In - House Legal Counsel

46d

About The Position

The In-House Counsel, Contracts & Risk serves as Plymouth Housing's primary legal advisor for contract management, enterprise risk, and landlord-tenant/housing matters. The role partners across departments to negotiate, draft, and standardize agreements with vendors and partners, ensuring terms are clear, enforceable, and compliant with regulatory and policy requirements. It maintains the contract management system-tracking key dates, obligations, and renewals-and provides practical guidance so teams can execute projects confidently and on time. Beyond contracts, this counsel leads Plymouth's risk and safety posture. They review incidents and claims, coordinate with HR and operations on corrective actions, and manage organizational strategies to mitigate property and liability risk. The role evaluates contractual risk (insurance, indemnification, hold-harmless), monitors compliance with OSHA/L&I and related life-safety standards, and, in partnership with relevant leaders and outside counsel as needed, oversees litigation and complaints tied to risk, safety, and health. On landlord-tenant and housing law, the counsel advises on leasing and compliance, fair housing, rent collection and tenant disputes, and-when warranted-represents the agency in eviction proceedings. They draft and update lease forms, notices, and housing templates, and work closely with Property Management, Quality, Innovation & Health, People Strategy & Operations, and Executive leadership to resolve resident and operational issues. The role also builds strong working relationships with community partners and government agencies to support Plymouth's mission and ensure consistent, lawful practices. ensures OSHA/L&I and life-safety compliance, and supports mission-critical decisions with clear, timely legal guidance.

Requirements

7+ years relevant legal experience including landlord- tenant law, nonprofit housing.
Knowledge of supportive housing models and housing subsidies
Experience in risk assessment, mitigation strategies and compliance management
Experience in Property management operations
Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school
Licensed and in good standing to practice in Washington.

Responsibilities

Work closely with internal teams to negotiate contractual arrangements with established and/or potential vendors, with approved contract guidelines and regulatory requirements.
Develop contract documentation, clearly specifying terms, including legal regulatory, policy, financial and others thus allowing for implementation of the contract and minimizing/preventing internal/external misunderstandings of contract intent.
Work closely with other departments to ensure contract provisions are consistent across providers and ensure applicable legal and regulatory terms are included in the signed contract.
Provide guidance on contract terms and compliance requirements.
Maintain contract management system to track key dates, obligations ad renewals. Develop and maintain effective working relationships with key counterparts representing the vendor and key internal colleagues to allow for support of Plymouth initiatives.
Collaborate with insurance broker to review contract language regarding insurance requirements
Manage security and security strategies for the organization.
Review and analyze incidents, accidents, and claims to identify trends and opportunities for training and/or process improvements to reduce risk.
Review reports with appropriate department(s) and PSO and initiate actions to mitigate recurrences.
Lead efforts to identify and mitigate property and liability risks.
Review contracts for risk identification; review and approve insurance requirements, indemnification clauses, and hold harmless clauses on various Plymouth leases, contracts; request for construction bids, vendor agreements, agreements with service organizations, and resident associations.
Review contracts for risk policy.
Monitor compliance with Labor & Industries (L&I), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and other life/safety regulations; work directly with the regulators and perform organizational audits of regulatory compliance.
In partnership with appropriate departments, oversee litigation and complaints related to risk, safety and health.
Provide guidance on landlord-tenant matters, including lease agreements and compliance, rent collection issues, tenant disputes, eviction process, and Fair housing compliance.
Represent the agency in landlord-tenant litigation, including eviction proceedings.
Assess and mitigate potential legal risks, offer guidance to property management teams on compliance and tenant conduct.
Draft, review and update lease agreements, notices, and related Housing documents and templates.
Work closely with Property management, Quality Innovation & Health, and Executive leadership to resolve legal issues involving residents or agency operations.
Advise property management, Quality Innovation & Health, People Strategy & Operations and Executive leadership on legal matters impacting daily operations.
Build and maintains strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including community partners, resident leaders, and government agencies.