Assistant City Attorney III - Real Estate

Assistant City Attorney III - Real Estate

Salary

$120,962.81 - $224,336.94 Annually

Location

1 East Broward BLVD, Suite 1320 Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301, FL

Job Type

Full Time

Job Number

NB019-03

Department

City Attorney

Division

CITY ATTORNEY

Opening Date

07/16/2026

Closing Date

8/17/2026 11:59 PM Eastern

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

POSITION SUMMARY

The City of Fort Lauderdale is seeking an experienced Real Estate Attorney to serve as Assistant City Attorney III (Real Estate) within the Office of the City Attorney.

Why Join the City of Fort Lauderdale's City Attorney's Office?

The City Attorneys Office is a dynamic, boutique law office representing one of Floridas premier municipalities. Our highly respected legal team advises City leadership on complex and innovative matters involving land use, redevelopment, municipal governance, and commercial real estate while serving a vibrant and growing coastal community.

As Assistant City Attorney III (Real Estate), you will play a pivotal role in shaping the Citys future by providing legal counsel on high-profile commercial real estate transactions, redevelopment initiatives, and other transformative public projects. Working directly with executive leadership, elected officials, and senior staff, you will have the opportunity to influence significant projects that leave a lasting impact on the community while collaborating with an exceptional team of experienced municipal attorneys.

POSITION SUMMARY

This position serves as lead counsel on a broad range of sophisticated real estate and land development matters involving municipal operations and policy. The successful candidate will provide legal advice and representation on complex commercial real estate transactions, acquisitions and dispositions of property, development agreements, construction-related matters, public-private partnerships, easements, leasing, title issues, and other matters affecting the Citys extensive real estate portfolio.

This position works closely with City leadership, including the City Managers Office, Development Services, Public Works, Parks and Recreation, Utilities, Engineering, and other departments on high-profile projects that shape the future of the City.

The ideal candidate is an experienced commercial real estate attorney with exceptional legal judgment, strong negotiation skills, and the ability to manage complex, high-value transactions from inception through closing.

Experience with P3 development transactions is highly valued.

This position serves at the pleasure of the City Attorney and is an at-will, non-classified, Management Category I position located in Fort Lauderdale.

Management Category I benefits include ten (10) additional Management Vacation Days and a Vehicle Allowance of $390/month.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Essential functions are the basic job duties that an employee must be able to perform, with or without reasonable accommodation. The list of essential functions, as outlined herein, is intended to be representative of the tasks performed within this classification. The omission of a function does not preclude management from assigning essential duties not listed herein if such duties relate to the position.

The following duties are illustrative and are not intended to be all-inclusive.

• Provides legal advice to the City Manager, executive leadership, boards, committees, and City departments regarding complex real estate and land use matters.
• Drafts, reviews, negotiates, and interprets complex legal documents including purchase and sale agreements, development agreements, easements, restrictive covenants, leases, licenses, declarations, interlocal agreements, public-private partnership agreements, and construction-related contracts.
• Represents the City in negotiations involving commercial real estate transactions, acquisitions, dispositions, and development projects.
• Advises City departments regarding commercial leasing, title matters, due diligence, financing documents, closing issues, and property management matters.
• Provides legal guidance on construction contracts, procurement issues, design and construction disputes, project delivery methods, and contract administration.
• Supports major capital improvement and redevelopment initiatives involving public infrastructure and municipal facilities.
• Reviews legal issues involving zoning, planning, development approvals, platting, permitting, rights-of-way, utilities, and related municipal matters.
• Represents the City in administrative proceedings, mediations, arbitrations, and litigation related to assigned practice areas.
• Performs legal research and prepares written legal opinions and memoranda.
• Attends City Commission meetings, board meetings, workshops, public hearings, and other meetings as assigned.
• Collaborates effectively with inside and outside counsel, consultants, developers, title companies, governmental agencies, and private stakeholders.
• Keeps current with changes in Florida law affecting municipal government, real estate, construction, procurement, and land development.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

JOB REQUIREMENTS, PREFERENCES & WORK ENVIRONMENT

MINIMUM JOB REQUIREMENTS:

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school.
• Membership in good standing with The Florida Bar.
• A minimum of eight (8) to ten (10) years of progressively responsible legal experience practicing real estate law.
• Extensive experience handling complex commercial real estate transactions, including acquisitions, dispositions, leasing, easements, development agreements, and related transactional matters.
• Experience negotiating and drafting sophisticated commercial contracts and legal documents.
• Experience advising clients regarding construction, development, or infrastructure-related legal matters.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong analytical, negotiation, and problem-solving abilities.
• To claim Veterans' Preference, candidates must attach to the application a copy of military separation papers (DD214) and service-connected disability documentation (if applicable) to meet eligibility requirements as stipulated by Florida Statues. For additional information, please refer to the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs. (link: https://floridavets.org/benefits-services/veterans-preference/)

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience representing municipalities, counties, or other governmental entities or advising public agencies on municipal law matters.
• Experience with public-private partnerships (P3).
• Experience with rights-of-way, utilities, land use, zoning, and development regulations.
• Litigation experience involving real estate or construction matters.

As public servants, employees may be required to work immediately before, during, and/or after an emergency. All employees must be available and able to work assigned shifts as determined by their Department Heads.

PHYSICAL STANDARDS REQUIRED TO PERFORM ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

The position is generally sedentary. Employees sit most of the time but may walk or stand for brief periods of time.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

HOW TO APPLY & SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

The City of Fort Lauderdale receives a high volume of applications, so not every applicant who meets the minimum qualifications will be guaranteed an interview. Candidates are selected for interviews based on how closely their education and work experience match the specific requirements of the position.

Applicants will be subject to an extensive selection and screening process, which may include, but not be limited to evaluation of training and experience; written; oral and performance-based testing; skills assessment; interview; employment check, background investigation; medical examination; and drug screen. For Public Safety positions, the process additionally includes polygraph examinations and psychological evaluations. The expected duration of the selection process varies by position.

All applicants, including current City of Fort Lauderdale employees, need to fully detail their work experience on the employment application. Applicants must ensure that all required documents submitted are in a format that is acceptable, clear, and legible. It is the applicant's responsibility to update their online profile with accurate personal information, work history, education, and certifications each time they submit a new application. Incomplete applications may result in disqualification.

The City of Fort Lauderdale is an Equal Opportunity, Veteran's Preference Employer and Drug Free Workplace.

For technical support with your application, contact GovernmentJobs.com 9am to 9pm EST, Monday to Friday, at (855) 524-5627 or email support@governmentjobs.com.

The City of Fort Lauderdale offers a comprehensive benefits package to all regular full-time employees including vacation, holiday, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life and short-term disability insurance.

Click here for an overview of employment information including our benefits package.

Click here for additional management benefits.

Say "Hello" to the City of Fort Lauderdale and Say "Goodbye" to Your Student Loan! Under the U.S. Department of Educations Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, the remaining balance on your student loan may be forgiven after you have made 120 qualifying monthly payments while working full-time at the City of Fort Lauderdale! Click here for more information or to see if you qualify.

In addition to the competitive benefits package and salary, the City of Fort Lauderdale participates in the Florida Retirement System (FRS) which offers an investment option and a pension option and requires a 3% contribution from employees. All new City of Fort Lauderdale employees are automatically enrolled in FRS. Click here to view additional information on the Florida Retirement System.

01

What is the highest level of education you have completed?

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Associate degree
• Bachelors degree
• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an ABA-accredited law school
• Other

02

How many years of progressively responsible experience do you have practicing commercial real estate law?

• Less than 8 years
• 8 to less than 10 years
• 10 to less than 15 years
• 15 to less than 20 years
• 20 years or more

03

Do you possess experience negotiating and drafting commercial real estate purchase and sale agreements?

• Yes
• No

04

Which of the following complex commercial real estate transactions have you personally handled as the lead or primary attorney? (Select all that apply.)

• Acquisitions of real property
• Dispositions/sales of real property
• Commercial leasing
• Easements
• Development agreements
• Restrictive covenants
• Public-private partnership (P3) agreements
• Construction-related contracts
• None of the above

05

Are you currently a member in good standing with The Florida Bar?

• Yes
• No

06

What best describes your experience drafting and negotiating complex commercial contracts and legal documents?

• No experience
• Limited experience
• Moderate experience
• Extensive experience serving as lead attorney

07

Please describe your experience advising clients on construction, development, infrastructure, or capital improvement projects.

• No experience
• Limited experience
• Moderate experience
• Extensive experience advising clients on complex projects

08

Which best describes your experience representing municipalities, counties, or other governmental entities?

• None
• Represented governmental clients occasionally
• Regularly represented governmental entities
• Extensive experience serving as legal counsel to municipalities or public agencies

09

What is your experience with Public-Private Partnership (P3) transactions?

• None
• Limited exposure
• Participated as a team member
• Served as lead attorney on one or more P3 transactions

10

Please indicate your level of experience advising clients regarding the following (check all that apply):

• Rights-of-way
• Utilities
• Land use
• Zoning
• Development regulations
• None of the above

11

What best describes your litigation experience involving real estate or construction matters?

• None
• Assisted outside counsel
• Handled litigation matters independently
• Extensive litigation experience including mediations, arbitrations, hearings, and court proceedings

12

What is the largest commercial real estate transaction or development project on which you served as lead attorney?

• Under $5 million
• $5 million to under $25 million
• $25 million to under $100 million
• $100 million or more
• Prefer not to answer

13

Briefly describe the commercial real estate transaction or redevelopment project that best demonstrates your qualifications for this position. Include your role, the legal issues involved, the approximate value or scope of the project, and the outcome.

14

What interests you most about joining the City of Fort Lauderdales City Attorneys Office as an Assistant City Attorney III - Real Estate? Please describe the experience, skills, and strengths you possess that uniquely qualify you for this position and explain how they would benefit the City.

Required Question

Employer City of Fort Lauderdale

Address Tower Building - 101 NE 3rd Ave

Department of Human Resources - 16th Floor

Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 33301

Phone 19548285300

Website http://www.fortlauderdale.gov