Deputy Director of Legal Services (Manager VIII)

A career with Johnson County Government is more than just a job, it is an opportunity to serve a diverse and expanding community in meaningful ways. We challenge ourselves to be a different kind of government because we care deeply about our community and each other. Committed to our shared values, we provide excellent public service, seeking always to improve ourselves and our organization. We offer wonderful benefits, retirement plans, wellness incentives, a great organizational culture, and much more! If you're searching for something more than just a job, something akin to a calling, then consider the challenge and opportunity of being a member of Johnson County Government!

Johnson County Government, in Olathe, Kansas, is actively recruiting for an Deputy Director of Legal Services. We are one of the nation's premier counties, providing comprehensive services to its citizens in its role as a leading organization in the Kansas City metropolitan area, and we offer an interesting as well as challenging legal career in a department of ten professional attorneys. We prefer applicants with governmental experience and an aspiration for public service. The Deputy Director of Legal Services provides high level legal services for assigned departments, agencies and offices of the County, including advising the Board of County Commissioners and department heads on legal matters of interest to the County and assuring that the County is properly represented in legal proceedings, and that all contracts, deeds, bonds, and other official documents are approved for form and legality. Assisting in the direction of operations of the County Legal Department, providing supervision and collaboration with assigned attorneys, managing day-to-day administration of operations, and acting for and on behalf of the Deputy Chief Counsel when the Deputy Chief Counsel is absent or when requested. This position will remain open until filled.

Additional Duties Include:

Provides professional advice, counsel, and legal representation to departments and legal services areas; ensures departments, agencies and offices are fully advised and aware of issues, matters, recommendations and consequences in order to make knowledgeable decisions; ensures operations of the County are consistent with legal requirements and policy objectives.
• In coordination with the Chief Counsel and Deputy Chief Counsel, provides day-to-day management and administration for the operations of the Legal Department, including authorization for financial transactions, oversight of schedules and general work flow, development and application of departmental policies and procedures, and assists the Chief Counsel and Deputy Chief Counsel in the development and administration of the department's budget; directs, coaches, and supervises staff and the provision of legal services covering assigned areas of responsibility, such as central services area (Human Resources, Purchasing, and Records) and litigation services (general cases, bankruptcy, appraisals, tax sales, and foreclosures), which may from time to time be modified, including preparation and conducting performance evaluations for assigned attorneys and support staff; serves on the County Management Team providing leadership for the organization; provides leadership guidance to the members of the Legal Department.
• Represents the County and its officials in legal and other proceedings, prepares briefs, opinions, pleadings and other legal papers, renders legal opinions; conducts legal research, keeps case records and prepares reports, attends court hearings, drafts resolutions, motions, contracts, and other legal documents, interprets and furnishes information regarding County resolutions; administers the codification of County resolutions.
• Works closely with the Board of County Commissioners and the County Manager's Office on organizational issues, structural changes, and employee matters, review of agenda items, or assigned projects.

Juris Doctorate, license to practice law in the State of Kansas, ten (10) years' experience in the practice of law including a minimum of three (3) years representation of municipal body, litigation and trial experience in both state and federal courts, and five (5) years' experience supervising, leading, or coordinating the work of others required.