Senior Legal Advisor

About the role

The Senior Legal Advisor will serve as a key partner across the organization, providing legal expertise on a wide range of housing-related, procurement, and operational matters. This includes advising on complex legal scenarios, drafting and negotiating contracts, and overseeing public records compliance.

Responsibilities

• Serves as a senior legal advisor to KCHA executive leadership on complex and emerging legal issues affecting agency operations, strategic decision making, and policy development.
• Advises leadership and development teams on agency's complex development and construction related transactions, including financings, encumbrances, construction matters, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) programs, and other associated legal and risk related matters.
• Crafts and implements KCHA policy, communication.
• Advises leadership on opportunities, risks, and compliance requirements associated with federal housing programs and funding sources, including strategic planning and implementation related to federal program policies including Moving to Work and Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program.
• Directs and manages the Agency’s Procurement function and staff; develops, interprets, and implements procurement policies and procedures grounded in comprehensive legal analysis of applicable local, state, and federal laws and regulations.
• Leads strategy to increase small and underrepresented contractor access to KCHA contracting opportunities.
• Responds to audits, investigations, or HUD inquiries related to procurement compliance.
• Revises and improves the standard form HUD contracts and negotiates with outside partners including HUD regarding various contractual issues to manage risk and advance agency interests.
• Provides legal and managerial oversight of agency staff, policies, and practices governing public records requests and the retention, preservation, and disposition of records, in compliance with the Washington Public Records Act and other applicable laws.
• Manages contractual relationships with outside legal counsel and advises staff on strategic use of outside counsel resources; oversees some litigation management.
• Advises Authority personnel with respect to impacts from and implementation of proposed legislation and new policies; makes presentations to internal and external groups as needed; provides information to executive staff and board as needed regarding changes in laws.
• Drafts, revises, and edits contract documents for program personnel in various Authority programs; reviews and approves forms related to contracts executed by the CEO or other executive staff on behalf of the Authority; recommends revisions as necessary; drafts special contracts as needed.
• Supervises and evaluates the performance of assigned staff; interviews and selects employees and recommends transfers, reassignment, termination and disciplinary actions; plans, coordinates, and arranges for appropriate training of subordinates.

Qualifications and Competencies

• Juris Doctorate AND Extensive experience with procurement operations, contract management, and providing legal advice on complex housing-related matters including policy development and regulatory compliance.
• Comprehensive legal knowledge, including a deep understanding of state, county and federal laws and regulations related to Authority operations, including legal/regulatory requirements, technical documentation, and best practices for procurement systems, project management, and contracting.
• Demonstrated ability to provide strong leadership in a dynamic, highly regulated work environment.
• Proven success in building productive and engaged work teams with a focus on mentoring and nurturing staff development.
• Extensive communication skills, including a high degree of emotional intelligence and conflict-resolution experience.
• Strong critical-thinking and analytical skills, with the ability to evaluate information, to make timely and nuanced decisions, and to apply business and operational priorities in weighing risk-managed outcomes.
• Capable of managing multiple legal matters in a dynamic environment while considering costs, risks, and organizational impact.
• Proven ability to collaborate effectively with internal and external stakeholders, senior and executive leadership, while fostering teamwork to achieve common goals.
• Ability to use independent judgment and discretion in performing duties and responsibilities; exercises initiative, provides leadership, and demonstrates sound judgment in analyzing situations.
• Values open-mindedness, inclusion, and diverse perspectives, recognizing multiple ways of knowing, thinking, and being; fosters a work environment that embraces and appreciates diversity, treats others with respect, and promotes cooperation.
• Proficiency with MS Office to include Word, Excel, Outlook, and database software.

Special Requirements

• Possession of Washington State Bar Association license is required upon hire.
• Final candidates may be required to complete a criminal background check in accordance with applicable law.
• This position requires regular travel between work sites; candidates must be able to meet these travel requirements through reliable transportation.

Work Environment

• After initial onboarding, this role will have the opportunity to work remotely up to 60% in accordance with the KCHA's flexible work arrangements; however, remote work conditions will be reviewed on a regular basis based on business and program need.
• Employees must reside in Washington State and have the ability to report to the Central Office in Tukwila as required based on business need.
• Some local travel may be required to support KCHA business needs.
• Physical Work Environment: Incumbent(s) must be able to meet the physical requirements of the classification and have mobility, balance, coordination, vision, hearing and dexterity levels appropriate to the functions performed. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Equal Opportunity

King County Housing Authority is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.