General Counsel

A mission-driven public sector agency focused on housing and community development is seeking an experienced General Counsel to lead its Legal Department. This position serves as the chief legal officer, advising executive leadership and overseeing a wide array of legal functions. Areas of practice include housing and landlord-tenant matters, labor and employment law, public procurement, real estate development, union negotiations, regulatory compliance, and oversight of federally and state-funded programs.

Key Responsibilities:

Litigation & Housing Law

• Serve as lead attorney in all legal matters, with a primary focus on landlord-tenant litigation in Housing Court.
• Manage high-volume summary process cases and represent the agency at internal hearings, grievance processes, and administrative proceedings.
• Oversee reasonable accommodation requests in compliance with fair housing laws, including conducting interactive meetings and issuing written decisions.
• Lead or support termination hearings and resolve tenant and landlord disputes through legal and strategic channels.

Legal Advisory & Risk Management

• Advise executive leadership, board members, and department heads on legal strategy and risk mitigation.
• Provide written legal opinions and research on issues spanning procurement, real estate, construction, ethics, and employment.
• Respond to public records requests in accordance with applicable laws.
• Identify organizational legal risks and recommend proactive strategies to address them.

Contracts, Policies & Regulatory Oversight

• Draft, review, and negotiate a variety of contracts, including those related to construction, grants, services, and personnel.
• Maintain and update agency policies and ensure alignment with federal and state housing regulations.
• Monitor statutory, regulatory, and case law developments, interpreting and applying them to the agency’s operations and policies.

Employment & Labor Relations

• Support labor negotiations and contribute to the development of collective bargaining agreements.
• Counsel HR leadership on employment issues, workplace investigations, and disciplinary actions.
• Ensure compliance with labor laws and advise on staff-related legal matters.

Leadership & Training

• Supervise attorneys, paralegals, and administrative staff within the Legal Department.
• Provide ongoing legal training for internal teams across functional areas.
• Coordinate with outside counsel and government agencies on legal matters, claims, and litigation.

1. Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school and active license to practice in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, in good standing.
2. Minimum of 5 years of experience practicing law in Massachusetts, including litigation and housing law.
3. Deep knowledge of Massachusetts landlord-tenant law, administrative law, and applicable state/federal housing regulations (HUD/EOHLC).
4. Experience in employment law, collective bargaining, and labor relations are strongly preferred.
5. Demonstrated ability to manage complex legal issues and deliver clear legal guidance to non-legal audiences.
6. Superior written and verbal communication skills, including negotiation, presentation, and public speaking abilities.
7. Excellent interpersonal skills; ability to work with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.
8. Strong leadership and supervisory skills; ability to manage staff and work collaboratively across departments.

9. High proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams).
10. Ability to be dependable, punctual, and maintain confidentiality and discretion in sensitive matters.