Description

Position Title: General Counsel

Job Type: Full-time/Exempt
Salary Range: $110,000 - $140,000 annually

Location: Gainesville, FL USA
Department: Legal

The Alachua County Property Appraiser’s Office is seeking an experienced attorney to serve as General Counsel and principal legal advisor to the Property Appraiser and the Office.

This is a unique opportunity to serve as the chief legal advisor to an independently elected Florida constitutional officer and to play a significant role in matters involving agency governance, ad valorem taxation, property assessment administration, litigation, compliance, public records, contracts, employment law, procurement, legislation, and organizational risk management.

The General Counsel is an executive-level position responsible for providing strategic, practical, and timely legal counsel on matters affecting the constitutional duties, operations, policies, and interests of the Alachua County Property Appraiser’s Office.

The General Counsel works closely with the Property Appraiser, Executive Leadership Team, directors, staff, outside counsel, governmental partners, and other stakeholders to ensure that the Office operates in accordance with applicable federal and state law while advancing its commitment to accurate, equitable, transparent, and professional public service.

Requirements

Essential Job Functions

• Serve as the principal legal advisor to the Alachua County Property Appraiser and Executive Leadership Team.
• Provide routine and complex legal advice, counsel, and written or oral opinions to the Property Appraiser, executive leadership, directors, and other authorized staff.
• Advise leadership concerning the constitutional and statutory authority, powers, duties, responsibilities, and limitations of the Property Appraiser and the Office.
• Conduct ongoing legal research involving federal and state laws, administrative rules, case law, Attorney General opinions, and other legal authorities affecting the Office.
• Translate complex legal issues into clear, practical recommendations for executive decision-makers.
• Provide legal counsel regarding Florida ad valorem taxation and property assessment administration.
• Advise on matters involving property valuation, exemptions, classifications, assessment procedures, tax roll administration, and related statutory requirements.
• Provide legal guidance regarding Value Adjustment Board matters, petitions, hearings, evidence, procedural issues, and litigation arising from property assessment decisions.
• Monitor legal developments affecting Florida property appraisers and advise leadership regarding potential operational and policy implications.
• Represent the Property Appraiser and the Office in litigation, administrative proceedings, hearings, negotiations, and other legal matters when appropriate.
• Manage and coordinate litigation strategy, discovery, motions, hearings, settlement considerations, and related legal activities.
• Evaluate litigation exposure, legal strategies, and the potential operational and financial consequences of available courses of action.
• Coordinate with executive leadership regarding significant litigation and claims.
• Select, coordinate with, and oversee outside counsel when specialized or additional legal representation is required.
• Monitor the scope, quality, progress, and cost of legal services provided by outside firms.
• Review outside counsel recommendations and ensure that external legal strategies remain aligned with the interests and objectives of the Property Appraiser’s Office.
• Draft and review legal memoranda, opinions, policies, agreements, contracts, correspondence, notices, resolutions, and other legal documents.
• Review contracts and other documents for legal form, sufficiency, risk, and compliance.
• Draft legal language necessary to support Office policies, procedures, initiatives, and governmental activities.
• Advise the Office regarding Florida’s Public Records Law and other applicable government transparency requirements.
• Provide guidance regarding records disclosure, exemptions, confidentiality, retention, litigation holds, and public records requests.
• Advise leadership regarding Government-in-the-Sunshine requirements when applicable to Office activities, committees, boards, or collaborative governmental processes.
• Provide guidance designed to promote transparency while protecting legally confidential or exempt information.
• Provide legal advice regarding government procurement, purchasing, competitive solicitation, contracting, and vendor relationships.
• Review solicitation documents, contracts, agreements, amendments, and related procurement materials.
• Advise staff regarding legal compliance, contractual obligations, dispute resolution, contract administration, and risk allocation.
• Assist with negotiations involving complex or high-value governmental contracts when appropriate.
• Provide legal guidance regarding employment and personnel matters affecting the Office.
• Advise leadership regarding employee relations, disciplinary actions, workplace investigations, accommodations, leave, performance matters, and separation decisions.
• Provide guidance regarding compliance with applicable federal and state employment laws.
• Review employment-related policies, procedures, correspondence, and documentation for legal sufficiency.
• Support leadership in identifying and mitigating employment-related legal risk.
• Advise the Property Appraiser, executive leadership, and staff regarding applicable Florida ethics laws, conflicts of interest, standards of conduct, and public-sector compliance requirements.
• Provide preventative legal guidance designed to identify and reduce organizational, regulatory, ethical, and reputational risk.
• Assist in developing policies and practices that support ethical, transparent, and accountable government operations.
• Review, analyze, and provide legal opinions regarding proposed state and federal legislation, administrative rules, regulations, and policies affecting Florida property appraisers.
• Draft or review proposed legislative or regulatory language when appropriate.
• Advise executive leadership regarding the legal and operational implications of legislative and regulatory changes.
• Collaborate with legislative and policy staff on statutory, regulatory, and governmental matters affecting the Office.
• Communicate and coordinate with federal, state, county, municipal, judicial, and other governmental agencies regarding matters of a legal nature affecting the Property Appraiser’s Office.
• Provide legal information and guidance regarding Office authority, procedures, projects, and governmental responsibilities when appropriate.
• Maintain productive professional relationships with courts, governmental attorneys, professional associations, outside counsel, and other public-sector partners.
• Advise executive leadership regarding legal and organizational risk.
• Evaluate the likely practical consequences of legal strategies and recommend solutions that balance legal compliance, operational effectiveness, and public accountability.
• Participate in strategic planning and executive discussions where legal, regulatory, policy, or risk considerations are significant.
• Assist the Property Appraiser in developing and implementing long- and short-range legal strategies.
• Support organizational initiatives through proactive legal analysis rather than solely responding to legal issues after they arise.
• Successfully manage multiple high-priority legal matters and competing deadlines.
• Coordinate with staff to resolve legal issues efficiently and appropriately.
• Maintain organized legal records, case files, research materials, and privileged communications.
• Perform other legal and executive advisory responsibilities as assigned by the Property Appraiser.

Minimum Requirements

• A Juris Doctor degree from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association.
• Admission to and good standing with The Florida Bar.
• A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience as a licensed attorney.
• Demonstrated experience researching, interpreting, and applying statutes, regulations, administrative rules, case law, and other legal authorities.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate complex legal information to stakeholders at varying organizational levels.
• Strong legal writing, research, analytical, negotiation, and oral advocacy skills.

Preferred Requirements

• Seven years of progressively responsible experience as a licensed attorney.
• Florida ad valorem taxation or property assessment law
• Florida constitutional or local government law
• Representation of constitutional officers or governmental entities
• Administrative law
• Government litigation
• Florida Public Records Law
• Government-in-the-Sunshine requirements
• Ethics and public-sector compliance
• Government procurement and contracting
• Employment and labor law
• Real estate or property-related law
• Complex governmental transactions
• Legislative or governmental affairs
• Risk management
• Supervising or coordinating outside counsel

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Supervising or coordinating outside counsel
• Federal and Florida laws, regulations, administrative rules, and legal precedents applicable to governmental operations.
• Florida constitutional and statutory provisions applicable to constitutional officers.
• Florida Public Records Law and applicable government transparency requirements.
• Florida ethics laws applicable to public officers and employees.
• Government procurement and contracting requirements.
• Legal principles applicable to litigation, employment matters, regulatory compliance, and governmental risk management.
• Fundamental tools and methods of legal research and legal opinion preparation.
• Conducting legal research and preparing sound, well-reasoned legal opinions.
• Identifying legal issues and developing practical solutions and strategies.
• Drafting clear, precise, and legally sufficient documents.
• Evaluating competing legal strategies and their practical consequences.
• Managing litigation and coordinating outside legal counsel.
• Negotiating agreements and resolving complex legal issues.
• Communicating effectively with attorneys, elected officials, executives, staff, governmental partners, and members of the public.
• Present statements of law, fact, and argument clearly, logically, and persuasively.
• Exercise sound professional judgment, flexibility, creativity, and discretion.
• Work independently while collaborating effectively with executive leadership and staff.
• Maintain professional relationships with governmental officials, attorneys, employees, and the public.
• Handle confidential, privileged, and sensitive information appropriately.
• Manage multiple complex projects and deadlines simultaneously.
• Anticipate legal risk and provide proactive counsel.
• Understand both the legal and operational implications of executive decisions.
• Adapt to changing legal, organizational, and governmental circumstances.

Position Classification, Compensation, and Benefits

This is a full-time, salaried professional position classified as exempt from the overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Starting salary will be determined within the established range based on the selected candidate’s qualifications, years and relevance of legal experience, governmental experience, specialized expertise, and demonstrated ability to perform the responsibilities of the position. The Alachua County Property Appraiser’s Office offers a competitive public-sector benefits package, including applicable health and retirement benefits, paid leave, and professional development opportunities.

About the Alachua County Property Appraiser’s Office

The Alachua County Property Appraiser is an independently elected Florida constitutional officer responsible for identifying, locating, and fairly valuing property within Alachua County for ad valorem tax purposes and administering exemptions and classifications in accordance with Florida law.

The Alachua County Property Appraiser’s Office is committed to providing accurate, equitable, transparent, and professional service to the residents and property owners of Alachua County while maintaining high standards of accountability, innovation, legal compliance, and organizational excellence.

The Office has earned the Certificate of Excellence in Assessment Administration, recognizing its commitment to professional assessment administration and organizational best practices.

Application Process

Qualified applicants should submit:

• A cover letter describing their interest in the position and relevant professional experience;
• A current résumé; and
• Any additional materials requested during the selection process.

Application Deadline: Open until filled.

Applications will be reviewed as received, and interested candidates are encouraged to apply promptly. The Alachua County Property Appraiser’s Office reserves the right to close the recruitment at any time upon identification of a qualified candidate.

Apply online: https://www.acpafl.org/our-office/employment-opportunities/

General Employment Notices 

Job Description

This job advertisement and description are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by the employee assigned to this position. They do not state or imply that the duties listed are the only duties to be performed. The employee may be required to perform additional job-related duties and responsibilities consistent with the position and as directed by authorized leadership.

Essential Functions and Reasonable Accommodation

The qualifications, duties, knowledge, skills, and abilities identified in this posting represent those considered necessary to successfully perform the essential functions of the position. Essential duties may be modified when appropriate to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with applicable law.

At-Will Employment

Nothing contained in this job posting or related recruitment materials creates or is intended to create an employment contract, express or implied. Employment is subject to applicable law, Office policies, and the employment relationship established by the Alachua County Property Appraiser’s Office.

Background and Professional Credential Verification

Employment may be contingent upon successful completion of applicable pre-employment screening, including verification of education, employment history, professional licensure, references, and other credentials relevant to the position. Candidates are responsible for providing complete and accurate information necessary to verify qualifications and professional experience.

Florida Bar Membership

The employee must maintain active membership in good standing with The Florida Bar throughout employment in this position.

Work Authorization

Employment is contingent upon authorization to work in the United States and completion of all employment eligibility verification requirements applicable to the Alachua County Property Appraiser’s Office.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The Alachua County Property Appraiser’s Office is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities in accordance with applicable federal and state laws. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without unlawful discrimination on the basis of any status protected by applicable law.

Americans with Disabilities Act

The Alachua County Property Appraiser’s Office provides reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and other applicable laws. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation during the recruitment or selection process may contact Human Resources for assistance.