City Attorney

Salary: See Position Description
Location : 515 Clark Avenue, Ames, IA, 50010, IA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 26-9366-01
Department: Legal
Division: City Attorney
Opening Date: 09/17/2026
Closing Date: 10/18/2026 5:00 PM Central
FLSA: Exempt
Bargaining Unit: MERIT
Residency Requirement?: No


Centrally located in the heart of Iowa, Ames is a vibrant, progressive community with more than 66,000 residents providing an excellent quality of life. Home to Iowa State University, Ames offers year-round recreation opportunities, diverse cultural offerings, a stable economy, safe neighborhoods, and a high-achieving school district.
General Information
Are you a seasoned municipal attorney who can advise elected officials with clarity, translate complex law into plain language, and lead a talented legal team? If so, apply to be the City of Ames's next City Attorney!

Please view full position brochure here:


APPLY HERE:
We're looking for an exceptional legal leader who is:

• • A trusted, forward-facing advisor to the City Council, department directors, and the public
  • A strong land use and local government generalist who balances risk with sound, practical counsel
  • A confident litigator and problem solver who reads, interprets, and applies the law - then explains it in plain terms

Ames is a vibrant, progressive community of roughly 68,000 residents in the heart of central Iowa. Home to Iowa State University and located in Story County about 35 miles north of the state capital of Des Moines. Ames operates under a council-manager form of government. The Mayor and City Council set policy, while a professional City Manager oversees day-to-day operations.


The City Attorney's Office provides full-service legal counsel to the Mayor, City Council, City Manager, city staff, and the City's boards and commissions, and when available to the city-owned Mary Greeley Medical Center. The City Attorney reports to the Mayor and City Council.

The ideal candidate is a well-rounded local government attorney with strong land use expertise and the judgment to balance risk with practical, business-minded counsel.
The salary range for this position is $150,000 to DOQ.
For more information on this position, contact:

Michael D. Mallinoff, Esq. | Senior Vice President, Executive Recruitment

Strategic Government Resources

View email address on click.appcast.io

View phone number on click.appcast.io
Examples of Essential Job Functions


The City Attorney's Office provides full-service legal counsel to the Mayor, City Council, City Manager, city staff, and the City's boards and commissions, and - when available - to the city-owned Mary Greeley Medical Center.

Reporting to the Mayor and City Council, the new City Attorney will:
• Serve as chief legal advisor and attend City Council meetings, advising on the legality of operations, policies, and procedures
• Draft and review ordinances, resolutions, contracts, legal opinions, and other documents
• Represent the City in litigation and prosecute and defend suits in state and federal court
• Lead, mentor, and manage the legal team and help administer the department's budget
• Advise on land use, municipal utilities, property tax appeals, and construction matters

Qualifications
Required qualifications include:

• • Graduation from an ABA-accredited law school with a Juris Doctor degree
  • Admission to practice in Iowa state courts, or the ability to obtain admission within six months of appointment
  • Five (5) years of experience in general legal practice, including at least one year in litigation, negotiation, and contract law
  • Some experience in municipal or government law
  • Must pass a credit and background check

Preferred qualifications include:

• • At least three (3) years in management and supervisory capacity over legal staff and/or a department
  • At least one (1) year of experience in real estate law or construction contracts
  • Demonstrated experience in land use, municipal utilities, and/or property tax matters

Supplemental Information

SALARY & BENEFITS:
Compensation: $150,000 to DOQ
Health Benefits: Comprehensive health and dental coverage, with the City contributing 90-95% toward single or family premiums; term life insurance; and pre-tax flexible medical spending.
Paid Leave: Paid vacation, ten paid holidays annually, and personal and family sick leave.
Retirement: Choice of two plans - a defined benefit plan (IPERS) or a defined contribution plan - plus an optional deferred compensation plan (ICMA-RC). The City participates in Social Security.
Additional Perks: Relocation assistance of 10% of salary with a move within city limits; educational assistance and professional development; an award-winning Health Promotions program; and employee discounts on Parks and Recreation programs. As an Iowa public employer, the City is a qualifying employer under the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program.
E-Verify Process:

The City of Ames participates in E-Verify and will provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with information from each applicant's Form I-9 to confirm work authorization. All candidates who are offered a position with the City of Ames must complete Section 1 of Form I-9 along with the required proof of their right to work in the United States and proof of their identity on their first day of employment. Please be prepared to provide required documents on your first day of employment. For additional information regarding acceptable documents for this purpose, please contact Human Resources at View phone number on click.appcast.io or go to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services web page at:
NOTE: Applicants with disabilities may submit requests for ADA testing or interview accommodations to the Human Resources Department prior to the test or interview.
The City of Ames is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, ancestry, national origin, marital status, disability, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against. Inquiries can be directed to the Human Resources Department at View phone number on click.appcast.io.
The City of Ames offers a comprehensive benefits package for employees regularly working 20 hours or more per week. Benefits are pro-rated for employees working between 20-39 hours per week.

The benefits available include vacation, sick leave, family sick leave, life insurance and AD&D, health and dental insurance, vision insurance, flexible spending accounts, retirement, long-term disability, tuition reimbursement, discounted Parks and Recreation gym usage and exercise classes, and an employee assistance program.

The City of Ames is a PSLF eligible employer. The PSLF Program is a federal program that is intended to encourage individuals to work in public service by forgiving the balance of their federal student loans. To qualify, the individual must have made 120 qualifying payments while employed by a qualifying employer. For more information, please click .