Deputy City Attorney - Procurement & Construction

City of Portland • 1221 SW 4th Ave, OR

4d • Onsite

About The Position

The Portland City Attorney’s Office is seeking a transactional attorney with at least four years of experience in procurement and construction (capital improvements), including general advice work for government or private-entity clients engaged in public contracting. The work may include construction contract review; ongoing project-related advice on public contracting requirements, state and local procurement laws, environmental compliance, and risk management; pre-claim dispute resolution; bid protests; contractor claims; mediation proceedings; and insurance coverage assessments. The position may include other work assigned by the City Attorney and may involve close collaboration with litigation attorneys when disputes result in litigation. Candidates must demonstrate a commitment to racial equity in legal analysis, policy, and institutional systems.

This is a full-time, at-will position exempt from Civil Service and subject to the City of Portland Human Resources Administrative Rules and Portland City Charter and Code. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; an alternate schedule may be available. The work location is 1221 SW 4th Ave, Portland, Oregon. The classification was recently recognized as represented by AFSCME-189; terms and conditions are under negotiation. Pay is determined based on experience listed in the applicant’s resume that is directly related and equivalent to the position, consistent with the Oregon Equal Pay Act.

Requirements

• At least four years of transactional law experience as a licensed attorney, including commercial construction and/or real estate transactions, or another combination of experience demonstrating capacity to perform the essential functions.
• Juris Doctor from an accredited law school.
• Membership in good standing with the Oregon State Bar, or membership in good standing in another jurisdiction’s bar with the ability to obtain Oregon State Bar membership.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Excellent writing ability.
• Proficiency in time and case management.
• Commitment to racial equity as applied to legal analysis, policy, and institutional systems.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in or knowledge of construction litigation.
• Experience in or knowledge of state and local contracting and procurement requirements.
• Experience in or knowledge of municipal law.
• Experience in or knowledge of business and workforce equity programs in construction contracting.
• Experience in or knowledge of alternative contracting methods, including construction manager/general contractor, design-build, and progressive design-build.

Responsibilities

• Review construction contracts.
• Provide ongoing project-related advice, including on public contracting requirements, state and local procurement laws, environmental compliance, and risk management.
• Handle pre-claim dispute resolution, bid protests, contractor claims, mediation proceedings, and insurance coverage assessments.
• Work closely with litigation attorneys when disputes result in litigation.
• Perform other work as assigned by the City Attorney.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree