City Attorney at City of Santa Barbara, CA
City of Santa Barbara, CA · Santa Barbara, United States Of America · Onsite
- Senior
- Office in Santa Barbara
About the Department
THE COMMUNITY
On the idyllic central California coast and known as "the American Riviera”, the City of Santa Barbara is a 21 square mile community with a culturally diverse population of approximately 85,000. With a nearly perfect climate year-round supporting an active lifestyle for jogging, bike riding, rollerblading, kayaking, boating, sport fishing, whale watching, surfing, and/or a leisurely stroll along the numerous pathways, wharf and harbor, a 2024 Visit Santa Barbara economic impact study stated that approximately 6.5 million tourists visit the Santa Barbara South Coast annually. Contributing to the attraction of the City, visitors and residents also enjoy an abundance of world-class shopping, dining, resort accommodations, wine tasting and the City’s unique “Funk Zone” that features boutique tasting rooms, cafes, and galleries. Santa Barbara’s superb quality of life is further enhanced by its world renown attractions, destinations, and educational institutions that include the Old Mission Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara Zoo, Stearns Wharf, Botanic Gardens, Shoreline Park, Earl Warren Showgrounds, University of California, Westmont College, Antioch University, and Santa Barbara City College.
With its spectacular mountains and open space, sparkling-blue ocean, incredible landscapes, Mission style architecture, miles of pristine beaches and coastline, and year-round sunny weather, Santa Barbara is one of the most beautiful places to live and work. For more information about the City of Santa Barbara, please visit www.santabarbaraca.gov.
THE ORGANIZATION
The City of Santa Barbara is a full-service Charter city managed under the Council-Manager form of government. The seven member City Council is elected by district except for the position of Mayor, who is elected at-large.
The City Administrator Kelly McAdoo, appointed in 2024, is responsible for the administration of all City operations that is provided by a total of 15 Departments: Airport, City Administrator, City Attorney, City Clerk, Community Development, Finance, Fire, Human Resources, Information Technology, Library, Parks and Recreation, Police, Public Works, Sustainability and Resilience, and Waterfront. The City operates with a General Fund 2026-27 operating budget of approximately $216 million. The staff team totals approximately 1,150 full-time equivalent employees.
City Attorney Sarah Knecht, who is retiring in December 2025, oversees a department of nine attorneys, a law practice administrator, an investigator, one paralegal, three legal administrative assistants, and one supervising legal administrative assistant. With a 2026-27 budget of approximately $6 million, the Department is responsible for “providing legal advice and representation to the City Council, Boards and Commissions, and all City officers and employees”. The Department also handles the City’s civil and criminal litigation, relying on both internal and contract expertise.
THE POSITION
The selected candidate must be technically knowledgeable and experienced in interpreting, guiding, applying, educating, and advising on matters of California municipal law. This includes understanding and having specific familiarity with environmental and sustainability matters, housing and land use, human resources, public works, and water; staying aware, proactive, and knowledgeable of current and evolving state and federal legislation; and recognizing when outside counsel should be contracted for providing expertise. Importantly, while being a working-Director, the selected candidate must also be an excellent administrator and manager for working with and supervising a talented team of experienced and dedicated professionals; managing a budget and knowing the financial impacts of options, recommendations, and alternatives; collaborating and partnering with citywide departments; and providing excellent customer service. In addition, the ideal candidate will have experience working with the City Council to achieve policy goals when the City Council’s direction is not unanimous and consistent with recommendations of the City Administrator.
The ideal candidate will:
- Be an action oriented and enthusiastic individual who is motivated and driven by being responsive, communicative, professional and passionate and providing legal counsel and supporting the team.
- Represent the City with confidence, justification, humility, composure, and professional demeanor.
- Serve as a dependable and trusted resource to the City Council, City Administrator and Departments. Be a guiding light for educating and providing the resources for governance including serving as an expert Parliamentarian.
- Personally provide, as well as empower Department staff to deliver, unbiased, informed, researched and comprehensive information, recommendations and advice on all sides for the City Council’s decision making. Provide complete and thorough information without a personal agenda.
- Understand the distinct role of City Attorney in reference to the City Charter, and as representative of the City and City Council.
- Support and work to achieve City Council goals with providing clear, accurate, objective, and timely counsel. Be forthright and direct, not hold back, concede to the City Administrator or compromise due to fear of retribution. Implement the City Council’s direction without reservation.
- Embrace informed, measured, and calculated risk. Not be risk-adverse.
- Be politically savvy, apolitical and emotionally intelligent. Know how to work with nuance and ambiguity. Experienced in working in a litigious environment.
- Welcome challenges, find creative solutions, and problem solve in support of City Council direction.
- Know how to balance and navigate multiple priorities, challenges, interests and perspectives for achieving goals and solutions. Make decisions.
- Work and produce outcomes with the Department team without ego and self-promotion. Empower others, collaborate with personnel, and obtain personal satisfaction from team success.
- Engage in casual and honest one-on-one conversations with elected officials.
- Focus on organizational development including on succession planning.
- Recognize, appreciate, understand and embrace Santa Barbara’s culture and diversity for the City’s delivery of public services.
The ideal candidate will have had experience with a California municipality in an organization of similar complexity as the City of Santa Barbara. A typical way of obtaining the knowledge, skills and abilities for the position is graduation from a college or university with an appropriate law degree and at least eight (8) to ten (10) years with increasingly responsible experience in the practice of municipal law, including management and supervision of professional staff. The selected candidate must also be a current member of the California State Bar Association. It is desirable that applicants be bilingual.
THE COMPENSATION
The City Attorney is an at-will position appointed by the Mayor and City Council. The selected candidate will have an employment agreement and receive the same health and welfare benefits provided to the City’s Group 1 Managers (“Executives”). The successful candidate will be offered a competitive salary with an outstanding benefits package. The salary midpoint is $296,722 annually subject to negotiations and based on qualifications. The starting salary for the selected candidate will reflect the candidate’s work experience and track record demonstrating career success. The City of Santa Barbara offers an outstanding benefits package, including:
- Vacation: Accrued at the rate of 224 hours / year, increasing with City service.
- Personal leave: 32 hours is provided each July 1st at the start of the fiscal year (pro-rated the first year).
- Management leave: 64 hours is provided each July 1st at the start of the fiscal year (pro-rated the first year).
- Sick leave: Accrued at the rate of 96 hours / year.
- Holidays: 12 holidays are observed / year.
- Retirement: PERS Miscellaneous formula: "Classic" members: 2.7% @ 55; employee contributes 8% of salary. "New" members: 2% @ 62; employee contributes 6.75% of salary. The City does not participate in Social Security. Employee must pay an amount equal to 1.45% of salary toward Medicare. An equal amount is paid by the City.
- Deferred Compensation Savings Plan (457): Available to employees through a deferred compensation program.
- Insurance: Medical, dental, and vision benefits are available. Please see 2025 Benefits Rate Sheet Management Unit 1, 21, 31 on website. Maximum Cafeteria Plan Amount $1978.54 per month.
- Life Insurance: City-paid term life insurance (2x annual salary) is provided. Employee-paid supplemental life insurance is available subject to a health application if coverage is not elected during the new hire guarantee issue period.
- Long-term Disability Insurance: Provided.
- Long term Care Insurance: Optional employee-paid coverage for new hires.
- Short Term Disability Insurance: Optional employee-paid coverage is available.
- Vehicle Allowance: $789 monthly.
- Cell Phone Allowance: $50 month.
- Pet Insurance: Optional employee paid coverage.
- Remote Work: Negotiable.
- Employee Assistance Program: City-paid EAP is available for employees and members of their household.
- Relocation and Housing Stipend: Negotiable. Note: The City of Santa Barbara is a member of the Coastal Housing Partnership, which offers home loan assistance and rental reductions, and The Housing Trust Fund of Santa Barbara County, which offers a variety of housing programs and may offer down payment assistance loans. For more information, please visit their websites: www.coastalhousing.org/ and www.sbhousingtrust.org/.
For a complete explanation of benefits, please refer to the City’s Management Performance & Compensation Plan and the Employee Benefits Guide. Please understand that the provisions explained herein are simply a statement of relevant benefits; more information is available on the Benefits website.
Minimum Qualifications
SEARCH SCHEDULE
- Filing Deadline: September 26, 2025
- Supplemental Process (if necessary): September 29 – October 3, 2025
- Meeting with City to review applicants: October 21, 2025
- Interview Process (in-person): October 28, 2025
These dates have been confirmed, and it is recommended that you plan your calendar accordingly.
To apply for this key position and exciting career opportunity, please visit the Peckham & McKenney website at:
Peckham & McKenney
www.peckhamandmckenney.com
www.peckhamandmckenney.com
Resumes are acknowledged within two business days. Contact Anton “Tony” Dahlerbruch at 310.567.1554 or toll-free at 866.912.1919, if you have any questions regarding this position or the recruitment process.
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