Senior Staff Attorney

Navajo Tribal Utility Authority•Fort Defiance, AZ

16h

About The Position

This position supervises and oversees the work of all NTUA in-house attorneys and Legal Department staff. The Senior Staff Attorney improves staff effectiveness by counseling, training, and recommending corrective action for employees; planning, delegating, monitoring, and appraising job tasks and results in a timely manner. This role oversees the management of Legal Department personnel, including work allocation, time approval, hiring, training, orientation, and problem resolution; evaluates performance; takes personnel action when warranted; and motivates employees to achieve peak productivity and performance. The Senior Staff Attorney develops measurable performance expectations for assigned staff according to department goals and objectives. This role reviews pertinent statutes, court decisions, and ordinances relevant to NTUA, the Navajo Nation, and quasi-judicial bodies. The Senior Staff Attorney establishes, implements, and communicates departmental goals, objectives, policies, and procedures in accordance with strategic planning, contractual requirements, and the needs of NTUA. This role reviews and approves actions on a wide range of complex legal issues, providing legal advice, interpretations, and opinions on all legal matters. The Senior Staff Attorney interprets laws, rulings, and regulations for NTUA, determines and recommends if outside counsel is required, and oversees and works with all outside legal counsels. This role oversees all phases of litigation for NTUA, including negotiations, mediation, legal research, discovery, motion practice, oral argument, trial, and appeal. When delegated, acts as an agent of NTUA in various transactions. The Senior Staff Attorney represents NTUA in litigation and other legal proceedings, and advises NTUA concerning transactions of business involving internal affairs, directors, officers, and NTUA relations with the general public. This role drafts legal documents, letters, and testimony, and prepares legal analysis of proposed statutes, regulations, and manuals, interpreting legal concepts. The Senior Staff Attorney stays abreast of current court decisions and pending legislation affecting NTUA and the Navajo Nation, developing strategies on major Tribal-related issues. This role prepares business contracts and administers other legal matters, assists in due diligence in expansions and joint ventures, and anticipates and identifies legal issues to develop legal strategies and solutions, often in situations of great political, public relations, or financial risk or significance, and with limited time for assessing alternatives. The Senior Staff Attorney drafts, reviews, and approves policies and procedures, regulations, bylaws, and other legal documents. This role negotiates and prepares contracts related to construction projects, purchase power, finance, joint ventures, and related utility service agreements. The Senior Staff Attorney negotiates contracts, purchases, and other agreements to achieve and maintain the best legal and financial interests of the Authority. This role prepares applications for grants and loans and ensures NTUA compliance with funding programs. The Senior Staff Attorney prepares or assists with the preparation of scheduled and/or ad hoc statistical and narrative reports, performing information gathering and analysis and/or forecasting as specifically directed. This role maintains professional and technical knowledge by conducting research, attending seminars, educational workshops, classes, and conferences, reviewing professional publications, establishing and maintaining professional networks, participating in professional societies, and conferring with representatives of contracting agencies and related organizations. Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

High School Diploma or GED Certificate.
Juris Doctor from an accredited law school.
Member of the Arizona State Bar or admitted to practice law in another state or obtain an AZ State Bar law license within one year of beginning employment.
Member of the Navajo Nation Bar Association or become a member within one year of beginning employment.
A state license to practice law is required to become a member of the Navajo Nation Bar Association.
7 years of experience in the practice of law for private, public or government.
2 years in a lead or supervisory capacity.
Valid State Driver's License required (subject to motor record review).

Nice To Haves

Utility law experience preferred.
Navajo law experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Supervise and oversee the work of all NTUA in-house attorneys and Legal Department staff.
Improve staff effectiveness by counseling, training and recommending corrective action for employees; planning, delegating, monitoring, and appraising job tasks and results in a timely manner.
Oversee the management of Legal Department personnel, which includes work allocation, time approval, hiring, training, orientation, and problem resolution; evaluates performance; taking personnel action when warranted; motivate employees to achieve peak productivity and performance.
Develop measurable performance expectations for assigned staff according to department goals and objectives.
Review pertinent statutes, court decisions, and ordinances pertinent to NTUA, Navajo Nation and of quasi-judicial bodies.
Establish, implement and communicate departmental goals, objectives, policies and procedures in accordance with strategic planning, contractual requirements and needs of NTUA.
Review and approve actions on a wide range of complex legal issues; provide legal advice, interpretations, and opinions on all legal matters.
Interpret laws, rulings, and regulations for NTUA.
Determine and recommend if outside counsel is required.
Oversee and work with all outside legal counsels.
Oversee all phases of litigation for NTUA, including negotiations, mediation, legal research, discovery, motion practice, oral argument, trial and appeal.
When delegated, acts as agent of NTUA in various transactions.
Represent NTUA in litigation and other legal proceedings.
Advise NTUA concerning transactions of business involving internal affairs, directors, officers and NTUA relations with the general public.
Draft legal documents, letters and testimony.
Prepare legal analysis of proposed statutes, regulations, and manuals and interprets legal concepts.
Keep abreast of current court decisions and pending legislation affecting NTUA, Navajo Nation and develops strategies on major Tribal related issues.
Prepare business contracts and administers other legal matters.
Assist in due diligence in expansions and joint ventures.
Anticipate and identify legal issues in order to develop legal strategies and solutions, often in situations of great political, public relations, or financial risk or significance, and with limited time for assessing alternatives.
Draft, review, and approve policies and procedures, regulations, bylaws, and other legal documents.
Negotiate and prepare contracts related to construction projects, purchase power, finance, joint ventures and related utility service agreements.
Negotiate contract, purchases and other agreements to achieve and maintain the best legal and financial interests of the Authority.
Prepares applications for grants and loans and ensures NTUA compliance with funding programs.
Prepare or assist with the preparation of scheduled and/or ad hoc statistical and narrative reports; performs information gathering and analysis and/or forecasting, as specifically directed.
Maintain professional and technical knowledge by: conducting research; attending seminars, educational workshops, classes, and conferences; reviewing professional publications; establishing and maintaining professional networks; participating in professional societies; and conferring with representatives of contracting agencies and related organizations.
Perform other duties as assigned.