Associate General Counsel

Overview

The Community Builders, Inc. (TCB) is a nationally recognized nonprofit developer, owner, and manager of affordable and mixed-income housing and commercial properties. Founded in 1964, TCB has developed over 33,800 housing units as well as office and retail properties and currently owns or manages over 13,000 units of housing. TCB is currently active in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, and the District of Columbia. TCB’s mission is to build and sustain strong communities where all people can thrive.

TCB’s Legal Department, which is situated in our Boston office, manages all aspects of TCB’s corporate and transactional legal work. The Department consists of 5 attorneys, 2 paralegals, and, from time to time, student interns or clerks. We act as transactional counsel with respect to complex real estate development transactions and, on some projects, engage and oversee outside counsel; form and maintain in excess of 600 affiliated entities; provide or manage all corporate legal services; and provide counsel on legislative and policy matters.

The Associate General Counsel will be a member of the Legal Department and will assist with all aspects of the Department’s work, including transactional deal work, training, contract review and negotiation and other corporate legal services. The position is full time, based in the Boston corporate office at 185 Dartmouth Street. However, this position has potential to work remotely up to three (3) days per week.

Specific responsibilities of the Associate General Counsel are expected to include, without limitation, some or all of the following:

Essential Functions:

• Transactional Practice . The Associate General Counsel will join an in-house transactional practice that includes all aspects of real estate and housing development, including financial structuring, title and real estate conveyancing, zoning analysis, organization of ownership entities including nonprofit and for-profit corporations, LLCs and limited partnerships, and negotiating and closing complex financings involving multiple private and public funding sources. The Associate General Counsel will be responsible for numerous transactional matters and will represent TCB and its affiliates in the acquisition, development, construction, financing, operation and disposition of affordable and mixed income residential and commercial properties.
• Compliance and Management . The Legal Department provides counsel in all aspects of regulatory and legal compliance, as well as in the legal aspects of the operation and management of affordable and mixed-income housing communities and the provision of services to residents. The Associate General Counsel may assist in the provision of advice and counsel regarding such matters and in the development and implementation of corporate and compliance policies, forms, systems and tools to ensure the effective management of legal and other operating risks.
• Corporate Representation, Claims, Litigation . We provide legal representation to TCB and its affiliates on diverse other matters, including various aspects of employment law, fair housing and other occupancy-related matters, and general contracts. The Department is also responsible for tracking and managing third-party claims, which primarily consists of engaging and supervising outside counsel in connection with litigation, defaults, compliance matters, employment matters, fair housing and other occupancy-related matters.
• Legal Entity Formation and Maintenance . We regularly provide advice regarding TCB’s corporate structure, its capital and lending relationships, its 501(c)(3) status, and the formation and maintenance of over 600 subsidiaries and affiliates (including business and nonprofit corporations, partnerships and LLCs) in various states to accomplish TCB’s objectives.
• Legislative and Policy Matters . The Associate General Counsel may be asked to participate in legislative and policy matters in connection with TCB’s mission and operations.
• Staff Training . The Associate General Counsel may be asked to provide assistance to the General Counsel in providing appropriate training and developing form documents for staff in various departments, including real estate development, asset management and property management.

Education & Experience:

• Excellent academic record;
• 7-10 years’ experience as a practicing corporate and/or transactional attorney, with demonstrated ability to manage complex engagements in a team environment;
• Substantial experience with most or all of the following -- affordable housing and community development finance, LIHTC, NMTC and other tax credits, real estate law, zoning and permitting, construction contracts, nonprofit organizations, fair housing, and general corporate and employment law;
• Admission to MA state bar; and
• Demonstrated commitment to affordable housing and community development or related mission-oriented work.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to analyze and solve complex legal problems;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills;
• Effective legal and business judgment in challenging situations;
• Demonstrated ability to be effective in a complex organization;
• Collaborative and respectful management style; and
• Innovative and creative thinker and problem solver.

The Community Builders, Inc. is committed to ensuring diversity in its workplace, and candidates from diverse backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply