Associate General Counsel - Real Estate and Impact Investing at Habitat for Humanity

The Associate General Counsel – Real Estate and Impact Investing is a member of the HFHI Legal Department and would report to the Deputy General Counsel, International. This attorney would focus on finance and real estate issues and programs relevant to our approximately 1,000 U.S. based Habitat for Humanity affiliates.

The primary function of the role will be to provide legal counsel and support for Habitat Mortgage Solutions™ (HMS), a nationally certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) certified in 2017. HMS is a wholly owned entity of Habitat for Humanity International and was created to primarily serve our domestic network of community affiliates. HMS provides an array of services to Habitat affiliates to support their work as affordable mortgage originators, real estate developers, homebuilders, mortgage financed real estate developers, and partners for housing and community solutions.

Position location: Atlanta, GA preferred, will also consider our Washington D.C. office.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• 60%: Lead in-house attorney for Habitat Mortgage Solutions (HMS): Real Estate Development and Homebuilding Financing, Investor and Donor Relations, Asset and Portfolio Management, Product Development and Program Management and General Legal Support, Habitat-operated Mortgage Origination Platform for Habitat affiliate originated mortgages, Primary (consumer-facing) and Secondary (business-to-business) Mortgage Financing, Real Estate Development and Financing, Investor and Donor Relations, Investment and Grant Compliance, Asset and Portfolio Management, Product Development and Program Management and General Legal Support. Specific duties will include:

o Lead attorney to supervise closings for HMS to Affiliate loans including loan document preparation and collateral review;
o Review and advise on governance and legal documents for investor and donor facility structures;
o Provide review, analysis and guidance on consumer mortgage regulatory matters;
o Review of structured credit and secondary market sale programs as well as the development of related legal documents;
o Lead attorney to supervise closings for HMS to Affiliate loans including loan document preparation and collateral review;
o Review and advise on governance and legal documents for investor and donor facility structures;
o Assist with ongoing regulatory matters related to primary regulator of HMS, the CDFI Fund within the Department of Treasury;
o Manage outside counsel relationships for the above ongoing work and special projects as identified by the HMS business team;
o Design and maintenance of efficient program processes;
o Vendor contract management, review and negotiation; and
o General legal support related to impact investment opportunities and related activities.

• 20%: General support for U.S. Affiliates on real estate and other legal matters:

o Provide Affiliates and local counsel on various real estate and consumer mortgage issues, including purchase and sale agreements, lease agreements, easements, licenses and construction contracts;
o Coordinate ongoing review and update of sample real estate and consumer lending documents, disclosures and related documents;
o Provide general legal support to Habitat in areas of real estate acquisition, leasing, finance and related regulatory matters, tax issues, compliance and risk management;
o Assist in development and review of legal content, templates and forms for Habitat for Humanity Knowledge Center, especially with respect to real estate and consumer mortgage lending activities of Affiliates;
o Respond to inquiries from Affiliates on various issues, including legal and policy compliance and risk management;
o Provide support for government (e.g., Department of Treasury and HUD) and impact investor funded programs, as well as technical assistance to U.S. Habitat affiliates accessing federal funds directly from their local grantees, Federal Home Loan Bank affordable housing programs, and state housing finance agency programs.

• 10%: Work as secondary attorney to support Deputy General Counsel, International to support the Terwilliger Center for Innovation in Shelter (TCIS) on global lending and equity transactions.

 

• 10%: Provide other general legal support and perform duties, as requested.

Minimum Required:

• Education: J.D. Degree and license to practice law
• Years of Related Experience: 6-12 years

Qualifications:

• Experience in legal practice with substantial experience in real estate secured financial transactions, such as public finance, corporate finance and syndications.
• Experience with consumer lending financial institutions and products, regulatory compliance and licensing.
• Candidates should have strong leadership, interpersonal and supervisory skills; keen business acumen; excellent judgment and instincts; a self-starter with strong work ethic and a positive outlook.
• Candidates must be comfortable working in a global, humanitarian, Christian organization.

Preferred:

• Experience with CDFIs, the CDFI fund, affordable housing and impact investment.
• Experience with impact investors and international transactions
• Experience with HUD other government funding programs
• Active support of HFHI Values:

o Humility – We are part of something bigger than ourselves
o Courage – We do what’s right, even when it is difficult or unpopular
o Accountability – We take personal responsibility for Habitat’s mission

• Safeguarding: HFHI requires that all employees take seriously their ethical responsibilities to safeguarding our intended beneficiaries, their communities, and all those with whom we work. Managers at all levels have responsibilities to support and develop systems that create and maintain an environment that prevents harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse, safeguards the rights of beneficiaries and community members (especially children), and promotes the implementation of Habitat for Humanity’s code of conduct.