closing date, upload a copy of any license(s), official/unofficial transcript(s), degrees, and/or related employment documents to your NeoGov account. If your education was completed outside of the United States, you will need to provide a copy of your Foreign Education Equivalency evaluation from a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services( NACES ) or Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. ( AICE ).

***Prior to the closing date, upload a copy of your official/unofficial transcripts or Foreign Education Equivalency report. ***

Veterans' Preference

The County has a Veterans Preference Policy. Upload a copy of your (or your spouse's) Member-4 Form DD-214 (or NGB-22) indicating dates of service, and a copy of your spouse's letter of disability (if applicable) with your application. For privacy reasons, it is recommended that you remove your social security information from the document(s). A Human Resources Representative will review the materials and determine if you qualify for veterans' preference. See the policy here (Download PDF reader) (Download PDF reader) .

What's Next?

This recruitment is open to all applicants.

Applicants who are currently County of Riverside employees and/or current employees of the County Counsel Department may be considered before other applicants depending on the volume of the applications received.

Qualified applicants may be considered for future vacancies throughout the County.

Applications received prior to the closing date will be considered based on the information submitted. Changes or alterations cannot be accepted. No late applications will be permitted.

For specific questions regarding this position, contact the Ebelyn Skinner at eskinner@rivco.org.

MEDICAL/DENTAL INSURANCE: A Flexible Benefit Credit is provided on a monthly basis as governed by the Management Resolution or applicable bargaining unit. Vision coverage is provided through Vision Service Plan (VSP) at no cost to employee or eligible dependents.

Note: Employees on assignment through the Temporary Assignment Program (TAP) receive different benefits. See the list here .
MISCELLANEOUS RETIREMENT: County of Riverside has three retirement Tiers through the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS).

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  Tier I (Classic Member - Formula 3% @ 60): Applicable to current and former County of Riverside local miscellaneous employees hired prior to 08/24/2012 and did not withdraw CalPERS contributions. The employee contribution is eight (8%) percent.


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  Tier II (Classic Member - Formula 2% @ 60): Applicable to local miscellaneous employees 1) hired after 08/23/2012 through 12/31/2012; 2) Previously employed with another CalPERS contracting public agency or a reciprocal retirement system, with a break in service of less than six months between the separation date with the previous employer and the appointment date with the County of Riverside. The employee contribution is seven (7%) percent.


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  Tier III (PEPRA New Member - Formula 2% @ 62): Applicable to CalPERS local miscellaneous new members hired on or after the implementation of the Public Employees' Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA) which took effect January 1, 2013. As of July 1, 2020, the employee contribution is 7.25% and subject to change annually.

A new member is defined as any of the following:

A new hire who enters CalPERS membership for the first time on or after January 1, 2013, and who has no prior membership in any California Public Retirement System.

A new hire who enters CalPERS membership for the first time on or after January 1, 2013, and who was a member with another California Public Retirement System prior to that date, but who is not subject to reciprocity upon joining CalPERS.

A member who first established CalPERS membership prior to January 1, 2013, and who is rehired by a different CalPERS agency after a break in service of greater than six (6) months.

CalPERS refers to all members that do not fit within the definition of a new member as "classic members".

Contribution rates are subject to change based on the County of Riverside annual actuarial valuation.

Note:

This summary is for general information purposes only. Additional questions regarding retirement formulas can be sent to retirement@rivco.org or by calling the Benefits Information Line at (951) 955-4981,
Option 2.

If you have prior service credit with another CalPERS agency or within agencies, please contact CalPERS at (888) 225-7377 to determine which retirement tier would be applicable to you. CalPERS is governed by the Public Employees' Retirement Law. The Retirement Law is complex and subject to change. If there's any conflict between this summary and the law, the law will prevail over this summary.
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ANNUAL LEAVE for Unrepresented Management Attorneys: Effective July 12, 2012, the maximum accrual for Annual leave will be raised by 200 hours for eligible employees only. Maximum Annual leave accumulation is 2,000 hours.

ANNUAL LEAVE (Bi-Weekly Accrual):

0 < 36 months = 8.92 Hours
36 to <108>108 or more months = 12.00 Hours

Employee may receive pay in lieu of up to 80 hours per calendar year. Agency/Department Head may approve an additional 80 hours.

DEFERRED COMPENSATION: Voluntary employee contribution with a choice between two 457 deferred compensation plan options.

401(a) MONEY PURCHASE PLAN: County contribution of $50 per pay period towards choice between two 401(a) plan providers.

HOLIDAYS: Normally 12 paid holidays per year

BEREAVEMENT LEAVE: 5 days (3 days are County paid; 2 days can be taken through use of accrued leave balances)

BASIC LIFE INSURANCE: $50,000 of term life coverage. Premiums are paid by the County. Additional Supplemental Life plan is available for employee purchase.

LONG-TERM DISABILITY (LTD): Benefit pays 66.67% of earnings to a maximum of $10,000 per month; 30-day waiting period; pays to age 65. Benefit can be coordinated with other available leave balances to provide up to 100% of pay.

POST RETIREMENT MEDICAL CONTRIBUTION: A monthly contribution is made by the County towards retiree health insurance offered through the County as governed by the Management Resolution or applicable bargaining unit.

OTHER: There may be other benefit provisions as specified in the applicable Memorandum of Understanding, Management Resolution, or Salary Ordinance. Please contact the recruiter listed on the job posting directly for more information.

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