The Presidio Trust is an innovative federal agency that stewards and shares the history, beauty, and wonder of the Presidio for everyone to enjoy forever.
The Trust pursues a triple bottom line of People, Planet, and Performance. We work to ensure the Presidio is visited and loved by all, model outstanding practices to protect nature and reduce environmental impact, and operate efficiently and effectively in service to the public.
We earn the funds to manage the Presidio by operating park businesses, from leasing homes and workplaces to offering visitor amenities. Unlike other national parks, the Trust does not receive a direct annual appropriation.
The Trust manages the Presidio in partnership with the National Park Service and with support from the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy.
Position Summary
The Presidio Trust is seeking an Assistant General Counsel. An unusual federal agency, the Presidio Trust runs the only national park site that must earn all our own revenue. Each year we earn in excess of $100 million by leasing over 700 former military buildings as homes and workspaces. We then invest that money into our historic forest, dunes, streams, trails and designed landscapes, into our hundreds of historic buildings, into our infrastructure, into visitor sites and programs, and into our people, to make this magnificent place come alive for our park visitors.
The Assistant General Counsel role provides legal services and support as assigned in a broad variety of areas practiced by the General Counsel’s office, including, but not limited to: (a) federal statutory and regulatory interpretation, analysis and guidance; (b) administrative law and rule-making; (c) real property leasing and general contracting transactions; (d) tort claims and litigation; (e) ethics and labor & employment; (g) land use and environmental compliance; and (f) other miscellaneous legal, policy and administrative matters. This is a junior attorney position supporting the General Counsel and other more senior attorneys in the office, and ideal for a candidate interested in developing a general legal practice in a federal agency.
Our ideal candidate is a legal professional who has 2-5 years of practical experience, is intellectually curious, socially dexterous, consistently collaborative, self-reflective on DEIA issues and is relentlessly accountable to the team and the Trust.
This is a full-time position with benefits and a starting pay range of $120,229 to $142,683. The starting base salary is dependent on the experience and qualifications of the candidate. Applications received by September 1, 2023 will receive first consideration.
Duties and Responsibilities
• Provide “in-house” legal services as assigned and timely, efficient and effective advice with respect to a broad variety of laws and regulations related to the work, scope and mission of the Trust and the General Counsel’s office
• Execute legal research as assigned, that anticipates and analyzes unique federal statutory and regulatory issues that could impact the Trust’s goals, business plans, and liabilities
• Assist with drafting and reviewing real property leases, general contracts and other business-of-the-Trust related agreements
• Review, settle, and process administrative tort claims filed against the agency under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA)
• Provide legal counseling and document drafting services relating to labor, employment, privacy and ethics in support of the Employee Support Services team
• Support in-house counsel and Department of Justice attorneys in litigation, including document collection and review
• Serve as the organization’s Alternate Designated Agency Ethics Official, to include counseling and training staff on ethics matters and conflicts of interest, assigning, tracking, and reviewing employee financial disclosure reports, and other administrative tasks required by the Ethics in Government Act and other ethics laws
• Process public records requests under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and the Privacy Act
• Assist in the development and publication of Trust policies, procedures and regulations in compliance with the Presidio Trust Act and internal and external rule-making protocols
• Support in reviewing new projects and programs for consistency with Presidio Trust plans, policies and strategies such as the Presidio Trust Management Plan and the Presidio Trust Long Range Implementation Strategy
• Act as a team member on Trust sustainability initiatives to include reviewing compliance with permit terms and assisting the Trust with implementing an Environmental Management System
• Performs other duties as assigned by the General Counsel, including duties that increase the effectiveness of the Trust’s legal department
• Other duties as assigned.
Required Qualifications
• Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school
• Membership in the bar of any state or the District of Columbia
• Two (2) years of legal or regulatory experience in one or more of the following areas of law: litigation, transactional, contract, real estate, construction, land use, labor & employment, environmental, administrative, or federal or state public law
• Strong academic credentials and excellent writing, oral communication, cross-functional collaboration, and organizational skills are essential.
Desired Qualifications
• Federal, state or municipal public law experience or experience.
About the Presidio Trust Legal Team
Our Legal Team is a diverse group of professionals. As part of a one-of-a-kind organization, the team brings together innovative private sector strategies while following federal laws and regulations (including unique Presidio Trust Act authorities) as well as external and internal protocols, policies and procedures. The Legal Team performs this work to provide best-in-class legal services to support the Presidio Trust’s mission, strategic business and environmental goals, ethical obligations and operational excellence. We are also an essential part of ensuring that the park is fiscally self-sufficient model of stewardship in the national park system that is open to all visitors and loved by all.
Background Investigation
The Presidio Trust has identified this position as subject to a standard employment background investigation which shall consist of a review of applicable county, state and Federal criminal and civil records, state bankruptcy indexes, driver’s license. An individual’s granting of a background investigation and resulting report is voluntary, however, employment is contingent upon the successful completion of the investigation. The Trust may refuse to hire an individual, rescind an offer of employment, or review and terminate the employment of a current employee who does not successfully complete a background investigation.
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
This position requires the completion of the U.S. Office of Government Ethics (OGE) Form 450, Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, both as a New Entrant into the position and annually thereafter. The purpose of the financial disclosure system is to assist employees and their agencies in avoiding conflicts between official duties and private financial interests or affiliations.
COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement
All Presidio Trust employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or obtain an approved medical or religious exemption. Employment is contingent upon submitting a COVID-19 Certification of Vaccination or qualifying for an exemption when hired.
How to Apply
The Presidio Trust is an equal opportunity employer, offering a competitive benefits package. To apply, download the employment application from our website at www.presidio.gov/presidio-trust/jobs and submit to our email address listed on our website.
