NOTICE TO APPLICANT The position will be open until filled. You must ensure your application reflects the correct and current information for your work experience, hours worked per week per position, education, personal information, etc. Only the information provided on this application is evaluated when determining compensation. Job Description PURPOSE SUMMARY. Serve as the County’s chief legal counsel and provide executive leadership and direction for the Legal Department. Direct and oversee the delivery of comprehensive legal services to the County, providing strategic legal advice, representation, and counsel to the Board of County Commissioners, County Manager and County departments to protect County interests, support effective operations, and ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Maintain a direct advisory and communication relationship with the Board of County Commissioners to ensure timely access to legal guidance and support in carrying out their official responsibilities, while maintaining administrative accountability to the County Manager and exercising independent professional legal judgment. ESSENTIAL DUTIES. 1. Legal Department Leadership and Administration Direct the daily operations of the Legal Department, including assigning and reviewing casework for county attorneys and paralegals and overseeing the countywide public records request process. Supervise Legal Department personnel ensuring accuracy, timeliness, professional development, and adherence to applicable policies and procedures. Develop and implement long-range legal planning for the County and provide strategic written and oral presentations regarding operational planning to all levels of the organization. Serve as a member of the County management team and coordinate with departments to support legal and effective delivery of County services. Analyze, advise, and coordinate legal strategies, policies, and procedures to address County operations and emerging legal matters. Prepare, implement, and monitor the annual Legal Department budget to ensure responsible use of fiscal resources and achievement of departmental goals and objectives. Direct and evaluate outside or contract counsel representing the County. Establish departmental priorities and allocate legal resources to ensure timely and effective legal services to the Board of County Commissioners, County Management, and departments. 2. Legal Counsel and Representation Serve as the primary legal advisor to the Board of County Commissioners, County Manager, and authorized County officials on matters involving County operations, governance, and legal compliance. Provide timely, objective, and independent legal counsel directly to commissioners, individually or collectively, on matters within their official capacity consistent with applicable law, professional obligations, and County policies. Maintain direct communication with the Board of County Commissioners regarding legal matters affecting County governance, including significant legal risks, statutory obligations, and matters requiring Board consideration or action. Facilitate communication and coordination between the Board of County Commissioners and County management on legal matters while preserving appropriate confidentiality, professional independence, and established administrative authority. Provide comprehensive legal advice, conduct legal research, and prepare written and oral legal opinions for County departments. Oversee the preparation and management of legal opinions concerning statutory law, common law, administrative practices, and other matters affecting County operations. Represent the County, including the Board of County Commissioners, County management, and authorized County officials acting in their official capacities, in state and federal courts and before judicial and administrative bodies, as appropriate. Prosecute violations of County ordinances and represent the County’s interests in civil litigation matters. May advise the County on collective bargaining and labor negotiations, as assigned. Provide legal guidance on complex personnel matters and advise County management regarding applicable laws, regulations, policies, and procedures. Exercise independent professional judgment in providing legal advice and representation, consistent with applicable rules of professional conduct and the County’s legal interests. 3. Contracts, Property, and Regulatory Compliance Review, draft, and approve ordinances, resolutions, County contracts, leases, procurement agreements, and other legal documents for legal sufficiency and compliance with applicable law. Oversee County property management processes, including legal matters involving real estate, leases, deeds, easements, land and water rights purchases, property acquisitions and dispositions, and related agreements. Maintain a centralized record of property and water rights transactions and protect the County’s legal interests in property-related matters. Serve as the primary legal advisor regarding compliance with the Inspection of Public Records Act, Open Meetings Act, governmental ethics requirements, and other applicable laws and regulations governing County operations. Advise County departments and management regarding legal and regulatory requirements affecting the development and implementation of County programs, policies, and procedures. Oversee compliance with Industrial Revenue Bonds (IRB) on behalf of the County to ensure compliance. 4. Strategic Legal Support Evaluate complex legal issues and develop strategies that support the County’s legal interests, operational objectives, and compliance obligations. Coordinate legal services across County departments to promote consistent application of laws, policies, and legal practices. Monitor developments in federal and state law and assess their potential impact on County operations, policies, contracts, and programs. Develop and communicate recommendations regarding legal risks, emerging issues, and matters requiring executive or legislative action. Identify and communicate significant legal risks, compliance concerns, and matters requiring governing body consideration to appropriate County officials or the Board of County Commissioners, consistent with applicable law, attorney-client confidentiality, and professional responsibilities. Provide legal guidance and support to the Board of County Commissioners in carrying out its governance responsibilities while recognizing that authority to direct County action rests with the Board acting collectively or with other officials as lawfully authorized. Coordinate with the County Manager and Board of County Commissioners to address legal priorities, resolve competing requests for legal services, and ensure appropriate communication regarding matters affecting County operations. ADDITIONAL DUTIES. Other duties as assigned. QUALIFICATIONS. A. Education. A Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school. B. Experience. Applicant work history must include eight (8) years of experience in the practice of law which includes litigation, appellate experience and the coordination of multiple assignments relating to litigation and advising clients on issues of legal compliance. Position requires five (5) years of experience supervising others. Prior local government legal experience and knowledge of law and concepts relevant to the operation of County government is preferred. C. Education/Experience substitution. N/A D. Licenses/Certifications. License to practice law in the State of New Mexico. If not licensed in New Mexico at the time of hire, must apply for a Public Employee Limited License under NMRA 15-304 and obtain a regular State of New Mexico bar license within one (1) year of the date of hire. Valid driver’s license. Must maintain a valid driver’s license and an acceptable driving record in accordance with County policy. E. Other (e.g., post-offer medical exam, polygraph, background check, driver’s license record, etc.). Must pass pre-employment background check and driving record check. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED BY THE POSITION: Knowledge of: Federal and state laws, regulations, and legal principles applicable to county and local government operations. Constitutional, administrative, municipal, and public sector law applicable to the County. Advanced legal research methods, case law analysis, statutory interpretation, and legal analysis. Principles and practices of public sector management, administration, supervision, and organizational leadership. Principles and techniques of negotiation, collective bargaining, mediation, and dispute resolution. Laws and requirements governing public records, open meetings, governmental ethics, contracts, procurement, property transactions, and other areas affecting County operations. Principles and practices of litigation, civil procedure, and representation before judicial and administrative bodies. Skill in: Conducting complex legal research, analyzing legal issues, and applying applicable laws, regulations, and case law. Exercising independent judgment and critical thinking to evaluate complex legal and operational issues and determine appropriate courses of action. Providing strategic legal advice and counsel to elected officials, executive management, department leaders, and staff. Representing the County effectively in litigation, administrative proceedings, negotiations, and other legal matters. Drafting, reviewing, and interpreting complex legal documents, contracts, ordinances, resolutions, policies, and legal opinions. Negotiating and resolving complex legal matters while protecting the County’s legal and operational interests. Managing multiple priorities, deadlines, and complex legal matters in an environment with competing organizational needs. Ability to: Interpret and apply complex laws, regulations, policies, and legal principles to a broad range of County operations and circumstances. Communicate complex legal concepts, risks, and recommendations clearly and effectively in oral and written form to legal and non-legal audiences. Exercise sound professional judgment and maintain appropriate confidentiality when addressing sensitive or complex legal matters. Develop practical legal strategies that support County operations while addressing legal and regulatory requirements. Establish and maintain effective, cooperative, and professional working relationships with elected officials, County management, department staff, outside counsel, public agencies, and the public. Prioritize and organize work effectively to meet deadlines and respond to changing legal and organizational needs. Compensation Range $154,000.00 - $217,571.79 Doña Ana County is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. It is our policy to abide by all federal and state laws prohibiting employment discrimination on the basis of a person’s race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, disability, serious medical condition, genetic information, ancestry, spousal affiliation, gender identity, sexual orientation or any other unlawful criteria, except where a reasonable Bona Fide Occupational Qualification exists. Doña Ana County will make reasonable accommodation(s) for the known physical or mental limitations of an applicant with a disability, upon request, unless the accommodation(s) would cause an undue hardship on the operation of the County. Please see http://www.donaanacounty.org/ada/ for our Public Notice and to get the Testing/Interview Accommodation Request Form or call 575-647-7210 for assistance. Thank you for considering Doña Ana County as a potential employer. The information below is provided to assist you in successfully navigating the application process. The first step is to complete an employment application form. Only the information provided on this application is evaluated when determining compensation. It is important that you ensure your application reflects the correct and current information for your work experience, education, personal information, etc. After you apply for a position with Doña Ana County, there is a minimum qualification screening based on the requirements of the position completed by the county’s HR staff. Applicants cannot proceed in the process if: -- Stated years of related experience cannot be verified within the work experience section of the application (e.g., not enough information provided, insufficient work history, experience listed is not applicable). -- Required education is not listed in the application. -- The application is incomplete in any capacity. -- The candidate only submits a resume. Doña Ana County does not utilize resumes during the recruitment process; however, you may use your resume to auto-populate portions of your application. HR department staff then forward the applications of candidates who meet the minimum qualifications to the hiring department. The hiring department will select applicants for interviews and proceed with the selection process. Due to the high level of interest in some of our positions, not all eligible applicants will be interviewed.

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