WATER INFRASTRUCTURE FINANCE AUTHORITY OF ARIZONA

Address:  100 N. 7th Suite 130 Phoenix, AZ 85007

Salary: Negotiable 

Salary Range: $140,000 - $190,000

Closing Date: Position will remain open until filled. 
(1st review of resumes will be January 30, 2023 - submit application no later than 1/29/2023 11:59pm)

*Applicants must submit a Cover Letter with resume to be considered*

The WIFA is seeking to hire a leadership team to accomplish the WIFA’s responsibilities. The General Counsel will be a key member of a goal-oriented, pragmatic, innovating team who provide expertise and leadership to drive economic growth and environmental benefits through supporting state, tribal, and local efforts to augment water supplies, conserve water, and modernize water infrastructure for all of Arizona.

The responsibilities of the WIFA have recently been greatly expanded through the enactment of SB 1740. The bold plan to secure Arizona’s water future provides over $1 billion to fund projects that seek to address water supply for the next 100 years. Historically, the WIFA’s primary responsibility has been to help Arizona’s communities construct and maintain their wastewater and drinking water infrastructure by providing them low-cost financing through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) programs. SB 1740 expanded the WIFA’s responsibilities to include a fundamental role in meeting the existing and future water supply needs of the State of Arizona through the Water Supply Development Fund (WSDF), the Long Term Augmentation Fund (LTWAF), and the Water Conservation Grant Fund (WCGF).

The ideal candidate will be a stickler for details and will gather all the relevant facts before making a decision. They are likely someone who is described as thorough, intense, focused, and thoughtful. The Water Authority needs someone who is a natural problem solver who can help contribute to a culture that drives results and gets things done. If you feel you have a strategic, data-driven approach to building teams as well as helping organizations win we want you to apply!

The duties of a General Counsel requires a high degree of specialized expertise and skill in maintaining established standards of quality and accuracy. Drive, determination and a self-disciplined approach is necessary to achieving results and ensuring quality is never compromised. The focus of communication and organizational relationships is based on technical expertise in legal matters, legislative rule making and compliance review. The work requires specialized technical problem solving and ingenuity while demonstrating the values of integrity, quality and caution. Major job responsibilities include:

• Assess WIFA’s legal needs and develop a plan for internal hires and external assistance to meet these needs - this could include water law, bond counsel, employment law, and contracting / procurement help.

• Hire and supervise one or more staff as necessary.

• Responsible for any external contracting necessary for external legal help.

• Provide interpretation of the WIFA statutes.

• Assist with drafting and execution of a variety of contracts and agreements - both for contracted services to WIFA and financial assistance from WIFA.

• Assist with legislative language drafting and review.

• Assist with rulemakings including a WIFA-specific procurement policy.

• Assist with the development of a personnel policy.

• Assist with board and committee meetings to ensure compliance with open meeting laws, and other requirements.

• Assist with public records requests - perform legal review of materials prepared in response to public records requests.

• Assist with compliance of all applicable state and federal regulatory requirements.

• Assist with compliance with conflict of interest requirements for the board and staff.

Knowledge:
• Knowledge of and experience as an attorney in a government setting.

Skill:
• Skills in and familiarity with contracting and environmental / water law.
• Significant skills in and experience with administrative law including open meetings law and public records law.

Ability:
• Ability to and experience with supervising employees as well as managing and maintaining external law firms.
• Ability to and experience in developing a new organization.

• Licensed to practice law in Arizona (state agency preferred)

• Holds J.D. degree from an ABA accredited law school.
• Active member of the Arizona Bar. (Letter of Good Standing issued by the State Bar of Arizona may be requested upon offer)
• Have actively practiced law for three of the prior five years.
• Employees who drive on state business are subject to driver license record checks, required to maintain acceptable driving records and complete any required driver training (see Arizona Administrative Code R2-10-207.11)
• Requires possession of and ability to retain a current, valid state-issued driver license appropriate to the assignment

The State of Arizona offers a comprehensive benefits package to include:
• Optional employee benefits include short-term disability insurance, deferred compensation plans, and supplemental life insurance
• Life insurance and long-term disability insurance
• Vacation with 10 paid holidays per year
• Health and dental insurance
• Retirement plan
• Sick leave

For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

• Positions in this classification participate in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS).
• Please note, enrollment eligibility will become effective after 27 weeks of employment.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact Cindy Soto at cindy.soto@azdoa.gov for assistance.