Senior Assistant City Attorney – Auditor’s Office

City and County of Denver • Denver, CO

4d • 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. What We Offer The City and County of Denver offers competitive pay commensurate with education and experience. New hires are typically brought into the organization between $134,933 - $182,159/annually, based on experience and education. We also offer generous benefits for full-time employees which include but are not limited to: 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 Location & Schedule The City and County of Denver supports a hybrid workplace model. Employees work where needed, at a job site several days a week and off-site as needed. Employees must work within the state of Colorado on their off-site days. Who We Are & What You’ll Do 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 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 250 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 seeking a Senior Assistant City Attorney to support the Auditors Office. The Auditor’s Office is an independent agency led by the Denver Auditor, an elected official. Its Audit Services Division conducts performance, financial, and other audits of government agencies and City contractors. Its Denver Labor Division enforces wage and hour rights for work performed in the City and County of Denver. The Senior Assistant City Attorney will play a critical role in advancing the mission of the Auditor’s Office to (1) conduct high-quality audits consistent with the City Charter, Municipal Code, and Generally Accepted Government Auditing Standards, and (2) find, fix, and deter wage theft by enforcing Denver’s Prevailing Wage, Minimum Wage, and Civil Wage Theft Ordinances.

Requirements

• Education requirement: Doctor of Jurisprudence degree or Bachelor of Laws degree.
• Experience Requirement: Three (3) years of experience as an attorney at law.
• Education/Experience Equivalency: No substitution of experience for education is permitted.
• License/Certifications: 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

• At least 10 years of labor/employment law experience advocating on behalf of workers, especially under the National Labor Relations Act, federal/state/local wage and hour laws, and/or any laws prohibiting retaliation for protected activity.
• Demonstrated commitment to working-class people and/or anti-poverty work.
• Demonstrated experience litigating to enforce workers’ rights in administrative hearings, appeals, and/or in state or federal court.
• Demonstrated experience working in or with a sophisticated government entity dedicated to government transparency and/or workers’ rights enforcement.
• Experience analyzing wages owed and assessing appropriate make-whole remedies for workers whose rights have been violated.
• Genuine interest in and appreciation for government auditing.

Responsibilities

• Litigate on behalf of the Denver Auditor’s Office, including by representing Denver Labor in administrative hearings, state and/or federal court, and related appeals; advising Denver Labor on complex investigations; counseling the Denver Auditor and Audit Services regarding government audits; and reviewing and enforcing subpoenas.
• Negotiate and prepare settlement agreements to fairly and effectively resolve wage investigations or legal disputes.
• Draft and prepare memoranda, motions, beliefs and pleadings to be filed in judicial or quasi-judicial proceedings.
• Advise the Denver Auditor, Deputy Auditor, Executive Director of Denver Labor, and other members of the Auditor’s Office on legal issues, strategies, and disputes, including by providing formal legal opinions upon request on complex matters.
• Conduct or provide feedback with legal research.

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: Mid Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree