Summary
| Title: | Staff Attorney |
|---|---|
| ID: | 2029 |
| Salary Range: | $115,647 – $150,341 |
| Application Deadline: | 05/21/2023 |
| Position Status: | Full-Time |
Description
ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION
Truckee Meadows Water Authority (TMWA) is a not-for-profit, community-owned water utility, overseen by elected officials and citizen appointees from Reno, Sparks and Washoe County. TMWA has a highly skilled workforce who ensure the around-the-clock treatment, delivery and availability of high-quality drinking water for more than 400,000 residents of the Truckee Meadows.
We are looking to hire a Staff Attorney, to join our Administration Department.
ABOUT THE POSITION
Under administrative direction, provides legal counsel and guidance to the General Manager and staff on all legal, regulatory, and legislative matters including but not limited to water law; real property and real estate transactions; rights-of-way; surveys; easements; public records requests; customer service and billing related matters; human resource and employment related matters; insurance related matters and claims; contracts and grants, policies, procedures, rules, and regulations.
Serves as legal advisor to the General Manager and staff in understanding issues, strategy and objectives and provides legal guidance and counsel to ensure TMWA both performs operationally and conforms to legal and regulatory requirements. Provides legal direction on issues related to implementation and maintenance of the Truckee River Operating Agreement (TROA), proposed developments, development of annexation agreements, and other business matters. Negotiates complex agreements related to storage, supply, resources, and land issues.
Manages legislative affairs and governmental relations matters, oversees, and works with TMWA lobbyists on such matters. Selects, engages, and manages outside counsel which may be retained to advise on, defend or prosecute actions requiring special expertise.
Receives policy direction from the General manager.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
We believe that each employee makes a significant contribution to our success. That contribution should not be limited by the assigned responsibilities. Therefore, this job description is designed to outline primary duties, qualifications, and job scope, but not limit the incumbent nor TMWA to just the work identified. It is our expectation that each employee will offer his/her services wherever and whenever necessary to ensure the success of our endeavors.
- Provides day-to-day legal services and works with staff to ensure a high performance, customer-focused environment that supports achieving TMWA’s vision, objectives, and values.
- Ensures preparation and delivery of formal reports and makes presentations to the TMWA Board; professionally represents TMWA before regulatory and permitting agencies, other governmental agencies, and the public.
- Confers with, advises, and provides legal assistance to staff; analyzes and makes recommendations on TMWA business strategies and policies in a legal context to advise and support TMWA’s management team.
- Provides legal counsel and guidance to the General Manager and staff on all legal, regulatory, and legislative matters including but not limited to water law; real property and real estate transactions; rights-of-way; surveys; easements; public records requests; customer service and billing related matters; human resource and employment related matters; insurance related matters and claims; contracts and grants, policies, procedures, rules, and regulations.
- Manages legislative affairs and governmental relations matters, oversees and works with TMWA advocates on such matters.
- Anticipates and identifies legal issues and provides counsel to the Agency to develop legal strategies and solutions to mitigate risk, often in situations with significant political, public relations, or financial implications, and with limited time for assessing alternatives.
- Reviews and participates in the development, negotiation and implementation of contracts, leases, and other legal documents; researches legal issues and recommends revisions as necessary.
- Assists the General Manager in complying with open meeting laws, preparing, and posting agendas, and conducting public meetings consistent with the law.
- Reviews, researches, interprets, and prepares both written and oral opinions on a wide variety of legal issues; drafts, reviews, and approves policies and procedures, regulations, bylaws, and other legal documents.
- Represents or assists General Manager in overseeing the representation of TMWA in judicial and administrative proceedings, and in negotiations.
- Assists the General Manager and Executive Team in selecting, engaging, and managing outside counsel which may be retained to advise on, defend or prosecute actions requiring special expertise.
- Directs and coordinates activities relating to purchases, acquisitions, negotiation of agreements, and maintenance of rights-of-way, surveys, easements, and real property necessary for TMWA facilities and activities presses; manages completion of the written instruments required for the dedication, acquisition, and or disposal of lands, easements, rights-of-way, licenses, or permits necessary for utility facilities and their access for maintenance and operations; reviews and approves easements parcel and subdivision maps.
- Works closely with utilities, other agencies, Truckee River users, wholesale water customers and development customers to facilitate work, and negotiate agreements (i.e., annexation agreements, water exchange agreements, emergency interconnection agreements, water regulation issues, river issues, etc.).
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the minimum requirements is:
Experience:
Three (3) to five (5) years of recent experience advising public agencies and directing outside legal counsel.
Education & Training:
Bachelors degree preferably in mathematics, business, economics, engineering, law or hydrologic sciences with preference given to advanced degrees in similar or related fields. Must have a law degree from an accredited law school.
Must have working-level knowledge of the English language including reading, writing, and speaking English.
CERTIFICATIONS, LICENSURE & SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
A valid Nevada (or California – depending on state of residency) Driver License at time of hire and continuing thereafter and ability to maintain insurability under TMWA’s vehicle insurance policy.
Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background investigation during hire and periodically thereafter during employment.
This position is considered a safety sensitive position and employment is contingent upon the results of drug and/or alcohol testing which includes screening for marijuana. The presence of marijuana or other screened for substances on any employment related substance test may result in a refusal to hire or termination of employment.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
Knowledge of:
Laws, regulations, and case law governing governmental operations; Nevada statutory and constitutional laws, including Nevada water law and laws related to public records and open meeting laws and the Truckee River Operating Agreement (TROA); TMWA rules and tariffs; methods and techniques of legal research; procedural rules and regulations of local courts and federal and state agencies, trial and hearing procedures and the rules of evidence; statutes and decisions that apply to TMWA operations; principles and practices of effective management, including effectively working with a team, and supervision; laws and procedures related to conducting hearings and meetings of public bodies; principles and practices of public administration of an organization; principles and practices related to hydrology, hydrogeology, lands, survey, right-of-way contract law; utility financing and rate design; principles and practices of economic forecasting and modeling techniques.
Skill/Ability to:
Analyze, interpret, and apply complex statutory and constitutional laws, ordinances, court decisions, and other legal authorities; represent TMWA in litigation, at various boards, commissions, planning groups and meetings; prepare clear and concise opinions, legal documentation, reports, correspondence and other written materials; analyze, appraise and organize facts, evidence, and precedents and present such materials orally or in writing in an effective and logical manner; establish and maintain effective working relationships with managers, staff, outside counsel, regulatory agencies, regional partners and others contacted in the course of work; communicate effectively and concisely orally and in writing with diverse groups; actively listen and respond appropriately; present statements of law and fact and arguments clearly and logically; effectively conduct legal research and write clear and concise legal opinions, pleadings and other documents and briefs; listen carefully; develop credible relationships and converse with a wide variety of people including customers, employees, committee member, other public agencies, board members, elected officials and the media; effectively negotiate agreements with other agencies, utilities and developers; properly interpret and make decisions in accordance with laws; regulations and policies; perform legal work using independent judgment; plan, assign, direct, supervise, and review the work of others including outside counsel; encourage an organizational culture of inclusion and empower staff at all levels to take a solutions-focused approach to resolve problems and implement solutions.
TMWA is an equal opportunity employer. It is TMWA’s policy to provide equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race (including traits associated with race, such as hair texture and protective hairstyles), color, gender, religion, age, national origin, social or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, pregnancy, disability, military and/or veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law. TMWA’s commitment to equal opportunity includes all terms, conditions, and privileges of employment, including but not limited to recruiting, hiring, job placement, training, compensation, benefits, discipline, advancement, and termination.
All decisions affecting any terms and conditions of employment, including recruitment, hiring, assignment, training, compensation, promotion, salary, disciplinary action, and an employee’s caregiving responsibilities, will be made without regard to race (including traits associated with race, such as hair texture and protective hairstyles), color, gender, religion, age, national origin, social or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, pregnancy, disability, military and/or veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.
TMWA complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact Human Resources at hr@tmwa.com or 775-834-8294.
TMWA is committed to providing a safe work environment and to fostering the health and well-being of our employees. That commitment is jeopardized when any of our employees illegally use drugs at home or at work, comes to work under the influence, possesses, distributes, or sells drugs in the workplace, or abuses alcohol on the job. As part of our commitment to safeguard the well-being of our employees and to provide a safe environment for everyone, TMWA has established a drug-free workplace policy.
