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Senior Assistant District Counsel (Labor Relations and Employment Law)

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Senior Assistant District Counsel (Labor Relations and Employment Law)

Salary

$273,884.52 - $347,775.74 Annually

Location

CA, CA

Job Type

Full-Time

Job Number

01884-U

Division

Office of District Counsel

Opening Date

04/16/2025

Closing Date

5/7/2025 11:59 PM Pacific

+ Description

+ Benefits

+ Questions

Description

Overview:

Valley Water’s Office of District Counsel seeks a senior-level attorney to be the primary attorney on all labor and employment functions, draft and negotiate inter-agency agreements, and advise the Board, its committees, and staff on broad, agency-level policies and procedures. The Senior Assistant District Counsel will be one of three senior assistant counsels reporting to the District Counsel and will be designated as unclassified/at-will. This attorney role offers ongoing, time-sensitive legal support to Valley Water operations and its long-term strategic goals. This position is vital for addressing Valley Water's labor and employment law requirements. The incumbent also carries significant responsibility for public agency financing matters, making experience in that field a huge plus.

Key Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

+ Day-to-day support of Valley Water's labor and employment law matters, including but not limited to employee discipline, grievances, internal investigations, and compliance matters as well as first-chair representation in labor arbitrations and administrative hearings.

+ Second-chair management of employment litigation matters (“first-chair” experience is a plus).

+ Assisting management with labor negotiations, including service on “second table” negotiating teams (“first table” experience is a plus).

+ Other operational support to the Valley Water business includes contract reviews, real estate transactions, and agreements with other government entities.

+ Support to District Counsel, such as support on broad, agency-level policy matters, confidential Board matters, and filling in for District counsel during absences.

About Valley Water:

Valley Water’s (Santa Clara Valley Water District) mission is to ensure that Santa Clara County and Silicon Valley have access to safe, clean water to support a healthy life, environment, and economy.

Headquartered in San José, California, Valley Water operates with a Fiscal Year 2024-2025 budget of $1.1 billion and employs over 900 professionals. Their integrated water resources system encompasses clean water supply, flood protection, and environmental stewardship of streams.

Ideal Candidate's Background Includes:

Applicants whose experience and background best match the ideal experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, and education are considered ideal candidates for the position. To determine the top candidates, each applicant will be assessed based on the ideal candidate criteria as listed below.

Ideal Experience for Senior Assistant District Counsel:

+ Fifteen years of recent experience in the active practice of law in the State of California, including at least six years representing public agency employers in labor and employment matters.

+ Experience with real estate transactions, inter-agency agreements, and agency-level policies and procedures is also desired.

+ Experience with public agency financing is a huge plus.

Ideal Skills and Abilities:

+ A can-do, solutions-oriented mindset is a must, as is a sense of humor.

+ A high degree of political acumen and the ability to think strategically and see the big picture.

+ Maintain effective relationships with federal, state, regional, municipal, and local agencies, and with Silicon Valley’s major stakeholders.

+ Comfortable operating in complex legal and regulatory environments,

+ Establish and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues and adversaries.

+ Analyze and apply principles of law, particularly with respect to highly sensitive labor and employment matters.

+ Advise on the legal aspects of labor negotiations, including “second table” experience (“first table” experience is highly desired).

+ Provide significant first-line and strategic support to Valley Water's Finance team on debt issuances, refinancing, and Public Facilities Financing Corporation work.

+ Present statements of law and fact clearly, succinctly, and logically, both orally and in writing.

+ Prepare legally sufficient transactional documents.

+ Prepare a variety of reports, correspondence, and other written materials.

+ Collect, interpret, and evaluate varied information and data and provide recommendations.

Ideal Knowledge:

+ Principles and practices of law, particularly as related to public agency activities.

+ Advanced principles of law related to labor and employment matters

+ Judicial and administrative procedures and the rules of evidence

+ Principles of legal research and writing

+ Pleadings and practices and effective techniques in the presentation of judicial cases, administrative hearing cases, and labor arbitration cases

+ Principles of governmental organization

+ State and federal laws and constitutional provisions affecting Valley Water operations, particularly the Brown Act, the Public Records Act, the Fair Employment and Housing Act, Title VII, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Meyers-Milias-Brown Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act.

+ Knowledge of the laws governing public agency financing transactions is a plus.

Ideal Training and Education:

Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university, and graduation from an accredited law school plus a minimum of six years in the active practice of public agency-labor and employment laws and fifteen years of practice of law overall.

Required License or Certificate

+ Must be a current member, in good standing, of the California State Bar Association.

+ Must have pledged to comply or be willing to pledge to comply to the Santa Clara Bar County Association Code of Professional Conduct.

Selection Process

Please submit your application along with cover letter and resume by the application deadline. In your cover letter, please provide your CA State Bar Association number and address the following three prompts:

+ Who is the client of an attorney for a public entity? How would that influence the performance of your duties as the Senior Assistant District Counsel for the Santa Clara Valley Water District?

+ Please describe the top three achievements of your professional legal career and why you are proud of them.

+ Tell us about your experience representing public agency employers in labor and employment matters

+ Tell us about your experience with real estate transactions, inter-agency agreements, agency-level policies and procedures, and public agency financing matters.

Following the closing date, resumes and cover letters will be screened according to the qualifications outlined above. The most qualified candidates will be invited to Zoom panel interviews with a Valley Water-appointed interview panel. A select group of candidates will be asked to provide references once they are anticipated to be recommended as finalists. References will be contacted only following candidate approval. Finalist interviews will be held with a Valley Water executive interview panel.

Salary information is open within the range indicated on the posting and will be competitive and commensurate with experience. We also offer an excellent benefits package including paid vacation, holidays, sick, personal and executive leave, medical, dental, disability and life insurance, a deferred compensation plan and a CalPERS retirement plan.Defined Benefit Retirement Plan California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS) 2.5% at 55(Tier 1), 2% at 60 (Tier 2_or 2% @ 62 (Tier 3) depending on CalPERS membership status at the time of hire.

+ Tier I Hired prior to 3/19/2012- 2.5% at 55 retirement plan with final compensation of highest 12 consecutive months. The current required employee contribution is 8%.

+ Tier 2 Hired on or after 3/19/2012- 2.0% at 60 retirement plan with final compensation of highest 36 consecutive months. The current required employee contribution is 0%. Valley Water pays the employee contribution (Employer Paid Member Contributions – EPMC) of 7%.

+ Tier 3 Hired on or after 1/1/2013- 2.0% at 62 retirement plan with final compensation of highest 36 consecutive months. Employees are required to pay 50% of the total normal cost as determined by the annual CalPERS valuation which is subject to change each fiscal year. The current required employee contribution is 7.25%.

Retirement Health Benefits

+ Medical coverage is provided for retired employees with 15 years of continuous service with Valley Water or a combination of prior public agency service (meaning the State of California or any political subdivision thereof, including any city, county, or special district) with a minimum of 5 consecutive years of Valley Water Service.

+ Medical, Dental and Vision coverage is provided for retired employees and one eligible dependent with 20 or more years of continuous service with Valley Water or a combination of prior public agency service with a minimum of 5 consecutive years of Valley Water Service.

+ Medical premium cost sharing is required with the same contribution percentage as active employees and based on the medical premium amount applicable to active employees or retirees, whichever is less. Effective April 1, 2024, retirees will pay 0% of the cost of the premium. Valley Water will pay 100% of the cost of the premium.

Insurance

+ Medical, Dental, Vision Care and Employee Assistance Program (EAP) benefits are provided by Valley Water with no monthly premium cost to the employee! Medical, Dental, Vision Care, and EAP benefits are provided to all regular employees and their eligible dependents including domestic partners.

Holiday Pay

+ Valley Water provides 14 designated paid holidays per calendar year.

Paid Time Off

+ Vacation – newly hired employees receive 224 hours (28 days per year) of prorated vacation based on the date of hire. The prorated amount is vested immediately for the remainder of the fiscal year. Beginning each fiscal year, Unclassified employees receive 224 hours (28 days per year) of vacation which is vested immediately for the entire fiscal year and may be accumulated up to 4 times entitlement.

+ Sick Leave – accrued at the rate of 1 day per month (96 hours per year) with unlimited accumulation.

+ Executive Leave – 24 hours executive leave provided upon hire.

+ Personal Leave – 32 hours of prorated personal leave provided upon hire.

+ Bereavement Leave – 3 days of bereavement leave. Additional time may be charged to sick leave and limited to a total of 10 consecutive calendar days.

+ Parental Leave- Employees may use sick leave (in addition to current vacation, comp time, and/or personal leave) for all qualifying parental leave. Employees can use this sick leave for bonding (or for the placement of a child with an employee for adoption or foster care).

Disability Insurance

+ Valley Water provides Short-Term Disability (STD) equal to 66 2/3% of salary to a maximum weekly benefit of $3,462 with a 14-day waiting period. STD may transition into Long Term Disability (LTD) after 180 days of disability and then provide 66 2/3% of salary to a maximum monthly benefit of $15,000.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

+ Valley Water provides an EAP to employees and their eligible dependents that is staffed by licensed credentialed counselors and provides information, referral and short-term counseling for personal issues affecting work or personal life.

Flexible Spending Account Plans

+ Valley Water provides employees the option to participate in a Health Care Spending Account with a maximum contribution up to $3,200 for eligible medical, dental, vision and prescription expenses.

+ Valley Water provides employees the option to participate in a Dependent Adult or Child Daycare Account with a maximum contribution up to $5,000 per family or $2,500 if married and filing separately.

Telework

+ This position is based in Valley Water’s San Jose office. Telework employment with Valley Water requires employees to live within 150 miles of their primary physical work location located in San Jose, California by their start date. Valley Water employees may be allowed to telework (work from home) up to 40 percent of the time in a two-week pay period, subject to manager approval.

Life Insurance

+ Valley Water provides life insurance benefits equal to employee’s annual salary up to a maximum benefit of $100,000 with a five-year phase out in declining increments of $10,000 per year starting with $50,000 coverage upon retirement.

Deferred Compensation

+ Deferred compensation plans are available at the employee’s option, with up to $8,000 in annual matching contributions each calendar year from Valley Water. The match will be deposited into the 401(a) plan.

Wellness

+ ValleyWaterWell– Valley Water Wellness program. We offer company-wide challenges, lunchtime seminars, health cooking demos, health stations, and more!

+ Origin Financial Wellness– Valley Water provided financial Wellness tool. Free 1:1 meetings with certified financial planners, free app access with visibility to financial transactions, free basic will preparation and more!

+ ClassPass– Fitness & wellness at your fingertips. 11 Valley Water provided credits per month.

+ Virgin Pulse– Valley Water Wellness Platform. Participate in wellness challenges, competitions, and more. Earn up to $220/annually!

+ LifeBalance – Discounts at thousands of businesses nationwide, including health clubs, fitness studios, online retailers, movie theaters, hotels, and more!

Tuition Assistance Program

+ Unclassified employees with six (6) or more months of continuous service, up to 100% reimbursement of tuition costs upon satisfactory completion of an approved course to a maximum of $3,500 per fiscal year.

At Will

+ It is the policy of Valley Water that unclassified employees are employed at the will of the CEO/Appointing Authority.

01

Please answer the supplemental questions thoroughly, clearly, and concisely as the responses provided (along with the application) will be carefully reviewed to determine which candidates will move forward in the recruitment process. I have read this information and am aware of the importance of responses to the supplemental questions.

+ Yes

+ No

02

Do you have 15 years of recent experience in the active practice of law in the State of California?

+ Yes

+ No

03

Do you have at least six years representing public agency employers in labor and employment matters?

+ Yes

+ No

04

Do you have experience with public agency financing? (Desired not required)

+ Yes

+ No

05

Have you graduated from a four-year college and an accredited law school?

+ Yes

+ No

06

Are you a current member, in good standing, of the California State Bar Association?

+ Yes

+ No

07

Have you pledged to comply, or are you willing to pledge to comply with the Santa Clara Bar County Association Code of Professional Conduct?

+ Yes

+ No

Required Question

Employer

Santa Clara Valley Water District (CA)

Address

5750 Almaden Expressway

San Jose, California, 95118

Phone

1-408-630-2260

Website

https://www.valleywater.org

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