DEPUTY COUNTY ATTORNEY

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1 DEPUTY COUNTY ATTORNEY $110,875 Plus Excellent Benefits Apply by May 31, 2015 (First Review, Open Until Filled)

2 WHY APPLY? Located in the heart of the Rocky Mountains in central western Colorado, Gunnison County is known for its stunningly beautiful landscapes and some of the most amazing outdoor recreational opportunities you can find. Gunnison boasts that the sun shines almost every day and that the Taylor and Gunnison Rivers have some of the best trout fishing waters in the Rockies. Gunnison County is a stable organization with dedicated employees. They are seeking a Deputy County Attorney who values intelligence, accountability and results more than ego. If you possess strong interpersonal and leadership skills and enjoy challenges, this is the right position for you! THE REGION Surrounded by the 1.6 million acre Gunnison National Forest, Gunnison County is considered the unspoiled heart of Colorado." The area encompasses some of the wildest and most beautiful terrain in the world, including Colorado s largest body of water, Blue Mesa Reservoir, as well as Black Canyon National Park, Curecanti National Recreation Area, and 2,000 miles of trout streams. Over 85% of Gunnison County is under public ownership, which provides year round outdoor recreation opportunities, including kayaking, boating, rafting, fishing, hunting, hiking, mountain biking, rockclimbing, camping and skiing. Gunnison County has a population of about 15,000 residents and covers 3,259 square miles. Over 60% of the dwelling units in the County are second homes and vacation rentals, so the permanent population number is a bit misleading as the services and complexities are more akin to a larger jurisdiction. Located in the Rocky Mountains at 7,700 feet above sea level, Gunnison enjoys warm summers and cold winters with moderate snowfall. The economic base is primarily tourism, followed by education, ranching, and natural resource extraction. Gunnison County is rich with mineral deposits and grazing lands, and ranching still plays a prominent role in the economy, lifestyle and character of Gunnison County. The Elk Mountains dominate the county, topping out in the northeast at 14,000 feet with the peaks that form the Continental Divide. Crested Butte Ski Area opened in 1963, making Gunnison a destination for snowboarders and downhill skiers looking for a worldclass ski experience and challenging slopes. The area offers some of the best cross country skiing, dog sledding, snowshoeing and snowmobiling in the winter, and epic mountain biking, horseback riding, boating, fishing, hunting, rafting, kayaking, hiking and camping the rest of the year. Gunnison is home to Western State Colorado University, one of the state s top four-year fullyaccredited undergraduate institutions. Gunnison- Crested Butte Regional Airport serves the valley with both commercial airline and general aviation flights. Gunnison Valley Rural Transportation Authority operates bus service between Gunnison and Crested Butte serving Western State Colorado University and Crested Butte Mountain Resort. Bus service to Denver from the Gunnison Valley is also available. 2 P a g e

3 THE COUNTY Gunnison County is governed by a three-member Board of County Commissioners serving four-year overlapping terms. The 2015 adopted budget for the County is $91,478,162 and there are approximately 184 FTEs. County departments include: Administration, Airport, Assessor, Clerk & Recorder, Community Development, Coroner, County Attorney, Emergency Management, Facilities & Grounds, Geographic Information Services, Health & Human Services, Juvenile Services, IT, Public Works, Sheriff, and Treasurer. The County Manager is appointed by and reports to the County Commissioners. Matthew Birnie has been County Manager since 2007 and enjoys a reputation as a progressive leader who focuses on results and accountability. In late 2011, the Association of Colorado County Administrators recognized the work of Gunnison County by giving Matthew the Colorado County Administrator of the Year Award at the winter gathering of the Colorado counties. Matthew is currently the President of the Colorado City & County Management Association. The County has a reputation as a thoughtful, consensus seeking, pragmatic, fiscally conservative organization. The County Commissioners and County staff thrive from a strong team approach THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE The mission of the County Attorney s Office is to provide legal advice, counsel and support of policies to the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC), other elected and appointed officials, commissions and departments so they can understand the full extent of their legal authorities, understand the limits of those authorities and act within those authorities. Works, Sheriff's Office, and Treasurer's Office. The County Attorney also represents various county boards and commissions, such as the Board of Adjustments, Board of Appeals, Environmental Health Board, Gunnison/Hinsdale Board of Human Services, Planning Commission, and Weed Commission. The County Attorney reports directly to the three person Board of County Commissioners with no intervening supervision. The Deputy Attorney through the County Attorney reports directly to the Board. All of the authority for employment decisions regarding the Deputy are vested in the County Attorney. David Baumgarten has been the County Attorney since The Attorney's Office is a very stable organization with a governance philosophy in which there is high value placed on accurate, complete, and neutral legal counsel. THE POSITION The Deputy Attorney works under the direct supervision of the County Attorney and under the policy direction of the Board of County Commissioners. The Deputy Attorney is a deputy to the County Attorney with primary responsibility for human services, child welfare and child support enforcement, and also with responsibility to provide legal counsel to the Board of County Commissioners, all elected county officials, the various county boards, commissions, and the various county departments. The Deputy County Attorney also serves as the Operations Manager for the County Attorney's Office with the responsibility for supervision of all department employees (except the County Attorney) and management of the Office's work processes, including the assignment of duties and projects. The County Attorney's Office provides legal counsel to the Board of County Commissioners of Gunnison County, all elected Gunnison County officials, and various Gunnison County departments, including Administration, Assessor's Office, Clerk & Recorder's Office, Community Development, Coroner, Gunnison/Crested Butte Regional Airport, Health and Human Services, Public 3 P a g e

4 OPPORTUNITIES & CHALLENGES Hitting the Ground Running: The Deputy Counsel will be tested early and often, and will make or break it based on integrity, knowledge, and the ability to gently persuade but be firm when necessary, and to settle issues that do not require litigation, but litigate professionally and vigorously when needs be. JOIN A HIGH PERFORMANCE ORGANIZATION The County just received two national awards for excellence in two distinct program areas at the International City/County Management Association Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina, in September. The Government Finance Officers Association awarded the County its Distinguished Budget Presentation Award in 2011, 2012, 2013 and Many operating departments have won awards for excellence in their service areas. IDEAL CANDIDATE PROFILE The ideal candidate will have been a successful County/City Attorney or in a firm representing public sector organizations of similar size and complexity. This person will be proactive and will focus on problem avoidance and will have the ability to find workable solutions to problems. The new Deputy County Attorney must be a confident member of the department's leadership team, providing guidance and advice on legal matters to all departments of the County. He or she will have extensive experience making timely analytical and reasoned judgments on issues of public/political sensitivity and importance and must be able to accept and support decisions in a positive manner. The ideal candidate will be focused, very organized and demonstrate excellent follow-through. He or she will be a good listener who consistently works well with personnel throughout all levels of the organization. This person should be able to call on peers inside and outside of the County for advice and must have competence and knowledge of Colorado State Law and Federal Law. and cooperation within the organization. Candidates will be able to organize and express ideas through excellent oral and written communications to a wide variety of audiences. The successful candidate will have a working knowledge of the principles of county law, including drafting ordinances and resolutions and an excellent knowledge of land use and environmental law and a superior understanding of the State legislative process. The new Deputy County Attorney will have excellent and innovative negotiation skills which often leads to "yes." Knowledge of human services, child welfare and child support enforcement is an essential requisite. The ideal candidate will need to support and embrace the County's "Managing for Results" initiatives. EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE A Juris Doctor from an accredited law school with five to seven years of increasingly responsible professional experience in county, municipal or other government law. Any combination of experience and training which provides the applicant with the level of required knowledge and abilities will be considered. Membership in good standing with the Colorado State Bar is required, or the ability to obtain within six months. COMPENSATION & BENEFITS $110,875 Contract with 3 months of severance Medical and dental coverage Vacation is accrued based on length of service, and annual accumulation ranges from hours Sick Leave: 8 hours for each month of service 11 paid holidays Dependent Care FSA Medical, dental, and vision FSA Life insurance Supplemental Life and AD&D Insurance, including spouse and children County 401(a) Retirement Program 457 Deferred Comp Plan Match Program Employee Assistance Program The new Deputy City Attorney should be honest, hard-working and approachable, while establishing an atmosphere of mutual respect, professionalism, 4 P a g e

5 Gunnison County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified candidates are strongly encouraged to apply by May 31, 2015 (first review, open until filled). Applications, supplemental questions, resumes and cover letters will only be accepted electronically. To apply online, go to and click on "submit your application" and follow the directions provided. Resumes, cover letters and supplemental questions can be uploaded once you have logged in NE Gilman Blvd., Ste 350 Issaquah, WA Prothman. All Rights Reserved. 5 P a g e