Counsel (Operations)

District of Columbia Housing Finance Agency•Washington, DC

About The Position

The Office of the General Counsel (OGC) is 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.

Requirements

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

Nice To Haves

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

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