General Counsel

Open until filled; first review of applications on Wednesday August 18th.

A resume, cover letter, and answers to the supplemental questions are required to be considered.

As the chief legal officer, the position provides expert legal and strategic advice to Prosper Portland’s Board of Commissioners, Executive Director, executive team, and staff regarding Prosper Portland’s urban renewal, redevelopment and economic development work and to enhance Prosper Portland’s ability to be an agent of positive change as an equitable, innovative, and financially sustainable agency. The position leads attorneys and professional staff within the Legal Department, which is responsible for providing legal advice and representation on a wide variety of legal matters, including complex real estate development and commercial finance projects, Urban Renewal statutes, intergovernmental agreements, employment and collective bargaining laws, litigation, and public procurement. As a member of the Prosper Portland Executive Team, the position demonstrates high-level leadership and works with partners across the city and represents the organization in several external functions to support widely shared prosperity.

Functions and Responsibilities

Essential Responsibilities and Functions

Provides expert legal and strategic advice to Prosper Portland’s Board of Commissioners, Executive Director, management, and staff on a diverse and wide range of Prosper Portland projects, programs, initiatives, financial investments, organizational concerns, and litigation.

Provides legal support regarding a wide range of real estate development transactions (acquisitions and dispositions, long term leases, property redevelopment, construction contracts and development agreements), and commercial finance transactions (secured loans, grants, and tax credit financing).

Provides advice to senior management on the legal risks to be assumed by Prosper Portland in connection with proposed decisions or actions. Serves as a member of Prosper Portland’s Finance and Investment Committee, which reviews proposed real estate and financial commitments for risk and financial soundness.

Leads, manages, empowers, and mentors the Legal Department; supports staff development.

Provides legal advice relating to the formation, amendment, and dissolution of urban renewal areas and urban renewal plans.

Advises Prosper Portland commissioners and staff regarding a variety of public agency, state and federal constitutional and municipal law matters, including public contracting laws, public records law, public meetings law, government ethics, laws governing urban renewal agencies and tax increment financing (ORS 457 and Portland City Charter Chapter 15), and state/federal constitutional limits on public agency actions and authority.

Provides legal services and advice for all other legal matters affecting the agency, including legal matters related to employment, public/government law, business formation and finance, environmental law, etc.

Develops, implements, and monitors work plans with legal staff; plans, organizes, oversees, assigns and evaluates the work to achieve Prosper Portland and the department’s mission, goals, and performance measures.

Assists the Board and Executive Director in policy development and program implementation.

Leads the Legal Department in coordinating the legal work of the Agency. Coordinates a large volume of widely varied projects with a high level of technical complexity; hires and manages outside counsel.

Responsible for ensuring Prosper Portland employees comply with all ethics and conflict of interest laws and policies.

Additional Responsibilities and Functions

Executive sponsor for the Operations Steering Committee.

Oversees and manages the Legal Department budget.

Responsible for management of all litigation matters.

Performs all other relevant duties as assigned.

Additional Information

Job Scope

Provides leadership and overall direction to the Legal Department in alignment with Prosper Portland’s values.

Serves as a member of the executive team supporting, developing, and achieving practices and policies that advance equity and inclusion.

Responsible for managing and motivating the legal staff, creating, and maintaining an inclusive and positive work environment, and supporting staff development.

Accountable for the Legal Department’s performance in all areas including service delivery, compliance with internal policies and procedures, and ethical and legal conduct of staff.

Works independently, applying personal knowledge of legal principles involved in making determinations.

Carries out daily operations, involving moderate to high-level of complexity, with initiative and creativity; exercises sound professional judgment, excellent problem-solving skills, and exemplary interpersonal tact.

Demonstrates sophisticated understanding of the underlying business of the organization and of its funding sources; provides legal and strategic advice regarding agency’s Strategic Plan and Financial Sustainability Plan.

Regularly represents and speaks for the agency in official capacity, such as at commission meetings.

Handles and treat all legal and business matters with the highest level of discretion and confidentiality.

Qualifications & Education

Minimum Knowledge and Skills

Demonstrated knowledge of and experience in analyzing, interpreting, and applying the law in the following areas:

Commercial real estate transactions, including purchase and sale agreements, development agreements, easements, leases, and trust deeds/mortgages;

Tax Increment Financing law;

Commercial finance transaction law, including loan and grant agreements, guarantees, and Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code;

Public law, including laws relating to Oregon public records, public meetings, public contracting, urban renewal, municipal government and finance, and ethics;

The formation and authority of business organizations commonly encountered in the Agency’s real estate and finance transactions.

Advanced negotiation and business skills and a sophisticated understanding of real estate and commercial finance law; experience with public/private partnerships.

Excellent writing and communication skills.

Demonstrated leadership skills including the ability to develop and nurture a healthy and collaborative team environment, support and manage staff, and provide strategic direction.

Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to develop effective and trusting relationships and collaborative partnerships with a variety of internal and external parties.

Demonstrated knowledge of and dedication to advancing racial equity with the ability to lead, mentor and support the Department in this work.

Ability to apply culturally responsive practices to understand, communicate, and work with people across cultures and identities. Models inclusivity in one’s interactions and decisions.

Superior verbal and written communication skills including active listening, facilitation, conflict resolution, the ability to communicate clearly and concisely, and ability to explain the basis for legal advice and alternative strategies to varied audiences.

Advanced management and organizational skills.

Ability to synthesize and judge relative importance of large amounts of complex information on a continuous basis; includes ability to form an opinion and provide advice and guidance where the legal standards are not well defined, or the law is not settled.

Tactful, diplomatic, and discrete in dealing with sensitive, complex, and confidential matters.

Minimum Education and/or Training

Juris doctor degree required. Must be licensed to practice law in the state of Oregon or must obtain a license to practice law in the state of Oregon within the first three months of employment.

Minimum Experience

Ten or more years of progressive legal experience that includes significant commercial real estate transaction work, practicing law with a public entity, and five years of leadership or management experience.

Preferred Training or Experience

Three or more years of experience practicing law with a public entity (e.g. federal, state, local, or other authority). Three or more years of experience practicing real estate law. Demonstrated success at supporting equity and community benefits.

Working Conditions

Normal working hours are 8-5 Monday through Friday in an office environment; however, additional hours, including evening and weekend work, are regularly required to meet deadlines. Attendance at evening and weekend meetings are periodically necessary. Assigned work is often politicized and highly complex. Incumbent must be able to perform effectively under stressful conditions, including uncertain economic and political realities, limited staffing, and tight timelines. Position is expected to engage in personal reflection around race, racism, and equity.