Counsel (Operations) in Washington, District of Columbia at District of Columbia Housing Finance Agency

The Office of the General Counsel (OGC) is responsible for responsible for managing the legal aspects of Agency’s operations, its business decisions, tax-exempt and taxable bond transactions, other types of multifamily and single-family loans and neighborhood investments, and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests. Counsel provides legal counsel and support services in a broad range of general and specialized areas that affect the policies and programs of the Agency.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

· Provide legal counsel and advisory services to The Agency’s Board of Directors, Executive Director/CEO and business units regarding the Agency’s programs, operations, and statutory authority

· Negotiate agreements and opinions necessary to ensure the interests of the Agency are protected

· Conduct in-depth legal research and draft memoranda on a wide range of regulatory, transactional, and governance matters

· Support post-closing transaction activities including compliance and records administration

· Analyze, review, and provide legal guidance on proposed and enacted amendments to statues, regulations, policies, and procedural frameworks at the local and federal levels impacting Agency operations

· Facilitate and manage the legal components of obtaining required governmental approvals, including coordination with regulatory bodies and preparation of supporting documentation

· Ensure compliance with applicable federal and local laws, providing guidance on regulatory interpretation and risk management strategies

· Draft and review legislative proposals related to The Agency’s authorities and powers

· Provide legal support to Procurement and Administrative Services, including contract review, compliance oversight, and risk assessment

· Draft and update compliance related handbooks, policies, and training programs to ensure adherence to federal and local requirements

· Provide support on technology-related matters, including collaboration with the Office of Technology and Business Intelligence on IT governance

· Perform the reporting and mitigation of PII incidents and breaches and advise cross-functional teams on privacy and security requirements for Single Family and Multifamily lenders, HFAs and other DC Agencies under the guidance of the Agency’s Privacy Officer

· Provide legal support for the Agency’s Charitable Contribution program ensuring compliance with Agency guidelines, ethics standards and governance policies

· Oversee the management of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests and Language Access compliance

· Advise and support the Agency’s Singe Family Program and Multifamily Lending risk management, asset management and compliance functions

· Assist the General Counsel with ethics maters, as applicable

· Assist the General Counsel with matters regarding the Agency’s headquarters

· Provide legal support to the Agency’s Record Committee and ensure compliance with Agency, Federal and local record retention requirements

· Participate and support the execution of special projects and initiatives

· Performs other duties as required

KNOWLEDGE AND QUALIFICATIONS:

· Possess a Juris Doctor Degree

· Be an active member in good standing of the bar of any jurisdiction

· If not a member of District of Columbia Bar, be sworn into the District of Columbia Bar within 18 months of your initial hire as Counsel

· Possess 3-5 years of combined experience in one or more of the following: contract law, corporate law, business entity law, real estate law, procurement law, technology law, privacy law, and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)

· Understand the construction and interpretation of federal, state, and local statutes, codes, and regulations

· Possess strong skills in legal research and writing

· Possess excellent communication skills; both written and verbal, with the ability to make presentations and effectively negotiate

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS:

· Ability to work proactively and operate accurately and efficiently in a fast-paced environment with variable deadlines

· Demonstrate the ability to work effectively as a part of a team

· Ability to successfully and autonomously manage projects of a varied and complex nature

· Maintain high ethical standards of integrity and quality