The City Attorney’s Office provides the City with the highest caliber legal services and advice, and protects and advances the interests of the City by all legal and ethical means. The City Attorney’s Office provides legal advice and support to the City Council, City Manager, all City Departments, as well as appointed City Boards and Commissions.
The City Attorney’s Office supports the City in its legislative and policy efforts; responds to claims and represents the City in a wide array of litigation; brings litigation on behalf of the City to protect the City’s interests; drafts and/or reviews contracts, leases, ordinances, and resolutions; provides advice and legal analysis regarding ballot measures; provides legal support to the City’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic; provides legal support to City affordable housing programs; supports City staff in enforcement of the City’s laws and regulations; supports the City in land use and development efforts and modernizing its planning and zoning framework; supports infrastructure projects and economic development efforts; responds to Public Records Act (PRA) requests on behalf of the City Council, as well as coordinating responses to PRA requests that involve multiple departments; staffs the Fair Campaign Practices Commission and the Open Government Commission; provides support to the City’s Independent Redistricting Commission; provides support to the Police Accountability Board and the Reimagining Public Safety Task Force; provides training to City staff, City Council, and City Boards and Commissions on a range of legal issues, including the Brown Act, the Public Records Act, California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), and conflicts of interest; and acts as the Risk Manager for the City.
THE OPPORTUNITY
Although the City Attorney’s Office collectively serves as the City’s Risk Manager, this is the first time the role has been established as a stand-alone position. As the inaugural Risk Manager, the incumbent will have the unique opportunity to shape and develop the program. Under the general direction of the City Attorney, the Risk Manager administers the general liability claims program, provides advice and education to City officials and employees on risk avoidance, retention, and transfer, and serves as the City’s liaison to the Bay Cities Joint Powers Insurance Authority.
THE IDEAL CANDIDATE
The ideal candidate is an experienced and forward-thinking risk management professional with a strong foundation in government claims, public liability litigation, and insurance practices within public agencies. They bring experience working with attorneys on liability cases, guiding mediation strategies, and supporting the City’s interests in settlement negotiations. The successful candidate is well-versed in general liability and property insurance, public agency risk pools, and contractual risk transfer, and is able to analyze complex data, assess financial impacts, and make informed recommendations to identify emerging risk issues.
Strengths include being proactive, analytical, and solutions-oriented, with a demonstrated ability to strengthen risk management practices across an entire organization. The ideal candidate will provide clear, practical advice to departments citywide, review contracts with a critical eye toward risk exposure, and recommend strategies to avoid, reduce, or transfer risk. The ideal candidate is comfortable meeting with a wide variety of groups, serving as the City’s representative on a risk pool board, actively participating in governance, and presenting information in a clear, concise, and accessible manner to a wide range of audiences.
They are highly organized, detail-oriented, and skilled at managing multiple priorities, including reviewing invoices, overseeing work, engaging in case assessments, and navigating mediation processes. The ideal candidate brings strong writing skills, sound judgment, and the ability to work independently with minimal direction – looking at things with a fresh mindset and consistently seeking better, data-informed approaches. A collaborative spirit and the ability to work effectively with a diverse team round out this candidate’s strengths.
While advanced expertise in public agency insurance and risk management terminology is ideal, candidates with strong transferable skills and the ability to quickly learn the nuances of municipal risk management are encouraged to apply.
THE RISK MANAGER
This is a supervisory position in which incumbents direct, coordinate and perform the work related to managing the City’s claims through the Bay Cities Joint Powers Insurance Authority and outside counsel conducting legal work on behalf of the city. Incumbents work collaboratively with attorneys within the City Attorney’s Office and with staff from City Departments related to liability claims made against the City. This classification is distinguished from other classifications responsible for occupational health and safety and workers’ compensation by the absence of those program elements. Areas of responsibility include:
- Plans, organizes, develops, supervises and coordinates the operations of the Risk Management Division within the City Attorney’s Office.
- Receives claims, determines if claims meet statutory requirements, sets reserves, and determines who will adjust.
- Performs or facilitates investigations; works with City staff, third-party claims adjusters, attorneys, and subject matter experts to evaluate investigation and determine whether a claim should be accepted or denied.
- Ensures that all statutory time limits and documentation are complied with; represents the City in small claims matters involving tort claims; coordinates with City Attorney's Office staff with regards to claims evolving into litigation.
- Develops and maintains a comprehensive claims management system for making determinations on processing of public liability claims and supervises the processing of City claims, individuals and other agencies.
- Coordinates with attorneys to provide research and recommendations for legal issues concerned with safety and risk management.
- Maintains a complete record system of all claims and related activities.
- Coordinates, prepares and presents studies, reports and agenda items to the City Council and other City boards or teams.
- Studies statutory and regulatory requirements and modifies program components to ensure they meet standards and legislative mandates established by federal and state regulations; analyze the impact of legislative changes.
- Represents the City on the Bay Cities Joint Powers Insurance Authority for general liability.
- Evaluates insurance risks; monitors the City's insurance program including reviewing and approving contracts to reduce risk exposure and to develop accident insurance and indemnification provisions and contacting vendors and consultants regarding insurance requirements; evaluates costs and benefits of alternative coverage; re-negotiates or makes arrangements for coverage; and develops insurance requirements, reviews bids, and recommends policy purchases.
- Supervise, evaluate, and train staff.
- Performs related duties as assigned.
A typical way of gaining the knowledge, skills, and abilities outlined above is:
Education
Equivalent to a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in public or business administration, human resources, industrial engineering, risk management, or a closely related field.
Experience
Four (4) years of progressively responsible professional experience in risk management, loss prevention or municipal/corporate insurance administration, including supervisory experience.
Licenses, Certifications, and Other Requirements
Designation as Associate in Risk Management for Public Entities (ARM-P) is highly desirable. When driving on City business, must possess a valid California driver’s license.
Applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. PST on Monday, April 6, 2026 and must include a completed application and responses to supplemental questions. Please note that resumes are not a substitute for a completed application.
Applications are available in alternative formats (audio-format, braille, large print, electronic text, etc.) upon request to ada@berkeleyca.gov. Please allow 10 days for production of the material in an alternative format.The exam process will include, but may not be limited to:
Tests may consist of any combination of written, oral or other exercises or assessment procedures that test content and may include, but are not necessarily limited to, typing, math, reading, writing and analytical skills; problem solving ability; computer and software proficiency, or any other job-related knowledge, skill, ability or qualification. The examination process and dates are subject to change. The City may, without notice, change or eliminate any assessment component as needs dictate. Applicants passing all examination phases will have their names placed on an employment eligible list that hiring departments will use to conduct final selection interviews.
