Download the clickable flyer here.

The Position:

Appointed by the Mayor and City Council, the City Attorney is responsible and held accountable for the City of Cottonwood’s legal department. The Attorney is responsible for advising the Council, City Manager, Boards and Commissions, and City staff on legal matters and representing the City as necessary and appropriate. The Attorney works collaboratively with key staff across all departments to provide legal advice and ensure projects are completed in a timely and responsible manner. City operations include the following departments: Administration, Airport, Community Development, Cottonwood Area Transit, Economic Development, Finance, Fire, Human Resources, Information Technology, Library, Parks and Recreation, Police, Public Works, Purchasing, and Utilities. Currently, the City Attorney directly oversees a contracted City Prosecutor and has no City staff falling directly under his purview. The current Attorney is retiring after serving the City for over twenty years.

Access the full job description here.

Compensation and Benefits:

The salary range for the City Attorney is $124,032 - $186,048. Salary for the chosen candidate will depend on experience and education. This position is exempt, benefit eligible, and serves at the will of the City Council under contract. This position is eligible for reimbursement up to $5,000 in qualified moving expenses and a phone allowance of $960 annually, paid bi-weekly.

The City of Cottonwood offers an extensive benefit package that includes:
-Enrollment in the Arizona State Retirement System with City match. Current rate is 12.17%.
-Medical and Dental coverage paid at 100% for the employee and a partial percentage for dependent coverage
-Vision coverage (optional at your expense)
-Optional Health Savings Account (HSA) with employer contributions
-Group term life insurance amounting to the annual salary up to $150,000 plus $50,000
-Generous vacation and sick accrual rates
-Twelve paid holidays
-Optional deferred compensation plans (457b)
-Employer-paid Cottonwood Recreation Center membership for employee and discounted memberships for household members
-Qualifying employees who choose to purchase a home in the Verde Valley are eligible for down-payment loans up to $15,000 after one year of employment See flyer here.

Access our full benefit packet here.

The Ideal Candidate:

The ideal candidate will fully embrace the City’s mission of Inspiring a Vibrant Community and believes in the notion of being accountable in their service to others while executing the duties of an attorney. The City’s next Attorney will be an experienced and knowledgeable professional with significant experience in a municipal or local government. The candidate will possess strong communication skills, is collaborative, and has demonstrated success in maintaining positive interpersonal relationships both internally and with intergovernmental partners and other stakeholders.       

The successful candidate will also create an environment of trust and reliability, effectively engage in processes that enhance the productivity of the organization, and creatively solve problems while aligning decisions to the City’s core values and mission. The candidate will be a generalist to assist in all aspects of the legal needs of the organization and will build relationships to obtain proper assistance for specialized matters as necessary. The candidate will support and advise Council on issues of importance and assist Council in its efforts to balance the City’s small-town identity with its desire for sustainable growth. The candidate will work as a member of the City’s leadership team providing legal advice, input and assistance in implementing the City’s Strategic Plan.  The candidate will be highly motivated and invested in the success of both the organization and the community as a whole.

The ideal candidate will call Cottonwood home, yet enjoy the opportunity for limited telework when necessary. The Attorney will be a contributing member to the community and will appreciate the City’s history while helping the organization move forward with its structured future growth.

The Organization:

The City of Cottonwood was incorporated in 1960 and operates under the council-manager form of government. The Council is a seven-member body consisting of a Mayor, Vice Mayor, and five council members elected to serve staggered four-year terms. The Mayor is directly elected while the Vice Mayor is appointed by the City Council.

The City provides a variety of services for the community including law enforcement, fire and emergency medical services; road maintenance; parks and trails; a recreation center; a regional public transportation system; enforcement of building and zoning codes; animal control; a public library; a public water system that serves a customer base twice as large as the City’s population; a sanitary sewer system; a public cemetery, and a general aviation airport.

The City employs approximately 230 full-time employees and the City’s average annual expenditures run between $70-$80 million per fiscal year.

How to Apply:

Please e-mail your one document submission (word or pdf) that contains a cover letter, resume, and salary history to awilber@cottonwoodaz.gov.A complete job description is available at the City of Cottonwood Human Resources Office, 821 N. Main St., Cottonwood, AZ 86326, or on the City website. Phone 928-340-2713. EOE/ADA.

Posting Date: July 5, 2022

Closing Date: August 31, 2022

Experience and Education:

Requirements for this position are a Juris Doctor degree from a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association and at least five (5) years of progressively responsible experience practicing law including significant experience in the field of municipal/public law, or an equivalent combination of education and professional legal experience to meet the position requirements. The incumbent must be licensed to practice law in the State of Arizona and be in good standing with the Arizona State Bar Association, or licensed in a state with reciprocal admission and have the ability to be admitted to the Arizona State Bar by motion.