General Counsel

JOB SUMMARY

This key leadership position serves as the General Counsel for NHA. This position is responsible for the general administration and management of the Newark Housing Authority Legal Department. This position will oversee all legal functions for NHA and manage the agency’s in-house legal staff and outside legal counsel. This position will be responsible for setting the direction and future of the Legal Department and providing legal advice, counsel, and presentations to NHA. The position is a senior Executive Team member, reports administratively to the Executive Director, with a client relationship with the Board of Commissioner.

JOB FUNCTIONS

This leadership position is responsible for the coordination, administration and supervision of the legal functions for NHA. The incumbent will serve as a member of the senior Executive Team, providing insight and assistance with implementing NHA’s strategic initiatives and maintaining strong interdepartmental working relationships. The incumbent is responsible for providing substantive legal advice and services to NHA on a broad range of issues affecting the agency, including finance, real estate and development, homeownership, loan servicing, intergovernmental relations, and policy, state and federal rental programs, human resources, as well as general corporate and corporate governance matters. The position entails legal, administrative, and policy functions. The incumbent will serve as the agency's Assistant Secretary, with primary responsibilities which shall include preparing and authenticating corporate resolutions, advising the Board of Commissioners on legal matters, and additional duties as determined by the Executive Director. The incumbent will also serve as Ethics Officer for the agency, with primary responsibility for ensuring the agency's integrity and fostering an awareness of ethics laws and obligations. The incumbent will work closely with the Chief Administrative Officer to develop and implement a formal compliance program for the Agency, ensuring NHA’s ongoing compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations. The responsibilities of this position are essential to preventing and minimizing NHA’s risk exposure. The position will lead the development and implementation of legal matters that support NHA’s mission, vision, strategic objectives, and core values. The incumbent must have a strong customer focus and communicate with all internal and external customers. Additionally, the incumbent is responsible for fostering and cultivating a high-performing team that supports NHA’s goals and values.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES

·       Lead and manage the legal functions of NHA. Coordinate and supervise the activities of the Associate Counsel(s), Legal Assistant/Paralegal, legal externs/interns, and other regular or temporary department staff, as well as the activities of outside legal counsel.

·       Provide substantive legal advice, interpretation, and counsel to NHA senior staff concerning finance, human resources, real estate and development, homeownership, loan servicing, intergovernmental relations and policy, state and federal rental programs, public records, procurement, privacy, as well as general corporate and corporate governance matters.

·       Provide advice to the Board of Commissioners, Executive Director and senior staff in all legal matters relating to the administration and operations of NHA, including debt financing and housing tax credits, and render opinions when needed.

·       Regularly attend meetings of the Board of Commissioners and other committees to provide legal analysis and advice on pending matters, and preparing, reviewing and presenting corporate resolutions for consideration by the Board of Commissioners.

·       Provide guidance to NHA’s Commissioners, officers and employees in the interpretation and implementation of ethics laws and serve as a resource on ethics questions.

·       Monitor and ensure NHA’s ongoing compliance with applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations.

·       Provide legal analysis and opinions on laws, issues and proposed legislation relevant to NHA and its programs and activities.

·       Provide guidance in developing new programs and initiatives, and the creation of relevant form documents.

·       Provide representation to NHA in state and federal courts and before administrative agencies and oversee outside counsel involving landlord tenant matters, labor and employment, real estate and loan transactions, public entity, and regulatory matters.

·       Responsible for reviewing all agreements, forms, and policies related to NHA programs and ensuring that all documents comply with applicable federal, state, and local laws, rules, and regulations.

·       Negotiate, prepare, review, approve, and interpret contracts, real estate and loan documents, and other legal instruments.

·       Draft regulations and guidelines for the implementation of laws enforced by NHA.

·       Responsible for the preparation and administration of the budget of the Legal Department and oversees the resources of the Legal Department within Agency parameters.

·       Responsible for the professional development and management of Legal Department staff.

·       Other duties and special projects as assigned by the Executive Director.

QUALIFICATIONS

·       Juris Doctorate (JD) required from an ABA-accredited law school

·       Admission to the New Jersey Bar required

·       Degree or course work in housing, real estate, finance, public finance, or related fields is highly desirable.

·       Minimum twelve years of legal experience in real estate finance, housing, or related field and preferred background in municipal bond financing and/or mortgage-backed securities.

·       Minimum twelve years of experience in and a proven record for successfully managing and developing professional employees.

·       Extensive knowledge and proven expertise in the relevant legal areas, including tax-exempt and taxable debt issuance and mortgage-backed securities, low-income housing tax credits, real estate / commercial lending/housing law, information security, and employment matters

·       Broad knowledge of federal housing programs, laws, and regulations preferred

·       Proven understanding of general financial management principles, including experience in managing a budget

·       Ability to think strategically with a visionary focus on future growth and stability

·       Strong analytical/problem-solving skills, including process analysis and improvement

·       Strong ethical decision-making skills

·       Proven leadership skills that are collaborative in setting a clear direction and supportive environment to ensure that goals and objectives are met while inspiring outstanding performance

·       Complex problem-solving skills using a high level of creativity and ingenuity to drive the agency’s operations while understanding and advising on the varying degrees of risk

·       Skill in effective listening, communication, and presentation skills where all messages from and to diverse audiences can be heard and/or articulated in layman’s terms that inspire a high level of confidence.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

·       The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

BENEFITS

·       Fulltime employees are offered Health, Vision, Dental, Life, LTD, STD, and Rx Plan, benefits after 60 days of employment

·       Company Holidays-

·       Sick Time, Paid Time Off, and Vacation Time: Prorated Accrual

·       Pension (PERS)

·       Employee Assistance Program

·       Metlife

·       Aflac

·       Tuition Reimbursement