GENERAL COUNSEL POSITION (Application Deadline: March 18, 2014)
Duties:
The General Counsel reports directly to the Undersecretary and is responsible for advising the Undersecretary and the staff of the Department on legal and policy issues; supervising and managing the staff of the Office of the General Counsel (OGC); coordinating legal matters and activities throughout the Department, as well as with the General Counsel of the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development (EOHED) and the Governor’s Office of Legal Counsel. The General Counsel is responsible for reviewing any official action of the Undersecretary or the Department for legal adequacy. The General Counsel is responsible for the oversight of the development and implementation of legislation, regulations, policies and procedures, forms and legal opinions, to ensure their compliance with federal and state mandates as well as their effective and accurate implementation by Dept. of Housing & Community Development (DHCD). The position involves the application of a mix of legal, managerial and policy expertise. The General Counsel represents the Undersecretary and the Department in interagency and outside meetings as required and communicates directly with stakeholders and the public regarding legal matters.
The General Counsel directly, or through oversight, participates in the negotiation and approval of contracts, agreements, and memoranda of understanding between DHCD and other governmental and private entities. The General Counsel serves as the Department’s legal representative for disputes or lawsuits including coordination with the Office of the Attorney General or other investigatory agency in the event of litigation or an internal investigation. The General Counsel also assists in the design and delivery of training of agency policy and practice to DHCD staff, as well as stakeholders.
The General Counsel provides input into setting agency priorities and performance strategies and participates in strategy sessions with senior managers. He/she sensitizes, educates and informs DHCD staff relative to potential legal issues in the administration of DHCD programs and policies and the utilization of Department funds. The General Counsel works with Undersecretary, Chief Financial Officer and Key State Finance Law Compliance appointees to ensure Department compliance with state finance law requirements. He/she identifies state finance law and other legal requirements applicable to the Department and assists in the development of appropriate staff training to support staff compliance.
The General Counsel ensures that all written and electronic communications from the Office of the Comptroller, Executive Office for Administration and Finance, Governor’s Office of Legal Counsel, and other applicable oversight agencies are disseminated to the appropriate Department personnel in a timely manner.
Duties include:
1. For the Undersecretary, Department divisions and staff, and for the EOHED General Counsel and the Governor’s Office, as necessary, frames legal questions and provides answers with analysis that includes policy and programmatic implications, provides legal advice to DHCD divisions and staff on agency policies and initiatives or the resolution of issues that set precedent and troubleshoot legal issues that cross all DHCD divisions.
2. Manages operations and staff of the OGC.
3. Drafts regulations, legal policies, procedures, forms and notices for agency; conducts legal research and drafts memoranda of law; reviews documents, such as contracts and Request for Responses (RFRs).
4. Reviews and makes recommendations to the Undersecretary and Governor’s Office on legislation filed by other parties that is related to housing, community development and/or municipal governance.
5. Responds to correspondence received by Undersecretary and Deputy Undersecretary relating to legal and procedural issues.
6. Drafts legislation for the Department including annual budget line item language and provides an analysis of any difference between legislation ultimately passed by the Legislature and legislation submitted by the Department/Administration.
7. Advises on matters of alleged fraud, waste and abuse involving staff, grantees, or sub-recipients.
8. Oversee the Public Record Requests response process.
Qualifications:
MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS: Applicants must have at least (A) five years of full-time, or equivalent part-time, supervisory or managerial experience in the particular specialty (i.e. scientific, professional, or technical) and (B) of which at least two years must have been in a managerial capacity. The above entrance requirements are to be used only for positions for which educational and/or experience requirements have not been established by the General Laws. Entrance requirements established for particular positions by law must be used.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: Applicants must possess current licensure and/or registration requirements established for the performance of the duties of the position.
Preferred Qualifications:
1. A minimum of 15 years of experience with housing and community development programs of which at least 5 must be as legal counsel.
2. At least 5 years of progressively responsible experience in managing staff.
3. Knowledge of state and federal housing and community development programs; ability to blend policy and programmatic concerns and practicalities into legal advice and recommendations.
How To Apply:
Please mail 2 copies of both your cover letter and resume referencing CEO # J39919 EXT RES to:
Department of Housing and Community Development
Human Resources Department
Reference: General Counsel
100 Cambridge Street, Suite 300
Boston, MA 02114-2524
Fax: (617) 573-1299
TTY: (617) 573-1140
To ensure consideration, resume and cover letter must be postmarked by midnight on the deadline date. Please reference posting ID number on all correspondence.
Please help the environment, by not mailing and faxing your resume and cover letter – only do one or the other. Thank you for your help.
Agency Web Address: http://www.mass.gov/dhcd/
Diversity Officer: Ms. Nancy DePaul, (617) 573-1100
An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.
