Division Director – Human Services Legal Section

About Our Job

With competitive pay, great benefits, and endless opportunities, working for the City and County of Denver means seeing yourself working with purpose — for you, and those who benefit from your passion, skills and expertise. Join our diverse, inclusive and talented workforce of more than 11,000 team members who are at the heart of what makes Denver, Denver.

The City and County of Denver offers a competitive salary commensurate with education and experience. The salary range for this position is $169.976 - $229,468/annually, based on experience and education. We also offer generous benefits for full-time employees which include but are not limited to:

• A guaranteed life-long monthly pension, once vested after 5 years of service
• 457B Retirement Plan
• 140 hours of PTO earned within first year + 12 paid holidays, 1 personal holiday, 1 wellness day and 1 volunteer day per year
• Competitive medical, dental and vision plans effective within 1 month of start date

The City and County of Denver supports a hybrid workplace model. Employees work where needed, at a job site several days a week and off-site as needed. In this position you can expect to work 3 days/week at the Richard T. Castro Building at 1200 Federal Boulevard, Denver, CO on the in office days. Employee parking at the building is free.

Employees must work within the state of Colorado on their off-site days.

The City Attorney’s Office serves as the chief legal counsel to the Mayor, City Council, City Auditor, City Clerk and Recorder, and all City agencies. Its responsibilities include protecting children and at-risk adults from exploitation and abuse, handling city lawsuits, prosecuting ordinance violations, providing victim support in criminal cases, representing the city in investigations and litigation, advising on contractual and transactional matters, offering regulatory and compliance assistance, addressing employment matters for the city’s more than 12,000 workers, and providing guidance on local, state, and federal law.

With a team of over 200 individuals, the City Attorney’s Office is dedicated to protecting resident welfare, enhancing neighborhood quality of life, and responsibly managing taxpayer funds. As advocates for effective governance, transparency, and accountability, the office empowers the city to do its work and prioritizes ethical conduct in all city operations. Whether working with city agencies, engaging community stakeholders, or collaborating with external legal counsel, the office leverages its collective expertise to navigate complex legal challenges and advance key city priorities.

The Denver City Attorney's Office is searching for a Division Director for the Human Services Legal Section (HSLS). The Division Director leads the Human Services section of the City Attorney's Office which is comprised of approximately 17 attorneys and 17 staff. HSLS provides legal representation to all divisions of Denver Human Services (DHS). Services include litigation in Dependency and Neglect, Juvenile Justice, Adult Protection, Child Support Enforcement, Benefit Fraud, Benefit Appeals, Medicaid Appeals, and Employment and Tort cases.

HSLS attorneys represent Denver Human Services in specialty dockets in Denver Juvenile Court for cases that fall under the Indian Child Welfare Act. As in-house counsel to DHS, the section’s legal services include advice related to privacy compliance, training, contracting & MOU services (in collaboration with Municipal Operations contract attorneys), legislation & rule review and advocacy, regulatory compliance, policy & procedure drafting & review, audit support, CORA management, communications, records management, process improvement support, and board representation.

The successful candidate for this position will lead and coordinate the Section's work, lead and manage an experienced group of attorneys, and provide legal counsel and representation to DHS. We seek an attorney with significant leadership, management and legal experience to lead our team and who is sensitive to the impact our legal work has on Denver’s communities. Two Assistant…