THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING ALBEMARLE COUNTY. Albemarle County is one of the most desirable locations in Virginia and in the nation, with an excellent school system, low taxes, low crime and unemployment rates, a skilled and educated workforce, and a wealth of cultural, historic and recreational amenities in a beautiful setting. Our community is energized by entrepreneurship and invention fueled by the University of Virginia, one of the country's most renowned research institutions. Our focus on innovation ideas and opportunity make Albemarle an idea place to live, work, and play. The County enjoys a strong economy, a healthy business presence, a school system among the top 10% in the state, a thriving local arts, music, and culture scene, and parks and greenways that celebrate the County’s pastoral setting. The County’s wide variety of educational opportunities include a public school system that has earned the VIP Governor’s award for educational excellence, two of the Virginia’s four charter schools, and higher education facilities such as the University of Virginia and Piedmont Virginia Community College. Albemarle embraces its vibrant local arts and agritourism scene, cultural festivals, hosting the Crozet Music Festival each year, as well as showcasing its artisan breweries, wineries, and craft studies through the Monticello Artisan Trail. Shenandoah National Park and Blue Ridge Parkway tough the western frontier of the County and Albemarle itself possesses over 4000 acres within its parks system. This guide will highlight some of the important information that you will need in considering your move to Albemarle County. Welcome Home LOVE WHERE YOU WORK Albemarle County Public Schools profiles as one of the most innovative public school systems in the United States. Creativity, critical thinking, communication, and collaboration across curricula support our vision that all young people will embrace learning, excel and own their future. Graduating learners with lifelong learning competencies is the one goal of our strategic plan. We do that by unleashing the potential of young people to create, design, and produce through the use of a transformative learning model grounded in our Seven Pathways to lifelong learning. We are committed to fine and performing arts, health and wellness, libraries, interdisciplinary core learning, world languages and rethinking what high school should look like for our students. Rated third best school division in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the 2018 Niche rankings, Albemarle County Public Schools (ACPS) serves nearly 14,000 students in preschool through grade 12 in Albemarle County, Virginia, the sixth largest county by area in the Commonwealth of Virginia. A diverse locality of 726 square miles in the heart of Central Virginia, Albemarle County is a blend of primarily rural, but also suburban and urban settings. THE SCHOOL DIVISION COUNSEL The Albemarle County Public Schools School Division Counsel will be a member of the Superintendent’s Cabinet and the School Division’s Leadership Team. Excellent work from our attorney will build safe, excellent, and equitable learning opportunities for our County’s public school children. The School Division Counsel will provide general legal services to the School Board, Superintendent, and staff, performing related work as required. The attorney serves as legal counsel to the School Board and school division. Qualifications Education and experience: Graduation from law school or recognized standing and minimum of 8 years related experience. Must be licensed to practice law in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Must be admitted to practice before the Virginia Supreme Court and Federal district courts or be able to obtain admission with 3 months after employment begins. Knowledge, Abilities and Skills: Comprehensive knowledge of federal constitutional provisions, statutory law, case law, and regulations; comprehensive knowledge of state constitutional provisions, statutory law, case law, and regulations; and comprehensive knowledge of local ordinances, policies, and regulations as applicable to the authority and function of school boards and school divisions. Comprehensive knowledge of School Board policy and practice. Considerable legal research and writing skills. Demonstrated ability to organize, interpret and apply legal principles and knowledge to complex legal issues. Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with public officials and the public at large. Demonstrated ability to use good professional judgment. Demonstrated ability to present complex ideas in writing and orally to diverse audiences. Performance Expectations Physical Conditions and Nature of Work Contacts Essential functions include, but are not limited Considerable contact with the members of the to, the following: School Board, the Superintendent, all Superintendent’s Cabinet members, County ● Conducts legal and policy research; Attorney, Human Resource Department staff, ● Provides oral and written opinions on policy and directors, teachers, and other staff for the provision legal matters; of comprehensive legal services. Occasional contact with the members of the County Board of ● Works with legislative liaison to draft legislative proposals and positions for the Board; Supervisors, Planning Commission, and their staffs, including the County Executive, Deputy County ● Prepares for and attends regular School Board Executive and Assistant County Executive for the meetings and any other meetings, during regular purpose of effectuating school capital projects and work hours or otherwise, as requested by the School Board and Superintendent and is called joint legislative initiatives. Occasional contact with upon to render procedural and legal advice; opposing legal counsel, employees, students, and others with adverse interests to the position of the ● Conducts complex litigation and negotiation school system. Occasional contact with judges, involving the School Board, Superintendent or administrative hearing officers, and regulatory employees; agency personnel during the process of litigation or ● Reviews and draws up legal documents required in negotiation. the operation of the school division and renders opinions relative to substance, form, and propriety of such documents; Work is typically performed in an office setting. Occasional walking, light lifting up to 25 pounds and other limited physical ● Advises the school division personnel on activities may be required. Regular attendance at night compliance with federal and state statutes, court meetings and work beyond regular office hours involving travel process, rules, regulations, policy, and practice throughout the County is required. ● Advises the School Board and Superintendent on Compensation and Benefits the purchase, sale, exchange or lease of property The full salary range for this position is $91,000-$148,555 with excellent benefits including annual and sick leave, health ● Makes arrangements for the retention and insurance options and VRS retirement. This is a full time, FLSA management of private legal counsel in cases Exempt position. involving extensive or specialized litigation; ● Represents the School Board, Superintendent or employees before administrative agencies ● Advises the School Board and Superintendent on human resources matters; ● Provides formal and informal training to the School Board, administrators, teachers, and employees in the legal aspects of their duties; ● Works closely with the County Attorney’s Office in certain matters relating to the school division; ● Participates with staff in preparing School Board Attorney’s portion of the annual operating budget and is responsible for controlling expenditures upon adoption; ● Serves on the Superintendent’s Cabinet “and participates in decision-making as appropriate; KEY ATTRIBUTES OF OUR IDEAL CANDIDATE: Possesses thorough knowledge of laws, legal precedents, court cases, and administrative regulations pertaining to local government in the Commonwealth of Virginia, with a defined knowledge of land use law and public finance law; Possesses knowledge of School Division functions, responsibilities, and liabilities in Virginia; Provides sound legal advice to governmental officials on a wide variety of circumstances and situations; Is responsive and generally knows the answer to questions, informing the Superintendent when he/she does not know the answer and committing to provide the correct answer promptly; Builds and maintains effective working relationships with School Division officials and employees, other attorneys, representatives of community and government agencies, and the general public; Serves the School Board and Superintendent’s Cabinet by providing legal analysis and timely advice that appropriately assesses risk and available options while supporting the School Board and Superintendent in meeting its priorities as they relate to School Division’s programs and services; Serves the School Board and Superintendent’s Cabinet as a trusted advisor who brings creativity and flexibility to bear on challenging legal issues; Understands the local and state political milieu, but professionally and personally remains out of local and state politics; Clearly communicates to keep the School Board and Superintendent fully informed and supports transparency as appropriate; Interacts well with a wide variety of people from different HOW TO APPLY: backgrounds and all levels of the School Division and Requirements: