Assistant Director of Law Ethics and Compliance Section

The City of Cleveland is seeking a highly qualified Assistant Director of Law – Ethics and Compliance to join our legal team within the Department of Law. Reporting to the Chief Ethics Officer, the Assistant Director of Law will serve as a key advisor and subject matter expert, promoting ethical conduct, ensuring compliance with applicable laws, and fostering a culture of integrity within city operations. This role includes providing advice on ethical dilemmas, investigating/reviewing potential violations of workplace misconduct, and supporting police accountability and reform efforts under the federal consent decree and City charter

Key Responsibilities:

• Ethics and Compliance Leadership:
  • Serve as a subject matter expert on state and local ethics laws.
  • Provide legal advice and counsel to city officials and employees on ethical dilemmas to reduce risks of misconduct.
  • Draft advisory opinions to assist employees in navigating conflicts of interest.
  • Conduct reviews and draft reports with recommendations resulting from complaints of ethics violations.
  • Review city policies and practices to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local laws.
• Education and Awareness:
  • Assist in developing ethics educational content, including training programs for city officials and employees.
  • Promote awareness of ethical standards and compliance obligations across city operations.
  • Work with Ethics Officer and key internal staff to increase community engagement and strengthen relationships with external stakeholders.
• Investigations and Reporting:
  • Review employee conflict disclosures including secondary employment and related party questionnaire for ethical concerns.
  • Prepare clear and actionable reports with recommendations based on reviews.
  • Assist in identifying systemic issues in organizational structure and operations.
  • Refer potential violations to appropriate enforcement authority, e.g. Ohio Ethics Commission. 
• Policy Development 
  • Assist in identifying and advising on best practices for good governance initiatives.
  • Collaborate with city departments to develop policies and programs that uphold ethical and legal standards.
• Police Accountability and Reform:
  • Assist in the city’s police accountability and reform work, including representing the City in matters related to the federal consent decree.
  • Support ongoing issues arising from police oversight structure, including but not limited to, Community Police Commission, City charter interpretation, and consent decree compliance.

Other duties and projects as assigned by the Chief Ethics Officer or City Law Director, contributing to the overall mission of the Department of Law.

Required Qualifications:

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school. Licensed in Ohio
• Experience conducting investigations, drafting legal opinions, and advising on complex issues.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to present legal and ethical concepts clearly to diverse audiences.
• Proven ability to handle sensitive and confidential matters with discretion and integrity.

Preferred Qualifications:

• 3-5 years of relevant legal experience, including expertise in ethics, compliance, municipal law, labor & employment or a related field.
• Demonstrated knowledge of municipal, state, and federal laws related to ethics, compliance, and public sector governance.
• Experience working with or within government agencies or public entities, with familiarity in police accountability and reform work.

Key Competencies:

• Leadership and collaboration skills to work effectively across city departments and with external stakeholders.
• Proficiency in managing multiple projects and meeting deadlines.
• Ability to adapt to evolving legal landscapes and community concerns while maintaining a commitment to good governance.

Must be an attorney licensed to practice law in the State of Ohio and in good standing with the Ohio Supreme Court.

The City's guiding principles are as follows: Placing Clevelanders at the Center, Empowering Employees to Do Purposeful Work, Defining Clear and Pragmatic Objectives, Leading with Trust and Transparency, Striving for Equity in All We Do, and Embracing Change. All City employees are responsible for embracing and carrying out these principles in all that they do.