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Summary

AC Transit is currently seeking candidates for the position of Senior Attorney. The primary purpose of this position is to advise and support AC Transit on all legal aspects related to procurement, contracts, and contract compliance. The position will work closely with AC Transit’s Contract and Contract Compliance teams, which includes drafting, reviewing, and negotiating complex contracts and funding agreements with vendors, suppliers, contractors, and consultants. The Senior Attorney will ensure that all procurement activities comply with local, state, and federal laws, regulations, and policies, and will work closely with various departments to mitigate risks and ensure contract compliance. The position reports to the General Counsel/Chief Legal Officer. Positions at this level may provide direction and guidance to other attorneys as needed.

The responsibilities and work assignments within the Attorney classification series combine specialization and general practice, focusing on specific areas of law while also addressing a broad range of legal matters that include contracts, labor and employment, regulatory compliance, litigation, real estate, and risk management to ensure legal compliance and protect the District’s interests. This is an unrepresented at-will classification.

This is an excellent opportunity to work for the largest bus agency in California, make a difference in our local community, and promote AC Transit as a great employer of the East Bay. In addition to working with some of the best in the business, AC Transit also has an excellent benefits package that includes pension, medical, dental and vision coverage, flexible spending, and 457 savings plan.

Representative Functions

• Drafts, reviews, and negotiates a wide range of procurement contracts including construction, professional services, technology, and supply agreements.
• Ensure that contracts reflect the agency’s objectives and comply with applicable laws, including FTA (Federal Transit Administration) regulations, DBE (Disadvantaged Business Enterprise) participation, and other relevant requirements.
• Provide legal advice on procurement practices, ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local procurement regulations, including bid protests, contract disputes, and public bidding laws.
• Identify and mitigate legal risks associated with procurement and contract management.
• Work closely with the Contract and Contract Compliance teams to ensure compliance with agency policies and procedures; provides legal counsel and ensure efficient procurement processes.
• Acts as the primary legal advisor in contract-related disputes, claims, and negotiations, working with external legal counsel as needed.
• Serve as the agency’s subject matter expert on procurement law and public contracting, advising senior management on complex legal issues.
• Provides ongoing legal support throughout the life of contracts, including amendments, extensions, terminations, and dispute resolution.
• Assists Contract and Procurement staff in the development and implementation of contract templates, guidelines, and policies to streamline procurement processes.
• In cohesion with Contract Compliance staff conducts periodic audits of procurement processes and contracts to ensure legal and regulatory compliance.
• Responds to public record requests for information and subpoenas.
• Provides lead direction, guidance, and training to other Attorneys; reviews work assignments, and evaluates work product; sets priorities and follows up to ensure coordination and timely completion of assigned work.
• Directs the work and leads teams of attorneys on projects requiring interdisciplinary skills and policy development.
• Provides legal advice and renders legal opinions on matters assigned by the General Counsel/Chief Legal Officer or Assistant General Counsel.
• Confers with the General Counsel/Chief Legal Officer, Assistant General Counsel, General Manager/Chief Executive Officer, and other District executive staff to formulate and implement policies for the District in the area of assignment.
• Develops District administrative policies and procedures to ensure compliance with applicable state and federal laws and regulations, as well as court-ordered judgments, settlements, and decrees.
• Drafts and analyzes Board policies, administrative regulations, resolutions, memoranda, contracts, solicitations, funding agreements, and other legal documents.
• Provides expert legal supervision to investigations, fact-finding, depositions, and other activities required in connection with negotiations or litigation.
• Provides legal advice on employment law, federal and state labor laws/regulations, contracts, transit district law, and the collective bargaining agreements to the Executive Officers, Department Heads, and other District staff.
• Develops policies and procedures regarding labor and employment law, to ensure compliance with applicable federal and state labor laws and the District collective bargaining agreements.
• Recommends personnel actions, when appropriate.
• Provides general legal direction to District departments.
• Conducts settlement negotiations and recommends settlement amounts and details to the General Counsel or Assistant General Counsel.
• Advises and directs subordinate attorneys on District policies and procedures regarding legal matters; assists in the operation of the General Counsel Calendar; may assist in determining case assignments for attorneys; directs training procedures for subordinate attorneys, technical and clerical staff.
• May be required to temporarily replace or act in the position of the General Counsel/Chief Legal Officer staff member to whom this position normally reports and may be required to perform some or all of the staff member's essential functions in such situations.
• Performs related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Possession of aJuris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited school of law.

Experience: Seven (7) years of recent and verifiable experience as a practicing attorney in civil or government law; demonstrated trial experience including at least two (2) years that involved responsibilities at a level equivalent to the District's classification of Attorney III.

License and Certification(s): Possession of an active membership in good standing with the State Bar of California.

Desirable Qualifications

• Experience working with transit agencies or similar public/government entities.
• Knowledge of relevant federal regulations, including the FTA and public procurement law.
• Experience handling litigation and dispute resolution in procurement-related matters.

Additional Information

Physical Requirements : Must maintain the physical condition necessary to: (1) perform tasks in an office setting operating a personal computer, keyboards, and other peripheral equipment; and (2) possess physical mobility in order to attend off-site trials, hearings, negotiations, and to attend external meetings and events.

THIS POSITION IS UNREPRESENTED AT WILL

The Selection Process: The Human Resources department must receive a completed online application by the filling date. If this recruitment is "Continuous," it may be closed at any time without notice. Applications will be screened for job related qualifications, and those candidates who best meeting the qualifications listed on this Job Announcement will be invited to participate in an examination process that may include written, oral and/or performance segments. Current District employees must have satisfactory attendance and performance records. Finalists will be placed on an Eligibility List. When filling vacancies, the Human Resources Department will refer the top candidates to the hiring department for final screening and recommendation.

Vaccination Requirement for Candidates Seeking Employment: Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District has implemented a requirement that requires all candidates for District employment to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19, including variants, prior to being employed by the District, subject to limited exceptions. AC Transit adopted this vaccination policy as an emergency public health response to mitigate the negative public health consequences associated with increased incidence and test positivity rates and the prevalence of new virus variants, including increased hospitalizations, intensive care unit admissions, and deaths.

As such, candidates seeking District employment will be required to: (1) be fully vaccinated (two weeks after completion of the entire recommended COVID-19 vaccination series) and (2) submit a copy of their COVID-19 vaccination card prior to their start date, unless a reasonable accommodation request for a medical or religious exemption has been approved.

Benefits: The transit professionals who call AC Transit home represent the rich cultural diversity of the Bay Area. For more than 60 years, we have been an equal opportunity employer honoring religion, ethnic background, national origin, gender, gender expression, genetic information, disabilities, age, and veteran status. We are not only an inclusive employer but also offer a comprehensive benefits package rooted in choice, flexibility, and affordability. Most Benefits are effective the first of the month following your hire date. Employees and eligible dependents have access to the following benefits*:

• Medical - Choice of two Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs): Kaiser Permanente and Health Net. $10.00 office visit co-pays; $5.00 - $35.00 prescription co-pays.
• Dental – MetLife Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) $50 annual deductible per person/$150 per family; $3,000 per person annual maximum; preventative care covered at 100%; basic and major care covered at 90%; $4,000 lifetime maximum orthodontia covered at 50%.
• Vision - Vision Service Plan - $10.00 copay; eligible for an exam, lenses, frames or contact lenses every 12 months – based on the last date of service. $200 frame allowance or $120 allowance for contact lenses.
• Employer paid Basic Life Insurance
• Employee paid Voluntary Term Life Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for Health Care, Dependent Care, Parking, Transit
• AC Transit contributes up to $50.00/month towards an employee’s FSA Transit costs
• Free AC Transit Bus Pass
• Federal Credit Union
• Vacation and Sick Leave or Personal Time Off
• Ten (10) paid holidays; 2 paid floating holidays; 1 paid birthday holiday
• Tuition Reimbursement – up to $2500 per fiscal year on approved courses
• Wellness Program

*AC Transit benefits are negotiated and subject to change based on collective bargaining agreements.

Pension: All AC Transit employees participate in a lifetime defined benefit pension. All employees hired on or after January 1, 2020, may be in the District's Tier II pension plan covered by the Public Employees' Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA). As such, he/she may be required to contribute a small portion of annual income towards the cost of his/hers District pension.

ADA Compliant and Drug Free Workplace: The Human Resources Department will make reasonable efforts in the recruitment/examination process to accommodate applicants with disabilities. If you have a need for an accommodation, please call Human Resources at (510) 891-4783.

The Alameda Contra Costa Transit District has established the goal of a 100 percent drug and alcohol-free workplace. Applicants will be required to undergo drug and alcohol testing prior to employment and those in safety sensitive positions will be subject to further drug and alcohol testing through their period of employment, including random drug and alcohol testing.

In accordance with federal requirements, all job applicants selected for appointments in a safety sensitive position are subject to pre-employment drug and alcohol testing. A final job applicant will be tested for five prohibited drugs: Cocaine, PCP, Amphetamines, Marijuana and Opiates. During employment, employees holding safety sensitive positions are subject to random, reasonable suspicion, post-accident, return-to-duty, and follow-up drug and alcohol testing. Additionally, in the event of an absence of more than 90 days from a safety sensitive position, pre-employment drug testing will be performed.

Equal Opportunity Employer

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