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Senior Assistant City Attorney

Job Description:

The City of Vacaville is seeking a dynamic, collaborative public attorney with a proactive, service-oriented approach to municipal practice to join the City Attorney's Office as the Senior Assistant City Attorney. Reporting to the City Attorney, this at-will executive management position serves as a trusted legal advisor, tackles complex and high-profile legal issues, and partners closely with departments to advance City priorities while mitigating legal risk. It is an excellent fit for someone who excels at problem-solving, confidently navigates complex legal concepts, and delivers clear, strategic guidance and leadership in a fast-paced environment.

Salary Information: Senior Assistant City Attorney: $220,105.94- $267,540.14/annually A 2% COLA is scheduled for 11/01/2026 Working for the City of Vacaville comes with an excellent benefits package, including: Medical Insurance at affordable rates - City covers up to 85% of Kaiser premium, other plans are also available Vision and Dental Insurance monthly premiums covered 100% by the City Healthcare double coverage opt-out incentive of $3,000 per year for eligible employees Paid sick leave, vacation leave, thirteen holidays and two floating holidays a year Up to 104 hours per year of Administrative Leave Tuition reimbursement and student loan repayment up to $2,200 per fiscal year Deferred compensation plan with up to 6% City contribution available California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS) plan enrollment and Retiree Health Savings account.

The City Attorney's Office is looking for a highly motivated, experienced legal professional who thrives on making an impact. The ideal candidate will bring strong legal acumen, excellent communication skills, and sound professional judgment. They will excel at analyzing multifaceted issues, presenting well-reasoned options to decision-makers, and delivering practical, solutions-focused recommendations. This individual will value teamwork and collaboration, build strong relationships across the organization, and take pride in providing thoughtful, high-quality advice to City departments.

The ideal candidate will also have experience supervising professional and administrative staff, mentoring team members, and contributing to a high-performing organizational culture. A background in public or municipal law – along with a solid understanding of the Brown Act, the Public Records Act, and conflict-of-interest laws – will allow the ideal candidate to step confidently into this critical leadership role. With over 600 employees, the City of Vacaville is proud to serve a vibrant, growing community.

We offer a supportive and engaging workplace with employee social and wellness events, casual dress days, flexible work schedules, every other Friday off and outstanding pay and benefits. Join us and help shape the future of Vacaville! For information about the City of Vacaville and to view the complete job description, please visit our website at www.cityofvacaville.gov.

Requirements:

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: A combination of experience and education that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Education: Juris Doctor or equivalent degree from an accredited law school.

Experience: A minimum of seven (7) years of increasingly responsible experience as an attorney in the practice of municipal law, or in combination with experience in a closely related field.

Experience in litigation, claims handling, or risk management experience, specialization in one or more areas of Municipal Law (e.g. public agency governance and public meetings, land use, housing, public contracting and public works, public finance, public safety, labor and public employment, parks and recreation and public programs and facilities), and proficiency with legal technology and software tools essential to performing the duties of the role.

LICENSE OR CERTIFICATE: Membership in the State Bar Association of California is a condition of initial and continued employment. Select positions may require the possession of a valid California Class C driver's license and a satisfactory driving record as conditions of initial and continued employment.

Application Procedures:

A completed City of Vacaville Employment Application and Supplemental Questionnaire must be received by Human Resources at 650 Merchant Street, Vacaville, CA 95688 by 5:30 pm, Monday, January 12, 2026. Applicants are encouraged to apply online at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/vacaville/jobs/5164269/senior-assistant-city-attorney.

Application packets may also be requested in person at the Human Resources Department or by calling (707) 449-5101. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed application packet.

IMPORTANT: Contact with applicants will primarily occur via email. Please ensure that your application indicates a valid email address that you check regularly. For ADA information and other Frequently Asked Questions, please click here.

Applicants receiving a conditional offer of employment must successfully complete the pre-placement process for this position before a final offer will be extended. Pre-placement assessments for this position include a Livescan (FBI/DOJ fingerprint review) and a comprehensive background check (including education/employment verification, professional reference checks, criminal and civil county public records check, DMV history check and credit history check).