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FLSA CLASSIFICATION: Exempt

SALARY RANGE: $141,398 – $206,029 Annually

CLOSING DATE: Open until filled

Non-Represented Employment Opportunity

To apply for this exciting career opportunity, please visit norta.com/jobs

This bulletin is posted to establish or add to a qualified list of candidates

The Regional Transit Authority gets people moving around New Orleans. Our transit services bring hard-working commuters to their jobs, students to their schools, and fun seekers to entertainment, shopping areas, and restaurants. We provide mobility to residents of the city as well as tourists, taking them to and from their hotels to historical neighborhoods and countless attractions. RTA’s system includes 5 streetcar lines, 30 bus routes, 2 ferry routes, and paratransit services. Our passengers take more than 19 million rides every year.

REPORTS TO
Chief Executive Officer

JOB SUMMARY
The New Orleans Regional Transit authority (RTA) seeks an attorney. As in-house counsel to an expanding regional transit authority, this role will advise agency staff on complex legal matters and develop legal strategies and creative solutions that balance potential legal risks with strategic and public interests. We work with the Federal Transit Administration, elected officials, engineers, transportation planners, labor relations, procurement, and other dedicated agency staff to plan, design, build and operate the region's transportation system.

Performs legal research and analysis to support legal department advising on a variety of legal matters including contract negotiations, labor relations and EEO matters property acquisition, property management and development, land use, and municipal law matters; prepares, reviews, and examines legal documents; assists in representing the RTA in litigation.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions upon request.

The General Counsel is responsible, but not limited to the following duties:

• Developing and leading legal strategy to promote and protect the agency’s matters
• Leading agency labor relations arbitration matters
• Participation in labor union contract development and oversight of ratified contracts
• Overseeing the delivery of legal services and resources to accomplish agency goals
• Maintaining proper agency interactions with the relevant local, state, and federal governmental bodies, legislatures, and the community at large
• Advising the CEO and other senior officers on a variety of issues
• Participating in the formulation of general management policy as a member of the executive leadership team
• Managing a team of agency counsel and other members of the legal department

Required Knowledge of:

• Operations and activities of a legal services program.
• Legal principles, practices, and procedures of municipal, constitutional, contract, and administrative law.
• Methods and techniques of negotiating legal issues, contracts, and agreements.
• General and public contract law.
• Methods and techniques of legal research.
• Legal principles and developments.
• Judicial procedures and rules of evidence.
• Legal precedents and court decisions impacting litigation.
• State and federal court rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Modern office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers.
• Computer applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, and statistical databases.
• Pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Defining legal issues, collecting, and analyzing information, and recommending action.
• Properly interpreting and analyzing laws, regulations, and policies.
• Preparing a variety of clear and concise legal documents including contracts, agreements, letters, memos, briefs, opinions, and other legal documents.
• Researching legal problems and preparing sound legal opinions.
• Negotiating with other parties.
• Analyzing and synthesizing information concisely, developing and making recommendations on strategies, and communicating recommendations to appropriate individuals within and outside the agency.
• Managing multiple projects concurrently.
• Managing multiple tasks, setting objectives/goals, and prioritizing as needed.
• Operating office equipment including computers and supporting word processing, spreadsheet, and database applications.
• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with those contacted in the work.
• Applying principles and practices of technical area of expertise.
• Applying strong interpersonal techniques and demonstrating a consistent commitment and ability to work with diverse work groups and individuals.
• Demonstrating a positive customer service orientation with both internal and external clients.
• Applying appropriate oral and written communication techniques to various individuals ranging from Agency employees, the public, elected officials, community leaders, and local, state, and federal agencies.
• Ability to manage direct and contracted staff

EDUCATION

• J.D. from an American Bar Association-accredited law school;
• Completed degree(s) from an accredited institution above the minimum education requirement may be substituted for experience yearly.

EXPERIENCE
At least 10 years of experience related to the duties and responsibilities specified. Member in good standing of the State Bar of Louisiana.

OR: A combination of education and/or experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions.

CERTIFICATIONS/LICENSES/SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
A valid Louisiana Driver’s License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions.

• The candidate must be licensed to practice law in the State of Louisiana.
• Must provide proof of being fully vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccine before the start date.
• Must submit to a criminal background check, the results of which must meet hiring criteria for the role.

WORK ENVIRONMENT/PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
The physical demands described are representative of those that must be met by the employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. RTA provides reasonable accommodation to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Typical office situation
• Close exposure to computer monitors and video screen
• High noise environment
• Exposure to moving machinery and/or vehicles
• Sitting at a desk or table for prolonged periods
• Operate a telephone or other telecommunications device and communicate through the medium
• Type and use a keyboard and mouse to perform necessary computer-based functions
• Standing for prolonged periods
• Walking for prolonged periods
• Communicating through speech in the English language is required
• Good distance vision and/or depth perception to judge distances
• Color recognition (e.g., distinguishing wires, resistors, containers, light signals, etc.)

AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EEO STATEMENT
NORTA is an equal-opportunity employer. All aspects of employment including the decision to hire, promote, discipline, or discharge, will be based on merit, competence, performance, and business needs. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic information, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law. All employment decisions are based on job-related standards and must comply with the principles of equal employment opportunity.