THE OPPORTUNITY

The City of Grand Prairie, Texas is offering a career capstone opportunity for a seasoned leader well-versed in Texas municipal law to serve as the City Attorney. With both a highly functioning City Council and legal team, the next City Attorney will lead a staff dedicated to providing first-class legal services in a friendly, productive, and collegial municipal law environment.

ABOUT GRAND PRAIRIE

Grand Prairie is a premiere community conveniently nestled in the middle of the Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) Metroplex. This award-winning City offers a wide variety of amenities with something for everyone. The City’s diverse housing offerings, schools of choice, award winning best-in-the nation parks system, and welcoming and friendly spirit make living, working, and playing in Grand Prairie a fun and exciting experience. Boasting a population of 200,640, Grand Prairie is the 9th largest city in the DFW area and the 17th largest city in Texas.

Even with these impressive credentials and a land space of 81 square miles, Grand Prairie is a big city which still maintains its small-town values and intimate community feel. The City’s workforce and its elected officials exemplify the core values of service, people, and integrity. City staff strive to be innovative and forward-leaning as they look to enhance all aspects of municipal life.

THE OFFICE

The City Attorney and legal staff support the City of Grand Prairie by providing legal advice and representation to the City Council, City Manager, officers, agents, and employees of the city of Grand Prairie acting in their official capacity. The City Attorney also acts as the legislative liaison, monitoring the State Legislature, pushing for enactments favorable to the city and fighting legislation that is unfavorable or diminishes the city's authority.

Grand Prairie’s City Attorney is supported by a staff of 10 which includes one Senior Assistant City Attorney, five Assistant City Attorneys, two Deputy City Attorneys, one Legal Services Coordinator, and one Executive Assistant with and operating budget of $1.59 million.

THE POSITION

The Grand Prairie City Attorney is a legal generalist involved in all facets of municipal law and operation. The City Attorney provides legal counsel and analysis on a variety of matters including aviation and transportation, bond and finance, procurement and contract claims, zoning and land use, environmental law, open records, open meetings, public utilities and water law issues, and housing and community developments. This position will serve as the legal advisor for all meetings of the City Council and City Manager to provide legal opinions and advice on parliamentary process for the City Council, contemplated actions by the City Council and City Manager, and legal ramifications of pending litigation and potential legislation under consideration by the City Council.

The City Attorney manages an office that is an impartial and effective legal representative for Grand Prairie, governed by its City Council and managed by the City’s staff. The City Attorney upholds the Federal and State constitutions and all laws consistent with those constitutions. Some current departmental goals include maintaining open communications with the City Council, the Planning Commission, other advisory bodies, and all City departments to assist them in developing solutions to achieve and implement their respective goals, programs, and projects; providing high quality and timely legal services to the City Council, Planning Commission, other advisory bodies, and City departments; and effectively representing the interests of the City of Grand Prairie in direct handling of litigation and administrative proceedings.

QUALIFICATIONS

The following are the minimum qualifications for the position of City Attorney:

• Education: A Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited school of law.

• Experience: At least ten years of practice in public agency/municipal law with at least three years of supervisory experience is required.

• Required Licenses and Certifications: An active member in the State Bar of Texas and licensed to practice law before the U.S. District Court and the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Candidates must possess and maintain a valid Texas driver’s license.

• Residency: Candidates must live within an appropriate distance from the City of Grand Prairie to enable attendance at all necessary meetings and activities.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

The full salary range for the City Attorney is $210,000 to $245,000 with the final compensation package dependent upon the successful candidate’s qualifications and experience. An excellent executive benefit package is provided including participation in the Texas Municipal Retirement System (TMRS). Employees contribute 7% of gross income on a pre-tax basis with a City match of 2:1 plus interest upon retirement. The City also provides a voluntary 457 Deferred Compensation Retirement Plan; medical, dental, and vision insurance cafeteria plans; employee and dependent life insurance options; long-term disability insurance; generous vacation, holiday and sick leave; a $5,100 annual vehicle allowance; and relocation assistance in accordance with municipal policy.

THE PROCESS

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply below by no later than Monday, November 13, 2023.

Due to the public nature of searches in the State of Texas, confidential inquiries are recommended. Should you have any questions, contact Jacqueline Seabrooks at (916) 550-4100 before submitting any materials. Interested individuals should be aware that Mosaic Public Partners will work closely with the City of Grand Prairie throughout this process to ensure confidentiality to the degree allowable by the State of Texas’ laws governing open records.

This recruitment incorporates existing rules and regulations that govern public sector recruitments in the State of Texas. In accordance with public disclosure/open records laws, information submitted for consideration may be made public upon request by interested parties.

The City of Grand Prairie is an Equal Opportunity Employer.