The Montgomery County Council is looking for outstanding professionals who are dedicated to public policy work that influences and shapes our diverse community of more than one million residents. Our synergy of talent, resources, inclusivity, and support makes the Council an ideal employer for individuals who are looking to innovate, work on a diverse range of issues and create blueprints for bold thinking. Council staffers work with elected leaders, community groups, subject-matter experts and residents on a wide range of issues such as budgeting, legislation and land use decisions. Join an organization with a commitment to meeting the dynamic needs of our residents as we govern for today and plan for the future.

The County Council seeks its Lead Attorney for Land Use and Zoning matters before the Council. The position requires intensive review and analysis of complex legal issues related to zoning, land use, subdivision, and building regulation; excellent legislative drafting skills; exemplary communication skills; and demonstrated independence, leadership, and team building.

The Council is solely responsible for the approval of master plans and zoning amendments, which are some of the most important and controversial issues faced by the Council. The person selected will provide legal advice and counsel in connection with these matters and will independently draft Zoning Text Amendments on behalf of the Council.

Specific assignments for this position vary with the Council’s needs and priorities. Examples include: providing leadership in the Council’s coordination on land use and zoning matters with the Office of Zoning and Administrative Hearings, Board of Appeals staff, and the Planning Department; representing the Council in state and local task forces related to land use and zoning laws; and independently drafting bills, resolutions, zoning text amendments, subdivision regulations, historic preservation amendments or other legal instruments as requested by the County Council. The ability to develop positive relationships with Councilmembers, public employees, and stakeholders is essential.

The ideal candidate will have superior legal research and legislative drafting skills and will be able to communicate clearly with legal and non-legal audiences. The candidate will bring a strategic perspective to the position and provide sound legal advice and options to Councilmembers. The candidate will be adaptable to changing needs and strive to build partnerships and collaborations. The ideal candidate must have demonstrated mastery of their job and the ability to become expert in the complexity of zoning and land use policy and law in Montgomery County.

Additional Employment Information

OHR reviews the minimum qualifications of all applicants, irrespective of whether the candidate has previously been found to have met the minimum requirements for the job or been temporarily promoted to the same position. This evaluation is based solely on the information contained in the application/resume submitted for this specific position/IRC.

Montgomery County Government is an equal opportunity employer, committed to workforce diversity. Accordingly, as it relates to employment opportunities, the County will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities, in accordance with the law. Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the Office of Human Resources via email to OHR@montgomerycountymd.gov. Individual determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made in accordance with all applicable laws.

Montgomery County Government also provides hiring preference to certain categories of veterans and veterans/persons with a disability. For more information and to claim employment preference, please refer to the Careers webpage on Hiring Preference.

All applicants will respond to a series of questions related to their education, relevant experience, knowledge, skills and abilities required to minimally perform the job. The applicant's responses in conjunction with their resume and all other information provided in the employment application process will be evaluated to determine the minimum qualifications and preferred criteria status. Based on the results, the highest qualified applicants will be placed on an Eligible List and may be considered for an interview. Employees meeting minimum qualifications who are the same grade will be placed on Eligible List as a "Lateral Transfer" candidate and may be considered for interview.

If selected for consideration for this position, you may be required to provide evidence that you possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities indicated on your resume.

Montgomery County Ethics Law: Except as provided by law or regulation, the County's "Public Employees" (which does not include employees of the Sheriff's office) are subject to the County's ethics law including the requirements to obtain advanced approval of any outside employment and the prohibitions on certain outside employment. The outside employment requirements of the ethics law can be found at 19A-12 of the County Code. Additional information about outside employment can be obtained from the Ethics Commission website.

Minimum Qualifications

Preferred Criteria

Preferred Criteria:

The applications of those individuals meeting the minimum qualifications will be reviewed to determine the extent, relevancy of training, and experience in the following areas:

Experience Analyzing and Interpreting Land Use and Zoning Law
Experience Drafting Legislation
Written & Oral Communication
Collaboration and Partnership
Leadership
Knowledge of the Zoning Ordinance

Minimum Salary

Maximum Salary

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