Starting salary is based on the individual’s demonstrated knowledge, skills, abilities, experience, and education. The City of Jacksonville provides an excellent benefits package, including health and dental coverage and NC Local Government Employee Retirement Plan participation.
A search is underway to hire a community-minded City Attorney to be a part of the leadership for the City of Jacksonville, North Carolina. Our City leadership strives for excellence, focusing on actions for the betterment of our Community now and for the future, with a willingness to act boldly and creatively to achieve our goals and objectives.
The City of Jacksonville is a vibrant military host City with an overall population of 72,800. Our leadership team is committed to improving the quality of life for all community members through focused efforts on dynamic projects and initiatives that help shift economic development. Based on Council priorities we strive to provide unparalleled services, programs, and opportunities for all ages, and expand on the sustainable health of our people, waterways and public spaces that help make Jacksonville a great place to work, live and play.
Jacksonville’s strong military presence of Marine Corp Base Camp Lejeune and New River Air Station makes this community unique. Our long-standing positive relationship and partnership with our military is a key factor in our community success. Tangible experience at a military installation, understanding protocols and an energetic vision for continual collaboration within the City’s leadership team is vital.
With tourism, growth, and economic development in mind, the City is planning and implementing several economic development initiatives. Prime among these is the development of a 400-acre parcel which, upon completion, will function as a hub for community recreation, organized sports as well as a nexus for regional sporting and other events.
The Successful Candidate
Jacksonville seeks a City Attorney who is open-minded and is ready to navigate through and engage with community partners that work to keep our community thriving and economically sustainable. The successful candidate is a well-seasoned civil servant with deep understanding of municipal law and the ability to successfully navigate community issues, initiatives, and partnerships.
As part of the City leadership team, the City Attorney will join our forward thinking, high-functioning management team that works together to implement City Council vision and strategic goals. The City Attorney acts as legal counsel for City Council and the City Manager’s leadership team, where the working relationship is one of trust, collaboration, and transparency. While members of the City Manager’s Office have assigned areas of responsibility, a team-based approach that includes functional partnerships to achieve results is important to the organization’s culture.
The successful candidate will bring seasoned successful municipal law experience, energy, and influence to build on our positive community partnerships and networks. The City Attorney plans, organizes, integrates, and directs staff in legal matters and plays a central role in developing and providing direction to staff related to implementation of City policy, strategic goals, and priorities.
To find out more details about the position expectations, please see the full recruitment brochure attached to this posting or visit Current Searches – Mercer Group Associates
Compensation and Benefits
The full pay range for the City Attorney position is: Min: $139,378.46 Midpoint: $181,192.00 Max: $235,549.60
Starting salary is based on the individual’s demonstrated knowledge, skills, abilities, experience, and education. The City of Jacksonville provides an excellent benefits package, including health and dental coverage and NC Local Government Employee Retirement Plan participation.
How to Apply
Interested candidates must submit by email to Jeff Hale, Mercer Group Associates, jeffhale1968@gmail.com: a cover letter, resume, a list of at least five job related references (with email and phone numbers) no later than November 22, 2024. Please do not send applications to the City as it will only delay receipt. For questions please contact:
A four-year undergraduate degree is required, in political science, government, public administration, or a related field, pre-law or fields involving critical thinking and analysis preferred and a Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school is required. City attorneys must maintain an active law license in good standing with the North Carolina State Bar, including meeting continuing legal education (CLE) requirements. At least ten years’ experience in a government or public sector legal office is preferred.
The City of Jacksonville operates under a Council/Manager form of government. The Jacksonville City Council and
City leaders are committed to providing the leadership, vision, and oversight necessary to ensure the responsible
stewardship of Jacksonville’s environment and natural resources for the effective and efficient delivery of municipal
services and the proper planning for the future. The City’s FY 24-25 budget totals $119.5 million.
The City of Jacksonville provides a full range of services, including planning and community development; police
and fire protection; water, sewer and sanitation services; the construction and maintenance of streets and other
infrastructure; and cultural and recreational activities. To serve Citizens in the way they would like to be served, the
City has a workforce of more than 650 across 19 departments.
Our leadership in the organization, just like our transient and diverse community, bring their talent from areas throughout the state and from around the country. The Jacksonville City Government is highly-regarded as a fiscally conservative, well managed and technologically-advanced local government.
Jacksonville takes pride in our... Caring Community; we are One City. A Caring Community is written in our seal and is a part of who we are. Jacksonville’s One City initiative began in 2017 to further emphasize that Jacksonville is a Caring Community. Initial discussions centered around the need for tolerance, understanding and civility. The City workforce embraces this sentiment and takes pride in providing every Citizen the best in customer service. Jacksonville is our home; we work, live and play here.