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City of Port Townsend Job Description
City Attorney
Classification title: City Attorney Working title: City Attorney
Department: Legal Union: No
FLSA status: Exempt Wage Classification: 631
Hours: Full Time Effective date: June 2025; May 2026
Reports to: City Manager Civil Service: No
IDEAL CANDIDATE
An accomplished and ethical legal professional who is an innovative, collaborative, and strategic leader
with a commitment to public service.
JOB SUMMARY
As part of the City’s Executive Leadership Team and under general direction of the City Manager, the
City Attorney leads initiatives to inspire and instill a positive working environment characterized by
teamwork, trust, organizational values, and accountability. The successful candidate is decisive and
consensus-building with a penchant for proactive problem solving and strategic execution and thrives
and inspires in a change management and organizational transformation role. As the chief legal officer
for the City, the City Attorney provides legal advice and support for all departments, conducts and
manages all litigation, prepares and reviews all City ordinances and resolutions, and manages key
staff.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
• Provide guidance to the City Manager, City staff, and City Council on matters of procedure, legal
interpretation, and policy implementation. Such guidance includes preparation and review of
legislation, preparation and review of contracts, providing advice regarding personnel matters,
providing advice regarding land use and other regulatory functions, providing litigation and technical
support.
• Attend City Council meetings and meetings of other City bodies as needed, including City Council
committees, Planning Commission, and advisory boards. Act as parliamentarian as required.
• Create a positive work environment emphasizing teamwork, training, and collaboration. Direct and
supervise functions of assigned staff. Supervise, select for hiring, train, and conduct performance
assessments for department staff.
• Ensure staff compliance with City policies and procedures. Responsible for and/or oversee and
provide guidance to staff responsible for various committees and advisory boards and reports to
City Council.
• Conduct legal research and opinion and maintain accurate and complete files and records.
• Manage contracts and interlocal agreements, such as the consolidated criminal justice contracts
with Jefferson County.
• In partnership with the Director of People & Performance, conduct investigations or interviews
City Attorney
related to legal matters involving the City.
• Serve on the City’s Executive Leadership Team, contributing to and collaborating with colleagues
and the City Manager to nurture a high-performing, accountable, dynamic, and positive
organizational culture.
• Responsible for maintaining and updating the Port Townsend Municipal Code.
• Litigate on behalf of the City in civil or administrative actions, including code enforcement matters,
and serve as liaison with outside counsel on specialized legal matters.
• Help lead negotiations with assigned bargaining groups and provide legal support for labor and
collective bargaining matters, including grievances and arbitrations; maintain current knowledge of
labor/personnel-related law changes; provide legal consultation and advice to HR regarding
labor/personnel issues; respond to labor issues as necessary.
• May serve as Acting City Manager in the absence of the City Manager as assigned.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES
• Strong background in and knowledge of general municipal law, Open Public Meetings Act, Public
Records Act, and land use, zoning, annexation, labor law and contract law. Special knowledge of
Washington State law and key legislation like the Growth Management Act is desirable.
• Well-developed and proven leadership and management skills.
• Excellent strategic thinking, negotiation, and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and specialized software pertinent to legal applications.
• Communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to interact with diverse groups of people.
• Flexibility to adapt to changing circumstances, such as shifting priorities, unexpected challenges, or
variations in the workload, while maintaining composure and effectiveness.
• Ability to maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with co-workers, peers, elected
officials, community groups, other agencies, volunteers, customers, and the general public.
• Ability to effectively and efficiently communicate with team members, the general public, and other
departments, both verbally and in writing, using tact, patience and courtesy to convey instructions,
provide feedback, receive feedback, and resolve issues.
• Demonstrated ability and experience to handle litigation and advisory legal matters for the City
independently and with competence.
• Ability to provide exceptional internal and external customer service, including appropriately
handling political and emotional complexity.
• Ability to work on complex legal and policy issues in a setting where different objectives and/or
adversarial viewpoints may exist.
• Ability to communicate complex legal issues verbally and in writing to a variety of audiences in a
clear, comprehensive and effective manner.
• Ability to exercise independent judgment within broad policy guidelines; evaluate and analyze
issues and policies and recommend and implement solutions; identify and monitor goals and
objectives; and ensure effective communication of actions.
• Ability to prioritize and delegate workload efficiently.
• Willingness and ability to work collaboratively, effectively, and proactively in a small office
environment.
City Attorney
QUALIFICATIONS
Required
• Any combination equivalent to:
o Law degree from an ABA-accredited law school with admission to practice law in the State
of Washington.
o Minimum of five years’ experience in municipal law and related areas.
o Member in good standing of the Washington State Bar Association.
o Three years’ experience in a supervisory or management role.
Preferred
• Experience as an administrator and member of a municipal executive leadership team.
WORKING CONDITIONS
Duties are performed primarily in an office environment with sitting for long periods of time, utilizing
standard office equipment and personal computer. The noise level in the work environment is usually
moderately quiet. May be required to interact with upset individuals. This position typically requires
movement around the office, reaching, pushing, grasping, finger dexterity, hearing, seeing and
repetitive motions. Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force
frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects.
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to
successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to
enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
The City of Port Townsend is an equal employment opportunity employer. The City employs, retains,
promotes, disciplines and otherwise treats all employees and job applicants strictly on the basis of job-
related qualifications and competence. These policies and all employment practices shall be applied
without regard to any individual's sex, race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sexual orientation
(including gender identity), pregnancy, age, marital status, military status, disability, genetic information,
or any other characteristic protected by law.
This job description in no way implies that these are the only duties to be performed. The employee
occupying the position will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any
other job-related duties requested by their supervisors. All employees must comply with all City
policies and procedures relevant to their position as a condition of City employment.
This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the City and the employee
and is subject to change as the needs of the City and requirements of the job change.
City Attorney