Division Director – Human Services Legal Section

City and County of Denver • Denver, CO

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

With competitive pay, great benefits, and endless opportunities, working for the City and County of Denver means seeing yourself working with purpose — for you, and those who benefit from your passion, skills and expertise. Join our diverse, inclusive and talented workforce of more than 11,000 team members who are at the heart of what makes Denver, Denver. The City Attorney’s Office serves as the chief legal counsel to the Mayor, City Council, City Auditor, City Clerk and Recorder, and all City agencies. Its responsibilities include protecting children and at-risk adults from exploitation and abuse, handling city lawsuits, prosecuting ordinance violations, providing victim support in criminal cases, representing the city in investigations and litigation, advising on contractual and transactional matters, offering regulatory and compliance assistance, addressing employment matters for the city's more than 12,000 workers, and providing guidance on local, state, and federal law. With a team of over 200 individuals, the City Attorney’s Office is dedicated to protecting resident welfare, enhancing neighborhood quality of life, and responsibly managing taxpayer funds. As advocates for effective governance, transparency, and accountability, the office empowers the city to do its work and prioritizes ethical conduct in all city operations. Whether working with city agencies, engaging community stakeholders, or collaborating with external legal counsel, the office leverages its collective expertise to navigate complex legal challenges and advance key city priorities. The Denver City Attorney's Office is searching for a Division Director for the Human Services Legal Section (HSLS). The Division Director leads the Human Services section of the City Attorney's Office which is comprised of approximately 17 attorneys and 17 staff. HSLS provides legal representation to all divisions of Denver Human Services (DHS). Services include litigation in Dependency and Neglect, Juvenile Justice, Adult Protection, Child Support Enforcement, Benefit Fraud, Benefit Appeals, Medicaid Appeals, and Employment and Tort cases. HSLS attorneys represent Denver Human Services in specialty dockets in Denver Juvenile Court for cases that fall under the Indian Child Welfare Act. As in-house counsel to DHS, the section’s legal services include advice related to privacy compliance, training, contracting & MOU services (in collaboration with Municipal Operations contract attorneys), legislation & rule review and advocacy, regulatory compliance, policy & procedure drafting & review, audit support, CORA management, communications, records management, process improvement support, and board representation. The successful candidate for this position will lead and coordinate the Section's work, lead and manage an experienced group of attorneys, and provide legal counsel and representation to DHS. We seek an attorney with significant leadership, management and legal experience to lead our team and who is sensitive to the impact our legal work has on Denver's communities. Two Assistant Directors and one Legal Administrator will report directly to the Division Director as a part of the HSLS leadership team.

Requirements

• Doctor of Jurisprudence Degree or Bachelor of Laws Degree.
• Five (5) years of leadership experience, which must have included director-level management responsibilities.
• One (1) year of management experience must include budget and fiscal oversight responsibility, evaluation of business processes, and policy and decision making experience with planning and organizing multiple programs, projects, operations or functions.
• Possession of a license to practice law in Colorado from the Colorado Supreme Court by the date of hire or a reasonable expectation of becoming licensed by the Colorado Supreme Court by the date of hire in accordance with C.R.C.P. 203.2, 203.3, 203.4 and 205.6.
• Licenses and certifications must be kept current as a condition of employment.

Nice To Haves

• Visionary, innovative, creative, and experienced leader who is passionate about public service, is ethical and fair, with good common sense and sound judgment and demonstrates an ability to lead, manage and motivate an experienced and dynamic legal team.
• Uses critical thinking to analyze issues systematically by planning, prioritizing, and organizing work while anticipating and adjusting to changes.
• Demonstrates an ability to think creatively to achieve the client’s desired result.
• Keeps commitments to the team and demonstrates a shared responsibility and focus to ensure objectives and goals are successfully met.
• Displays resiliency and takes proactive measures to make improvements.
• Demonstrates managerial courage by addressing conflicts promptly using focused listening and behavioral feedback to produce mutually beneficial resolutions.
• Articulates complex issues in a simple manner in a public forum and has a proven track record of providing strategic advice, managing issues, and delivering results.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to bring together opposing groups or individuals to reconcile differences and accomplish organizational goals in a constructive manner
• Experience in financial management and ability to commit to action, even in uncertain situations, by making sound and timely decisions necessary to carry out programs, ideas, systems or policies that affect HSLS.
• A qualified applicant for the Division Director should have experience in recruitment, selection, training, performance appraisal, recognition, coaching and disciplinary action with employees.
• The applicant should have experience in creating, maintaining and fostering an inclusive and diverse work environment and have significant experience with coaching, training, and mentoring attorneys and legal staff.
• The applicant must be able to encourage and facilitate cooperation and open communication that promotes teamwork and fosters respect for employees at all levels.
• A sense of humor is a plus.
• The Division Director should have extensive experience working with individuals at all levels of an organization and a demonstrated ability to develop and manage projects, budgets and people.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate the Section's work
• Lead and manage an experienced group of attorneys
• Provide legal counsel and representation to DHS

Benefits

• A guaranteed life-long monthly pension, once vested after 5 years of service
• 457B Retirement Plan
• 140 hours of PTO earned within first year + 12 paid holidays, 1 personal holiday, 1 wellness day and 1 volunteer day per year
• Competitive medical, dental and vision plans effective within 1 month of start date

What This Job Offers

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