Deputy General Counsel – Limited Duration

City of Portland Office of the Auditor is seeking applicants for a Deputy General Counsel – Limited Duration

Salary: $62.39 - $88.02/ hour (Adjusted for estimated COLA, effective July 1)

Opening Date:  April 22, 2024

Closing Date:    May 19, 2024

THE POSITION:

The City Auditor’s Office is seeking a Deputy General Counsel to provide legal services to the Auditor’s Office. The Deputy General Counsel should be a well-rounded generalist or have significant experience in one or more subject matter areas on which the Auditor’s Office regularly requires legal advice. It is not necessary for candidates to have expertise in all areas where the Deputy General Counsel may be asked to provide legal advice; instead, a successful candidate will have a demonstrated ability to effectively research and quickly learn new areas of the law.

This is a part-time limited duration position for the primary purpose of assisting the Auditor’s Office’s General Counsel as the City prepares for the transition to a new form of government and an historic 2024 election cycle. The duration will be at least one year, with possibility for extending the term to two years; the hours will be 20-26 hours per week.

As the sixth elected official in the City of Portland, the City Auditor is independent of the Mayor, City Council, and  City offices and is accountable only to the public. The Auditor’s Office ensures open and accountable government by providing impartial reviews and investigations, access to public information, and services to City government and the public. It employs over 50 people across six divisions. The Auditor’s Office does this primarily through the following functions:

• Audit Services:  conducts performance audits of City bureaus, agencies, and programs, and oversees the financial audit of the City. This division also houses the City’s fraud hotline.
• Ombudsman: responds to members of the public to resolve complaints about City services and practices and initiates investigations into systemic problems in the City government.
• Elections:  implements the Auditor’s Charter responsibility to supervise City elections, and oversees enforcement of the City’s campaign finance and lobbying regulations.
• Council Clerk: administers City Council business, serves as the central repository for City contracts and Portland Policy Documents, and maintains City Charter and Code.
• Archives & Records Management:  operates the City of Portland Archives and Records Center, making City administrative and historical records accessible for research and inspection in accordance with public records laws.
• Operations Management: serves as the City Auditor’s executive office, providing leadership, accountability, and support for all activities of the City Auditor’s Office, including human resources, contracts, and procurements.
• Hearings: conducts impartial administrative hearings and renders decisions in Land Use Hearings, Code Hearings, Appeals of City Decisions, Towing Hearings, and other administrative matters.

The Deputy General Counsel reports directly to the Auditor’s Office’s General Counsel. The Deputy General Counsel will conduct legal and policy research; prepare a broad array of written documents; and advise on policy development and compliance.

Responsibilities of the Deputy General Counsel include:

• Advising on subject matters such as: elections, campaign finance, lobbying/ethics, employment and labor, open meetings and public records laws, contracts and procurement, litigation, constitutional law issues, and general municipal law.
• Assisting the General Counsel with projects related to the transition to a new form of government.
• Assisting in developing legislative concepts and draft language.
• Drafting code and administrative rules.
• Advising on responses to public records.
• Reviewing contracts and preparing contract templates.
• Assisting in policy development.

Successful candidates will have:

• A demonstrated ability to quickly learn new areas of the law and an intellectual curiosity to develop subject matter expertise in new areas.
• An interest in holding government accountable to the public.
• Knowledge of relevant federal, state, and municipal statutes, regulations, and ordinances, and the ability to analyze, interpret, explain, and apply them.
• Knowledge of contracts, torts, constitutional law, civil rights, litigation, employment law, civil procedure, elections law, ethics law, campaign finance law, and/or statutes relating to municipalities.
• Ability to draft statutes, City Code, administrative regulations, contracts, and other legal documents.
• Ability to research complex legal questions using digital tools, libraries, professional resources, Oregon Revised Statutes, City Code and Charter, and other legal publications.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, and the ability to present information, proposals, and recommendations clearly and persuasively in public settings.

The Auditor’s Office values a diverse workforce and a culture of equity and inclusion in delivering public services and everyday interactions in the workplace. The Office encourages candidates with experience working with a broad range of individuals and diverse communities to apply.