Position Summary

The City of St. Charles seeks a bright, motivated, and adaptable lawyer to serve as Assistant City Attorney, a key member of the City’s in-house legal team. This role reports directly to the City Attorney and serves as the deputy, helping provide strategic, proactive, and solution-oriented legal advice to City officials, departments, and boards. This position is central to our mission of providing high-quality legal services that enable the City to operate lawfully, efficiently, and in service of our community.

This is an excellent opportunity for a detail-oriented, curious, analytical thinker who enjoys public service, works well with a wide range of people, and thrives in a fast-paced but collegial environment. The ideal candidate is self-directed, collaborative, and has excellent judgment and a knack for turning complex legal principles into practical guidance.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The following duties are normal for the position and are not to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive; other and additional duties may be required and assigned.

•  Assists in advising and representing the Mayor, City Council, Department heads and staff, boards, and committees on a broad range of municipal matters, including contracts, land use, personnel, open meetings and records, litigation, procurement, and more. While assigned duties will vary, the intent is for the Assistant City Attorney to play a primary role in matters involving public records requests, licensing, land use, and infrastructure.
• Drafts, reviews, and interprets legal documents such as ordinances, resolutions, laws, policies, contracts, pleadings, and legal memoranda. Drafts correspondence and a variety of administrative documents.
• Communicates effectively, persuasively, and in a timely manner both orally and in writing.
• Represents the City in municipal, state, and federal courts and before administrative agencies as directed.
• Supports the City Attorney in managing litigation and working with outside counsel.
• Takes ownership of projects while appropriately escalating novel or sensitive issues.
• Maintains knowledge of municipal and areas of the law required to represent and advise the City.
• Trains City Council, staff, and board members regarding the law, compliance, and ethics.
• Upholds high ethical standards and provides clear, principled legal guidance that supports lawful and responsible decision making.
• Demonstrates strong technological skills and identifies more efficient solutions for legal and operational functions.
• Participates in evening Council or board meetings periodically when required to present legal updates or project-specific information related to their work.
• Performs the duties of the City Attorney in their absence, such as covering Council meetings or addressing time-sensitive matters when needed.

Compensation and Benefits

The Salary Range for this position is from $140,041.52 to $196,058.12 annually. Starting salary is dependent on qualifications and experience.

The City participates in the Missouri Municipal Retirement Fund, LAGERS L6 program, with a 98% City contribution and a 2% employee contribution, with 100% vesting at 5 years. The Assistant City Attorney also receives deferred compensation in an amount equal to 3% of their annual salary, and an amount matching employee contribution up to an additional 2% of their annual salary. The City has a comprehensive, cost-effective benefits package that includes the following: medical, dental, life insurance, long-term disability, short-term disability, voluntary vision, flexible spending options, employee assistance program, retirement and deferred compensation programs.

The City provides vacation leave in addition to sick leave, funeral leave, jury leave, and military leave. Additionally, the City offers 12 paid holidays, 2 personal days annually, and all non-essential employees (including the Assistant City Attorney) are off between December 24 and New Year’s Day for City government’s annual year-end closure.

Reasonable relocation expense reimbursement is also provided.

Minimum Training and Experience Required

• Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school, minimum of four years legal experience in public sector or municipal law, or any combination of education and experience that provides equivalent knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• Demonstrated excellence in legal research, analysis, and written/oral communication.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively with elected officials, staff, and the public.
• License to practice law in Missouri is required.
• Experience in a judicial clerkship or in structured advocacy settings such as competitive debate or moot court is strongly preferred.
• Valid driver’s license or reliable transportation to events or meetings.

Physical Abilities Required to Perform Essential Job Functions

• Ability to work under generally safe and comfortable conditions in an office setting where exposure to environmental factors poses little risk of injury.
• Some travel between locations is required.
• Spend significant time working at a computer, while looking at a monitor and utilizing a keyboard and mouse for the computer’s operation.
• Periodically interact effectively with individuals of a wide range of cognitive or social capabilities.
• Frequently sit, twist, and bend; hold and grip objects; reach with hands and arms to both ground level and overhead; use hands to finger, handle or feel; talk and hear; see, detect, perceive, inspect and observe; and sit or stand for extended periods of time.
• Occasionally lifting objects such as files, boxes, or office supplies (typically under 20 lbs).

Application Materials

Interested applicants should forward cover letter, resume, and a legal writing sample approximately five pages in length. Online employment applications can be accessed on our City Website: www.stcharlescitymo.gov