Staff Attorney Reclassification

Metro Water Recovery in Denver, CO - a nationally recognized leader among clean water utilities, provides wastewater conveyance and treatment services for more than 2 million people in the Denver Metro area.

At Metro, we help you be your best so we can do our best.

You will join a team that offers stability, flexibility, and the opportunity to make a difference.

We take pride in being part of an industry-leading team who serves the community by protecting the region’s health and environment.

This is a reclassification opportunity open only to current Associate Attorneys at Metro Water Recovery.

Supports Metro Water Recovery with legal matters of moderate to high complexity.

Depending on the level of complexity, either in a lead or supporting role represents Metro in federal and state courts, administrative proceedings, and negotiations.

Draft policies and rules to be adopted by Metro.

Reports to the Chief Legal Officer.

Examples of Duties

Independently manage legal matters of moderate complexity from inception through resolution, including contract negotiations and regulatory proceedings, while consulting with senior attorneys on novel or highly complex issues.

Draft and finalize all types of legal documents, including complex contracts, settlement agreements, administrative appeals, regulatory filings, and detailed legal memoranda with minimal supervision, ensuring accuracy and strategic alignment with organizational objectives.

Provide direct legal advice and counsel to internal departments on matters within areas of developing expertise, translating complex legal requirements into practical operational guidance and proactively identifying legal risks.

Serve as lead attorney on assigned matters of moderate complexity, coordinating with internal stakeholders, managing external counsel relationships, and making strategic decisions about case or matter progression, or assist senior attorneys.

Represent Metro independently at hearings, depositions, mediations, settlement conferences, and administrative proceedings, including presenting arguments, examining witnesses, and negotiating resolutions, or assist senior attorneys.

Develop and maintain expertise in one or more specialized practice areas (such as water quality, environmental compliance, construction law, or employment law), serving as a resource for colleagues and stakeholders on matters within that specialty.

Lead investigations and compliance reviews, including designing investigation protocols, conducting interviews, analyzing findings, and preparing comprehensive reports with recommendations, or assist senior attorneys.

Negotiate complex contracts and agreements independently or with limited supervision, including multi-party agreements, alternative delivery construction contracts, intergovernmental agreements, and high-value vendor contracts.

Monitor, analyze, and communicate legislative and regulatory developments affecting Metro’s operations, assess potential organizational impacts, and recommend proactive policy or operational responses.

Mentor entry-level attorneys and legal support staff, reviewing their work product, providing constructive feedback, and supporting their professional development.

Manage sophisticated legal projects requiring coordination across multiple departments, integration of technical and legal considerations, and adherence to complex timelines and regulatory requirements.

Collaborate with senior attorneys on high-stakes or precedent-setting matters, contributing strategic insights and handling discrete components of complex litigation or transactions.

Performs other duties as assigned.

• Independently manage legal matters of moderate complexity from inception through resolution, including contract negotiations and regulatory proceedings, while consulting with senior attorneys on novel or highly complex issues.
• Draft and finalize all types of legal documents, including complex contracts, settlement agreements, administrative appeals, regulatory filings, and detailed legal memoranda with minimal supervision, ensuring accuracy and strategic alignment with organizational objectives.
• Provide direct legal advice and counsel to internal departments on matters within areas of developing expertise, translating complex legal requirements into practical operational guidance and proactively identifying legal risks.
• Serve as lead attorney on assigned matters of moderate complexity, coordinating with internal stakeholders, managing external counsel relationships, and making strategic decisions about case or matter progression, or assist senior attorneys.
• Represent Metro independently at hearings, depositions, mediations, settlement conferences, and administrative proceedings, including presenting arguments, examining witnesses, and negotiating resolutions, or assist senior attorneys.
• Develop and maintain expertise in one or more specialized practice areas (such as water quality, environmental compliance, construction law, or employment law), serving as a resource for colleagues and stakeholders on matters within that specialty.
• Lead investigations and compliance reviews, including designing investigation protocols, conducting interviews, analyzing findings, and preparing comprehensive reports with recommendations, or assist senior attorneys.
• Negotiate complex contracts and agreements independently or with limited supervision, including multi-party agreements, alternative delivery construction contracts, intergovernmental agreements, and high-value vendor contracts.
• Monitor, analyze, and communicate legislative and regulatory developments affecting Metro’s operations, assess potential organizational impacts, and recommend proactive policy or operational responses.
• Mentor entry-level attorneys and legal support staff, reviewing their work product, providing constructive feedback, and supporting their professional development.
• Manage sophisticated legal projects requiring coordination across multiple departments, integration of technical and legal considerations, and adherence to complex timelines and regulatory requirements.
• Collaborate with senior attorneys on high-stakes or precedent-setting matters, contributing strategic insights and handling discrete components of complex litigation or transactions.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Knowledge of: Substantial understanding of legal principles and practice in administrative, employment, environmental, construction, and contract law as applied to public water utilities Advanced legal research and writing techniques Procedural requirements for litigation, administrative proceedings, and regulatory compliance Risk assessment and management strategies Skilled at: Independently drafting complex legal documents including substantive motions, appellate briefs, sophisticated contracts, regulatory filings, and comprehensive legal opinions Conducting advanced legal research involving novel issues, synthesizing multiple authorities, and developing creative legal arguments Communicating legal analysis clearly and persuasively to diverse audiences including executive leadership, technical staff, and external parties through written documents and oral presentations Managing multiple complex matters simultaneously with competing deadlines and priorities Provide independent legal advice on matters of moderate complexity and identify when senior attorney consultation is warranted Represent an organization competently in adversarial trials and administrative hearings Negotiating effectively with sophisticated parties including government agencies, contractors, and opposing counsel Building collaborative relationships with key stakeholders Ability to: To effectively receive and respond to verbal and written communications with appropriate speed for job requirements Learn enterprise risk management, compliance program design, and corporate governance best practices Taking a lead role in administrative proceedings, including strategic case positioning Exercise sound judgment in making strategic and tactical decisions about legal matters Anticipate legal issues before they become problems by staying current on regulatory developments and understanding operational realities Mentor junior attorneys and foster their professional growth through effective supervision and feedback Develop subject matter expertise in Colorado and federal environmental law, construction law, employment law, and the unique legal landscape governing special districts Work autonomously while maintaining appropriate collaboration and communication with senior attorneys and stakeholders Adapt legal strategies based on changing circumstances, new information, or organizational priorities Collaborate with external counsel Contribute to department operations through participation in process improvements, training initiatives, and strategic planning Maintain composure and sound judgment under conditions of pressure or ambiguity Education Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited law school and a license to practice law. Admission to the practice of law in the State of Colorado or ability to waive within six months of hire.

• Substantial understanding of legal principles and practice in administrative, employment, environmental, construction, and contract law as applied to public water utilities
• Advanced legal research and writing techniques
• Procedural requirements for litigation, administrative proceedings, and regulatory compliance
• Risk assessment and management strategies
• Independently drafting complex legal documents including substantive motions, appellate briefs, sophisticated contracts, regulatory filings, and comprehensive legal opinions
• Conducting advanced legal research involving novel issues, synthesizing multiple authorities, and developing creative legal arguments
• Communicating legal analysis clearly and persuasively to diverse audiences including executive leadership, technical staff, and external parties through written documents and oral presentations
• Managing multiple complex matters simultaneously with competing deadlines and priorities
• Provide independent legal advice on matters of moderate complexity and identify when senior attorney consultation is warranted
• Represent an organization competently in adversarial trials and administrative hearings
• Negotiating effectively with sophisticated parties including government agencies, contractors, and opposing counsel
• Building collaborative relationships with key stakeholders
• To effectively receive and respond to verbal and written communications with appropriate speed for job requirements
• Learn enterprise risk management, compliance program design, and corporate governance best practices
• Taking a lead role in administrative proceedings, including strategic case positioning
• Exercise sound judgment in making strategic and tactical decisions about legal matters
• Anticipate legal issues before they become problems by staying current on regulatory developments and understanding operational realities
• Mentor junior attorneys and foster their professional growth through effective supervision and feedback
• Develop subject matter expertise in Colorado and federal environmental law, construction law, employment law, and the unique legal landscape governing special districts
• Work autonomously while maintaining appropriate collaboration and communication with senior attorneys and stakeholders
• Adapt legal strategies based on changing circumstances, new information, or organizational priorities
• Collaborate with external counsel
• Contribute to department operations through participation in process improvements, training initiatives, and strategic planning
• Maintain composure and sound judgment under conditions of pressure or ambiguity

Typical Work Environment Working on a variety of floor surfaces including tile, carpet, sidewalks; Work in parking lots; Uneven Surfaces; Slippery surfaces; Wet surfaces; Lighting conditions including natural light, fluorescent, head lamps, incandescent, and overhead lighting; Inside environment; Outside environment; Vibration due to vehicle driving Body Position Demands Reaching in front; Standing; Walking; Balancing; Object handling; Typing; Simple hand grasping; Driving a vehicle; Sitting; Climbing stairs; Stooping; Kneeling; Crouching; Fine hand coordination; Firm hand grasping Physical Demands (max forces are expected to be infrequent) Max Weight Lifted: 40 lbs. Max Weight Carried: 20lbs Max Force Pushed: 3 lbs Max Force Pulled: 3 lbs Sensory Requirements Wide field of view; Perception - Spatial; Olfactory (Smelling); Vision - Near; Far, Depth perception; Color discrimination; Perception - Form; Feeling without seeing; Speaking; Hearing

Typical Work Environment Working on a variety of floor surfaces including tile, carpet, sidewalks; Work in parking lots; Uneven Surfaces; Slippery surfaces; Wet surfaces; Lighting conditions including natural light, fluorescent, head lamps, incandescent, and overhead lighting; Inside environment; Outside environment; Vibration due to vehicle driving

Body Position Demands Reaching in front; Standing; Walking; Balancing; Object handling; Typing; Simple hand grasping; Driving a vehicle; Sitting; Climbing stairs; Stooping; Kneeling; Crouching; Fine hand coordination; Firm hand grasping

Physical Demands (max forces are expected to be infrequent) Max Weight Lifted: 40 lbs.

Max Weight Carried: 20lbs Max Force Pushed: 3 lbs Max Force Pulled: 3 lbs

Sensory Requirements Wide field of view; Perception - Spatial; Olfactory (Smelling); Vision - Near; Far, Depth perception; Color discrimination; Perception - Form; Feeling without seeing; Speaking; Hearing

Metro Water Recovery is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Applicants for employment with Metro Water Recovery must have valid work authorization that does not require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the U.S.

Metro Water Recovery offers a wide range of employee benefits including: * Medical * Dental * Vision * Life Insurance * Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance * Retirement * Leave Time (Vacation, Sick Leave, Personal Leave, & Holiday) * Additional Voluntary Benefits Read more about our organization.

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