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 givin