General Counsel

About This Role

The General Counsel serves as the chief legal officer of National Community Renaissance of California and its affiliated entities, providing enterprise-wide legal and risk leadership for a nonprofit affordable housing organization. The role requires an attorney who can develop a working understanding of unfamiliar issues, connect legal analysis with operational and financial considerations, and provide practical recommendations. Success depends on sound judgment, effective collaboration, and the ability to determine which matters to handle directly, delegate internally, or address through specialized outside counsel.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the principal legal advisor to executive leadership and the Boards
• Identify material legal risks, present practical options, and provide timely advice on decisions affecting multiple entities or business units
• Help resolve competing legal and operational priorities and escalate significant matters with clear recommendations
• Work directly with departments to understand their objectives, investigate issues, analyze legal and business risks, and develop practical plans for addressing them
• Oversee legal support for nonprofit, corporate, partnership, and limited liability company governance
• Advise on Board and committee responsibilities, fiduciary duties, conflicts of interest, related-party transactions, and appropriate approval processes
• Lead and develop a growing Legal Department through collaboration, clear expectations, thoughtful delegation, and shared accountability
• Establish consistent procedures for retaining, managing, and evaluating outside counsel
• Manage the legal budget, fee arrangements, invoice review, matter reporting, and allocation of legal costs with Finance
• Oversee legal support for acquisitions, dispositions, development, rehabilitation, leases, easements, title matters, and ownership structures
• Coordinate legal advice concerning land use, entitlements, permitting, environmental review, and remediation obligations
• Advise on refinancing, resyndication, rehabilitation, partnership exits, defaults, workouts, and preservation of existing assets
• Oversee negotiation, drafting, and administration of significant commercial agreements
• Provide legal oversight for owned and third-party managed housing operations
• Advise Human Resources and management on employment policies, personnel decisions, wage and hour matters, leave and accommodations, workplace investigations, labor relations, separations, and employment claims
• Oversee enterprise litigation, claims, administrative proceedings, and internal or external investigations
• Provide legal oversight and guidance for applicable laws, regulations, financing requirements, and contractual obligations across jurisdictions
• Partner with Risk Management, Finance, business leaders, brokers, and insurers to assess enterprise exposure
• Participate in strategic planning and evaluate the legal implications of acquisitions, mergers, divestitures, joint ventures, restructurings, and new business initiatives
• Advise on interactions with public agencies, regulators, lenders, investors, and other stakeholders
• Oversee legal advice concerning software and technology agreements, intellectual property, confidentiality, privacy, cybersecurity incidents, and records retention
• Develop and review corporate policies with responsible departments, provide practical training, and improve processes for obtaining legal advice

Requirements

• J.D. from an accredited law school and active membership in good standing with the California Bar
• Demonstrated ability to learn unfamiliar areas of law and business, synthesize information across disciplines, and apply sound legal and business judgment to complex organizational decisions
• At least 15 years of progressively responsible legal experience, with substantial experience advising executives and managing complex corporate, transactional, regulatory, or litigation matters
• Ability to lead collaboratively, develop people, and build the capabilities of a growing legal team
• Broad legal experience and the ability to oversee matters spanning corporate governance, commercial contracts, employment, litigation, real estate, financing, construction, property management, compliance, and risk management
• Strong negotiation, writing, communication, and analytical skills; demonstrated discretion, independence, sound judgment, and ability to manage confidential matters
• Commitment to National CORE’s mission and ability to build trusted relationships with Boards, executives, employees, and external stakeholders

Benefits

• Professional growth and knowledge sharing opportunities
• Support for training and development
• Collaborative work environment

Important Details

• Work environment: Professional office environment with potential travel to National CORE offices, properties, meetings, Board or committee sessions, trainings, and organizational events

Application Process

• Submit your application through the designated platform

About the Company

National Community Renaissance of California is a nonprofit affordable housing organization focused on development, construction, property management, asset management, resident services, and other business activities.