Paralegal – Preservation of Affordable Housing, Inc. (Deadline: August 14, 2015)

About POAH: Preservation of Affordable Housing, Inc. (POAH) is a national non‐profit committed to preserving “at risk” affordable rental housing around the country. Based in Boston, with branch offices in Chicago and Washington D.C., POAH is a growing entrepreneurial organization which currently owns and manages over 8,500 affordable rental homes for low‐income families and seniors in nine states and the District of Columbia. On average, resident incomes in POAH communities are only 30% of area median incomes.

POAH’s reach is national in scope, and its pursuit of the preservation mission is empowered by a focus on the business bottom line. Its strong reputation has resulted from a demonstrated ability to craft complex financial transactions, tackle tough multi‐family projects, and close deals that preserve the affordability of ‘at risk’ properties. The organization and its leaders are at the forefront of policy and legislative discussions around housing preservation, affordable housing finance and regulatory reform.

About the Opportunity: POAH is seeking a Boston-based Legal/Paralegal/Closing Associate to work with its legal team, in addition to supporting its asset management staff and development and acquisitions staff with loan and property closings. The legal team is responsible for managing the corporate legal needs of the company as well as supporting the legal aspects of deal and loan closings.

The Associate will serve in an important role by providing general legal and business administrative assistance to POAH staff members relative to:

• Legal document filing / record keeping for POAH
• Tracking and managing real estate tax and insurance requirements of owned properties
• Managing the process of forming and maintaining ownership / corporate entities
• Real estate closing document preparation and coordination with real estate development staff
• Maintenance of real estate tax exemptions
• Special projects as assigned by the General Counsel/Managing Director Acquisitions and Deputy Corporate Counsel
• Work collaboratively with property management in supporting their business activities and communicate frequently and candidly with colleagues and retained professionals for successful outcomes
• Keeping track of key acquisition dates in the purchase and sale agreements, preparing summaries for each deal, and backing up the project managers in knowing when the dates are coming due, and acting to comply with the terms of the purchase and sale agreements, e.g. extending deposits, circulating copies, sending checks, etc. as needed.
• Maintaining active CCR registrations and DUNS numbers for ownership entities across the portfolio (per 2011 federal guidelines)
• Processing invoices for POAH’s registered agents for services provided (certified org. docs & other docs. produced during closing / refinancings)
• Title/survey – engagement of provider and review on as needed basis.
• Review of investor Letter of Intent and portions of investor Limited Partnership Agreements on an as needed basis
• Aiding the personnel department in tracking HR compliance matters
• Providing expert and easy to understand technical advice to all staff members involving matters of law within the affordable multifamily housing business.

Required Education and Experience:

• B.A. or B.S. required (Paralegal certification helpful but not required)
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in real estate related work; as a Paralegal or closing associate in a real estate related company or law firm
• Expert proficiency in use of computers including Word and Excel. Experience with the HUD 2530 system and other legal-based technology helpful but not required.
• Familiarity with basic concepts of real estate law, particularly experience with multifamily real estate closings and associated legal documentation (mortgages, notes, loan agreements, deeds, regulatory agreements, subsidy, etc.);
• Similar direct equivalent experience with a national law, mortgage or real estate firm helpful but not required.

Skills: Candidates should have demonstrated ability in some or all of the following areas:

• Perform database management and administration;
• Organizational skills
• Manage projects and tasks independently;
• Scrupulous attention to detail;
• Prepare written summaries and briefings of assigned tasks for internal and external dissemination;
• Communicate effectively in person and in writing;
• Perform administrative tasks to support staff members;
• Demonstrate a high degree of accuracy and initiative in work assignments;
• Independently manage simultaneous and competing activities and demands on your time, and
• Remain organized and meet deadlines.

Salaries are competitive and commensurate with experience. Interested individuals should send a resume with a cover letter to jobs2@poah.org as soon as possible but with receipt no later than August 14, 2015.