Staff Attorney (Grants & Contracts)

Overview

Position Summary : The Bay Area Air District is recruiting for a Staff Attorney to support the agency’s business office and grants and incentives programs. We are seeking a detail-oriented attorney with experience in drafting and negotiating contracts and similar agreements to support the Air District’s mission to protect air quality, public health, and the environment in the Bay Area. This position is located within the Office of General Counsel and serves the diverse public contracting needs of a regional public agency of 500 employees and a budget of over $300 million. This position will provide primary legal support (i) to the Air District’s Business Office on procurements and public contracting, and (ii) to the agency’s Strategic Incentives Division and Technology Implementation Office on awarding and managing grant funds. The position may also work on general air quality matters and other Air District legal work to the extent the contracts and grants workload permits.

About the Division

The Legal Division provides a wide array of legal services to support the entire Air District, including handling enforcement cases; advising on the California Environmental Quality Act, AB617 Community Emission Reduction Plans, contracts, grants, and finance matters; developing regulatory language; supporting the permitting program; reviewing records under the Public Records Act; and staying abreast of current legal developments in air quality throughout California and nationwide. The Division utilizes a variety of tools to resolve enforcement actions, such as abatement orders, civil enforcement, and coordinating with other enforcement agencies, like local district attorneys or the state Attorney General. For cases in environmental justice communities, Air District staff can directly engage with community members when determining the appropriate legal remedies, including high enough penalties to reach deterrence-based outcomes and ensure the community benefits from the related funds.

Definition

Under direct supervision, performs legal work at a new attorney level representing the Air District and providing advice and counsel to Air District management, staff and committees; and performs related work as assigned.

Distinguishing Characteristics

Staff Attorney is the entry-level attorney position in the legal division. Incumbents receive direct guidance and supervision in the performance of their duties. Assignments at this level require the ability to handle routine problems under general supervision. This class is distinguished from Assistant Counsel I / II in that the latter oversees environmental cases more complex in nature.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Reviews ordinances, resolutions, contracts, grants and other documents for legal sufficiency; recommends modifications as required.
• Researches legal problems and prepares and reviews legal documents, including opinions, briefs, ordinances, resolutions, and contracts.
• Advises Air District departmental management regarding District authority, jurisdiction, functions and operational procedures.
• Attends Air District departmental, Board, and committee meetings and provides legal advice primarily on procurement matters.
• Maintains accurate records and files and compiles reports of work performed.
• Monitors legal developments, including proposed legislation and court decisions; evaluates their impact on Air District operations.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Education & Experience

Equivalent to graduation from a college or university plus an appropriate law degree.

Other Requirements

Must be a member in good standing of the State Bar of California.

How to Apply

Interested individuals must submit a completed Air District application and responses to the supplemental questionnaire by 5 : 00 p.m. on Monday, September 29, 2025. Resumes are encouraged, but not mandatory, and will not be accepted in lieu of the required application materials. Applications are accepted online; please visit our website at www.baaqmd.gov / jobs to apply. Postmarks, faxes, and e-mailed applications will not be accepted.

Except as requested in this announcement, do not include any additional documents, such as letters of recommendation, performance evaluations, work samples, etc. They will not be considered.

Supplemental Questions Instructions

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Individuals who apply for this position must respond to each of the required supplemental questions. Applications must be received by the Human Resources Office no later than the time and date specified in this vacancy announcement. The responses to the supplemental application questions will be used in accordance with the procedures indicated under the Selection Criteria section.

Please limit your responses to no more than one page (500 words) per question. Do not combine your responses or reference your application, resume, or any other requested documentation that you have included with your application packet to answer a question. This information will be evaluated as is and may be used to determine those applicants with the most directly related experience, education, and training to continue in the selection process. It is very important to provide a concise, clear, legible, complete response to each question.

Selection Criteria

Selection may be based upon a competitive examination consisting of a written exercise, interview, or combination of the two. Depending on the number of qualified applicants, an application screening and / or panel interview may be used to determine the most qualified applicants.

The Air District may hire from this recruitment process to fill future vacancies occurring within the next 18 months.

EEO Statement

Persons with disabilities who may require reasonable accommodations during the application and / or selection process should notify the Human Resources Office at (415) 749-4980.

The Air District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

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