JOB SUMMARY: Under the general supervision of the Chief General Counsel or designee, the Senior Associate General Counsel manages a wide array of legal matters essential to protecting the legal interests of the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) and its subsidiary and affiliate organizations, while ensuring compliance with all applicable laws. The ideal candidate will demonstrate a proactive, organized, and solutions-oriented approach to providing legal advice and counsel and will actively support the Authority’s mission, vision, and values while enhancing workplace culture for internal and external stakeholders.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Daily in-office attendance is essential due to the highly unpredictable and rapidly changing nature of the job and the number of in-person and spontaneous meetings and assignments, the need to access hardcopy documents and files not readily available offsite, the need to shadow and/or provide other co-workers with hands-on training and instruction, the need to quickly locate and engage with co-workers who are on-site but not readily available by phone or email, the need to interact face-to-face and maintain a constant presence in the office to assist walk-in clients (both internal and external) and to build trust and rapport amongst colleagues while developing stronger interpersonal relationships that facilitate solid, trustworthy, and productive teamwork within the department and throughout the Authority as a whole.
- Provide legal advice and counsel on a wide array of legal issues (e.g., housing, evictions, real estate, construction, labor & employment, personal injury, transactional/contractual matters, corporate, bankruptcy, foreclosure, Section 1983 litigation, among other areas).
- Represent CMHA in mediations, arbitrations, administrative hearings, trials, and other court proceedings.
- Manage and oversee all phases of litigation, including pleadings, discovery, motion practice, trial preparation, appeals, and drafting and negotiating settlement agreements.
- Conduct legal research and analysis to support litigation strategies and ensure compliance with relevant laws.
- Collaborate with external/outside counsel, as needed, to manage various litigation matters.
- Provide comprehensive pre- and post- litigation counseling to mitigate risks and potential liability.
- Provide daily advice and counsel to the Disability and Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Coordinators.
- Process, review, manage, and respond to subpoenas and public records requests.
- Collaborate with various internal departments to ensure effective handling of legal matters and consistent application of policies and procedures.
- Prepare and present training for CMHA staff on various legal topics, including legal compliance and risk mitigation strategies.
- Manage and facilitate various assigned projects independently and assist in training and mentoring less experienced in-house attorneys.
- Assist the transactional attorneys, as needed, with drafting, reviewing, negotiating, and revising a broad range of contracts/agreements and other legal and transactional documents.
- Maintain up-to-date knowledge of legal trends and developments affecting CMHA’s operations.
- Must be proactive and detail-oriented, with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines effectively.
- Must possess strong oral and writing skills to effectively communicate complex risk and legal concepts to various stakeholders, including executives, staff, and external vendors.
- Ability to artfully influence and persuade logically, cogently, and persuasively. This requires a diplomatic approach while remaining focused on the Authority’s goals and priorities.
- Perform other duties as assigned due to the ever-changing needs of the department.
- The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and essential functions of work being performed by employees assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by personnel so classified.
EDUCATION: Juris Doctorate Degree required. Must be admitted to the Ohio and Federal Bar for the Northern District of Ohio.
EXPERIENCE:Minimum of ten (10) years of legal experience, preferably in a public sector or housing authority environment. An understanding of public housing law and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development regulations is desired.
SKILLS:
- Strong understanding of laws, regulations, and best practices related to a broad range of legal matters.
- Excellent communication, negotiation, and organizational skills.
- Proactive, detail-oriented, and capable of managing multiple matters simultaneously.
- Strong legal research and writing skills.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.
- Demonstrated ability to build positive relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe software, Lexis, Clio timekeeping, Axon, and Yardi.
OTHER: Possession of a valid Ohio Vehicle Operator’s license and insurability under CMHA standards.
The qualifications listed above are guidelines. Other combinations of education and experience that could provide the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the job will be considered.
ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT: The Office of Legal Affairs provides strategic counsel on legal, business and operational matters to advance the Authority’s mission and strategy. Members are passionate about the Authority’s mission and strive to advance the mission, vision and values to internal and external stakeholders. The Department represents CMHA in all legal matters, including litigation, compliance with state and federal regulations, labor and employment issues and matters affecting the business operations of the Authority.
Pay: $85,000.00 - $105,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Loan forgiveness
- Paid time off
- Professional development assistance
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Application Question(s):
- Do you have experience advising executive leadership on complex legal matters and managing litigation cases independently?
Education:
Experience:
- Legal counsel: 8 years (Required)
- labor and employment law: 5 years (Required)
- eviction: 5 years (Required)
- litigation: 7 years (Required)
License/Certification:
- Driver License (Required)
Shift availability:
Work Location: In person
