ATTORNEY IV

Job Description and Duties Under general direction of an Attorney Supervisor, the Attorney IV will be responsible for providing a broad spectrum of legal advice on diverse subjects related to the Authority’s operations and objectives, with a high level of difficulty or sensitivity. The Attorney IV is expected to possess advanced knowledge of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and familiarity with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The incumbent will complete assignments and provide legal advice and guidance by using state and federal legal authority in some or all of the following areas of law as well: contracts, environmental and land use, procurements, real property and eminent domain, open meetings, public records, conflicts of interest, governance, construction, public works, public infrastructure, public-private partnerships, utilities, public funding and financing, personnel and employment, and/or administrative law. The Attorney IV must be familiar with the associated state and federal laws and regulations and understand how such laws and regulations apply to public entities and public projects. The incumbent researches and analyzes legal authorities and provides oral and written advice to Authority staff; drafts, edits, negotiates and provides advice on complex agreements and settlements; and works collaboratively with other members of the Legal Office and the Authority’s staff. The incumbent also works closely with, and directs the work of, outside counsel regarding legal advice and litigation. You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement. Special Requirements A Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) is required for this position. An SOQ is a narrative that describes your qualifications for this position. The SOQ must be no more than two (2) pages, 12-point font, organized and numbered as reflected below. You must respond to all of the following questions. Applicants who do not follow these instructions may be disqualified from the hiring process. 1. Describe your experience with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and provide examples of NEPA projects, NEPA document preparation and any resulting litigation with which you have been involved. In your response, include specific information on your role in each project/litigation and the type(s) of client(s) and stakeholders you worked with. 2. Describe how you would handle a situation in which a client declined to follow your advice on an important element of an environmental impact statement or environmental impact report. 3. Describe a situation in which you succeeded in reaching an amicable resolution of an issue with a difficult counterparty. Applications received without the SOQ may be considered. Resumes, letters, and other materials will not be considered in the place of the SOQ. Artificial intelligence (AI) tools such as ChatGPT, website searches, and third-party reviewers can be helpful in researching responses to the SOQ; however, by submitting your application for this position, you understand and acknowledge the SOQ you submit is your own work, in your own words, and accurately reflects your knowledge, skills, abilities, and experiences. Submitting an SOQ that is not your own may be cause for disqualification from the hiring process. For assistance in completing the SOQ, please reach out to the Human Resources contact below. Desirable Qualifications In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate: • Strong written and oral communication skills.• Ability to conduct legal research and writing, sometimes under short deadlines.• Experience drafting legal documents such as legislation, regulations or contracts.• Ability to exercise a high degree of initiative, flexibility, judgment and confidentiality.• Ability to operate independently, but with the judgment to know when to ask for assistance and guidance from a supervisor or colleague.• Ability to represent the Authority in dealings with other government agencies and private entities in a way that reflects well on the Authority.• Ability to advise high-level governmental or corporate entitles on environmental legal matters. • Dependable, punctual, excellent attendance.• Knowledge of the Authority organization, operations and relevant policy issues. • Prepare correspondence involving inclusion of recommendations for effective courses of action.• Experience working with environmental permitting and mitigation laws.• Experience drafting and reviewing environmental documents with an emphasis on CEQA and NEPA legal matters.• Experience negotiating and/or litigating complex contracts or settlements. • Exercise good judgment and calm professionalism in all situations.