PD_HUD_General-Counsel

Position Description

GENERAL COUNSEL, DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

Overview

Senate Committee

Banking, Housing Urban Affairs

Agency Mission

To create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all.

Position Overview

The General Counsel is the chief legal advisor to HUD Secretary and other principal staff. The General Counsel oversees legal opinions, advice and services on all HUD programs and activities, litigation, legislative initiatives, enforcement actions and regulations. The General Counsel supervises all staff assigned to the Office of General Counsel at HUD Headquarters and provides professional guidance for staff assigned to the field counsel offices.

Compensation

Level IV $155,500 (5 U.S.C. § 5315)¹ _{The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017 (Public Law 115-31, May 5, 2017), contains a provision that continues the freeze on the payable pay rates for certain senior political officials at 2013 levels during calendar year 2017.}

Position Reports to

Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Housing and Urban Development

Responsibilities

Management Scope

In fiscal 2015, HUD had $35,527 million in outlays and 8,059 total employment. The Office of General Counsel consists of the headquarters organizations, 10 regional offices, 36 offices of counsel and five satellite offices of the Departmental Enforcement Center.

Primary Responsibilities

® Manages and directs HUD legal departments, including civil rights programs, general litigation and enforcement actions
® Works with the administration and Congress on program and legislative initiatives involving various aspects of financing, development and preservation of housing
® Develops HUD program regulations and assists in the development of HUD programs and policies

Strategic Goals and Priorities

Depends on the policy priorities of the administration

Requirements and Competencies

Requirements

® Distinguished legal career of at least a decade
® Leadership and management experience
® Experience in large public/private legal entity
® Real estate and mortgage finance background (preferred)

Competencies

® Strategic Orientation: demonstrates complex thinking abilities, incorporating both analytical and conceptual abilities to manage and develop legal plans and strategies
® Results Orientation: demonstrated ability to be proactive, exercise independent judgment, and manage multiple projects simultaneously; a strong work ethic and a track record of producing high quality work under deadline pressures
® Team Leadership: experience effectively managing geographically-dispersed staff of legal and administrative support professionals
® Collaboration & Influencing: proven track record of creating and managing relationships with peer executives inside the organization, outside counsel, and third parties/institutions

Past Appointees

Helen R. Kanovsky (May 2009 u2013 2017), Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel, AFL-CIO Housing Investment Trust, Chief of Staff to Senator John Kerry, Executive Vice President and General Counsel of GE Capital Asset Management Corporation
Robert M. Couch, (2007 u2013 2008), President of Government National Mortgage Association, President and CEO of New South Federal Savings Bank, General Counsel and Chief Financial Officer of First Commercial Bancshares
Keith Gottfried (2005 u2013 2006), Senior Vice President-Corporate Affairs and Special Advisor to the CEO, Borland Software Corporation, Corporate Attorney at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, Corporate Attorney at Blank Rome LLP
Endnotes
This position description was created with the help of Egon Zehnder, a global executive search firm.
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The Partnership’s Center for Presidential Transition helps ensure the efficient transfer of power that our country deserves. The Center’s Ready to Govern· initiative assists candidates with the transition, works with Congress to reform the transition process, develops management recommendations to address our government’s operational challenges, and trains new political appointees.