Senior Executive Vice President and General Counsel

Summary

Under the direction of the Executive Director, District of Columbia Housing Authority, the Senior Executive Vice President and General Counsel oversees the overall direction and management of the Office of the General Counsel (“OGC”) and ensures the District of Columbia Housing Authority (“DCHA” or “Authority”) and its subsidiaries receive the highest standard of legal representation as DCHA carries out its mandate as fund administrator, contract negotiator, landlord, leasing agent, developer, employer, development agency, and housing authority.  The Senior Executive Vice President and General Counsel is responsible for day-to-day oversight of OGC staff and work assignments.  The incumbent oversees the development of and compliance with internal operating procedures that establish a customer service-oriented approach to managing the legal issues of DCHA.

All activities support the District of Columbia Housing Authority's mission, strategic goals, and objectives and produce results that accomplish the goals of the Office of the General Counsel.

This position is designated as essential.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The below statements are intended to describe the general nature and scope of work being performed by this position.  This is not a complete listing of all responsibilities, duties and/or skills required. Other duties may be assigned.

• Serves as the chief legal advisor to the Executive Director and all Department Heads/Cabinet Members on all legal matters involving or relating to the DCHA. Legal matters may include but certainly not limited to litigation, public housing law, Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCVP) legal issues, real estate development, labor/employment, risk management/insurance, landlord and tenant issues, procurement, D.C. law, personnel, and other administrative functions.
• Establishes policies, guidelines and performance standards for execution with the Office of the General Counsel (OGC); monitors and evaluates OGC operations and special activities for efficiency, effectiveness, and compliance with policies and procedures and determines goals and objectives that need additional emphasis; revises the same as necessary.

• Charged with full responsibility for conducting the legal business of the DCHA and all suits instituted by and against the DCHA and furnishes interpretations, orally and in writing, to the Executive Director or Department Heads when requested.
• Serves as the DCHA general liaison to the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia in all matters related to the DCHA and meets with the Executive Director to report progress.
• Supervises and directs litigation strategies in consultation with the Executive Director, for all DCHA affirmative and defensive litigation before any judicial or administrative body.
• Serves as ethics counsel for the agency with respect to HUD and District requirements governing the same.
• Responsible for the development, preparation and monitoring of the OGC annual budget in consultation with the Executive Director and Director of Finance.
• Coordinates as necessary with the D.C. Council and other D.C. agencies, the Metropolitan Police Department, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of the Inspector General, DC and Federal Office of Attorney General, and other law enforcement agencies. Attends meetings, hearings, conferences and other official gatherings of the DCHA as requested by the Executive Director, to provide legal advice on policies and procedures that have potential implications for the DCHA.
• As deemed necessary, assists in the preparation and review of all relevant contracts, grants, notes, agreements and other legal instruments between the DCHA and other parties.
• Reviews documents for compliance with all applicable Federal and local requirements.
• Reviews all DCHA audits of fiscal and other program areas and reports results issued to the Executive Director.
• Directs the preparation of and/or prepares recurring and special reports as requested by the Executive Director.
• Oversees risk management for DCHA and DCHA-affiliated entities.
• Manages and effectively utilizes employees of OGC. This includes overseeing the assignment and review of work, utilization of personnel to accomplish work objectives and to develop increased capabilities of employees, development of quantitative and qualitative measures for evaluating the performance of each subordinate employee, rating employees performance in accordance with established standards, recommending personnel actions, interviewing and selecting new employees, approving/disapproving leave, investigating complaints and resolving differences between employees and groups of employees, providing training and giving such other guidance as needed to assure the expeditious accomplishment of work and the development and maintenance of competent staff.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Job Competencies

Expert knowledge and extensive experience in the following areas:

• Board & Executive Counsel: Provide legal opinions and policy recommendations directly to the Board of Commissioners and Executive Director, often ensuring compliance with public meetings, conflicts of interest, and ethics laws.
• Real Estate & Development: Structure and negotiate complex real estate transactions, tax credit developments, and mixed-finance and HUD repositioning conversion tools, such as but not limited to Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) and/or Section 18 Demolition/Disposition projects.

• Regulatory Compliance: Interpret and implement federal, state, and local housing regulations, including, Fair Housing laws, by interpreting requirements and aligning DCHA policies, procedures, goals, objectives, operational entities, requirements and activities accordingly.   
• Litigation & Risk Management: Oversee the legal department and manage outside counsel. Direct all agency legal proceedings, whether litigated internally or via outside counsel. Litigation proceedings include but are not limited to evictions, contract disputes, and tort claims.

• Contract & Procurement: Advise on matters involving HUD and District procurement requirements, including review of solicitations, contracts, and related agreements.

Education and/or Experience

Juris Doctorate degree and at least seven (7) years of civil, public, or corporate legal experience, with specific preference for background in public housing authority laws, HUD guidelines, and affordable housing financing or related experience equivalent combination of education and experience which meet the minimum qualifications requirement.  Must be admitted to practice and in good standing in the District of Columbia or a member in good standing of another state of the United States and eligible to waive into the bar of the District of Columbia. If the latter, the application to waiver into DC must be submitted promptly upon hiring by DCHA.

This position is designated as “essential”.

The District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA) conducts pre-employment screening on specified positions, which may include but is not limited to a criminal background check, drug and alcohol testing, verification of academic credentials, licenses, and certifications, and/or verification of work history. 

This position has been designated by the department to require criminal background check and verification of academic credentials, licenses, and certifications, verification of work history, reasonable suspicion drug and alcohol test, and post-accident or incident drug and alcohol test.

Finalist(s) for this position will be required to consent to a pre-employment background check as a condition of employment.

Computer Skills

To perform this job successfully, an individual should have strong computer skills (MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, and MS Outlook).  Strong negotiation, analytical, and communication skills, with the ability to manage a team of attorneys and legal staff. Must be able to learn other computer software programs as required by assigned tasks

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit and talk or listen. The employee is occasionally required to stand and walk. The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

WorkEnvironment

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.

Salary

The compensation for this role is commensurate with the candidate's qualifications and experience.