Merakey Jobs

Working Title: Senior Associate General Counsel

Job Class: Staff Attorney 3

Agency: Housing Finance Agency

• Job ID : 81806

• Location : St. Paul

• Telework Eligible : Yes, with intermittent trips to the office and other work locations. Teleworking employees are required to live in Minnesota or in a state bordering Minnesota.

• Full/Part Time : Full-Time

• Regular/Temporary : Unlimited

• Who May Apply : Open to all qualified job seekers

• Date Posted : 11/14/2024

• Closing Date : 11/26/2024

• Hiring Agency/Seniority Unit : Housing Finance Agency

• Division/Unit : Legal & Risk Management

• Work Shift/Work Hours : Day Shift

• Days of Work : Monday - Friday

• Travel Required : No

• Salary Range: $42.31 - $62.75 / hourly; $88,343 - $131,022 / annually

• Classified Status : Classified

• Bargaining Unit/Union : Minnesota Association of Professional Employees (MAPE)

• Designated in Connect 700 Program for Applicants with Disabilities (https://mn.gov/mmb/careers/diverse-workforce/people-with-disabilities/connect700/) : Yes

The work you'll do is more than just a job.

At the State of Minnesota, employees play a critical role in developing policies, providing essential services, and working to improve the well-being and quality of life for all Minnesotans. The State of Minnesota is committed to equity and inclusion, and invests in employees by providing benefits, support resources, and training and development opportunities.

At the State of Minnesota, employees play a critical role in developing policies, providing essential services, and working to improve the well-being and quality of life for all Minnesotans. The State of Minnesota is committed to equity and inclusion, and invests in employees by providing benefits, support resources, and training and development opportunities.

Minnesota Housing is hiring! We’re a mission-focused financial institution looking for a Senior Associate General Counsel will provide Minnesota Housing with legal advice and guidance, with a primary focus on the activities of the Single Family division, which includes affordable housing homeownership programs, home improvement programs, community initiatives programs, and related state agency issues.

This is a varied and interesting position for an experienced attorney to work in a state agency that is also an independent entity with a complex business model related to single family lending. This role will advise on issues related to the Single Family division’s affordable homeownership programs that fill a financing gap in the housing market by focusing on communities most impacted, including Black, Indigenous, and communities of color. On an annual basis, over $1 billion is committed through the Agency’s homeownership programs to support financing for home mortgages, down payment and closing cost assistance, home improvement, community development, disaster recovery, and homebuyer education and counseling. This position includes navigating federal requirements, state requirements in both statute and rule, and contractual relationships with third parties.

Essential Job Duties

• Provide legal advice on federal and state laws, regulations, and standards that impact Minnesota Housing single family lending products and services, which includes, but are not limited to, federal and state consumer protection laws, Minnesota statutes and rules, and program requirements.

• Provide legal advice and guidance specifically for the Agency’s Homeownership Programs, Home Improvement Programs, and Community Initiatives Programs.

• Collaborate with the Minnesota Housing Legal team, internal and external partners, and division staff and management to assess the legal, regulatory, and reputational risks associated with Minnesota Housing single family products and services, develop approaches/recommendations for managing such risks, and provide sound legal opinions.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

To be qualified for and considered for this position, applicants must meet all of the minimum qualifications listed below. Ensure that your resume contains descriptions of your work experiences sufficient for comparison against the requirements stated below and indicate the beginning and ending month and year for each job held.

Only applicants whose resumes clearly demonstrate fulfillment of each of these minimum qualifications will be considered for this position.

• Four (4) years of progressively responsible legal experience. At least one (1) year of experience in affordable housing, real estate, mortgage lending, consumer protections, or other legal area relevant to the position (please provide an explanation of how your experience is related to this position if not in one of the listed topics).

• Law degree from an accredited law school.

• Member of the Minnesota state bar or, if a member of another state bar, plan to be admitted to the Minnesota state bar within one year of hire.

• Excellent legal research, analysis, and writing skills.

• Ability to understand and explain federal and state laws, rules, regulations, policies and programs.

• Highly developed communication skills, including persuasion, presentation, problem-solving and trust-building, and the achievement of successful working relationships with management, employees and outside organizations and outside counsel.

• Demonstrated commitment to equity.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity and experience with, or demonstrated interested in, laws and regulations related to mortgage lending and/or consumer protection.

• Experience in affordable housing.

• Experience developing legal approaches to address inequities.

• Ability to provide advice and engage in strategic leadership on matters that impact assigned practice areas.

• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with peers and superiors and to work within the Agency and among other agencies and organizations to identify issues and resolve problems.

Physical Requirements

This position requires occasional transporting of articles such as file folders, ledgers and/or small tools.

Additional Requirements

This position requires successful completion of the following:

• Reference Checks.

• Job related background checks.

• Conflict of Interest Disclosure.

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Minnesota State Colleges and Universities is an Equal Opportunity employer/educator committed to the principles of diversity. We prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their race, sex, color, creed, religion, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or membership in a local commission as defined by law. As an affirmative action employer, we actively seek and encourage applications from women, minorities, persons with disabilities, and individuals with protected veteran status.

Reasonable accommodations will be made to all qualified applicants with disabilities. If you are an individual with a disability who needs assistance or cannot access the online job application system, please contact the job information line at 651-259-3637 or email careers@state.mn.us . Please indicate what assistance is needed.