General Counsel - West North Avenue Development...

Posting Date: May 25, 2023 Closing Date: June 9, 2023

Job Title: General Counsel Position Type: Permanent Full Time

Salary: $93,919 - $145,417 The salary range is based on a multitude of factors including applicable personnel rules, regulations and guidelines.

Location: Office of the Attorney General, West North Avenue Development Authority 2500 West North Avenue Baltimore, MD 21216. The position will work out of offices located on campus of Coppin State University.

Telework Status: A hybrid remote telework and in-office schedule option may be available per OAG's policies and procedures.

Description: The Office of the Attorney General is seeking applicants for a General Counsel for the West North Avenue Development Authority (“The Authority"). The Authority initiates and funds comprehensive housing, economic, transportation, and neighborhood development by providing capital grants and low-interest loans to real estate developers, IT, light- manufacturing, and product production business start-ups, and commercial retail entrepreneurs participating in the revitalization of West Baltimore through acquisition, development, and repurposing of vacant, blighted, and abandon residential and commercial properties for economic development.

The General Counsel provides legal representation to a Membership Board of state and city elected and appointed officials, business leaders, and community representatives responsible for developing, monitoring, analyzing, and implementing positive impacts on the economic, housing, transportation, and neighborhood redevelopment and revitalization activities in targeted West Baltimore neighborhoods along the West North Avenue corridor. The position will involve the legal application of State and City planning, land use, zoning, and tax policies to assist, in partnership with development partners, in the acquisition, planning, financing, and development of vacant, abandoned, and blighted residential and commercial properties. This is a highly visible, hands-on position, responsible for advising on legal issues that will arise in the Authority's management of business and community relationships, and effective initiatives to enhance economic development efforts in West Baltimore.

The General Counsel provides the Membership and Staff with legal advice on administrative, operational, and financial matters, and on economic, housing, transportation, and neighborhood development activities to be initiated, funded, and managed by the Authority; processes Judicial In Rem Foreclosures on vacant lots or buildings where the value of the liens exceeds the assessed value of the property on behalf of the Authority; and drafts and reviews grant agreements, loan packages, developer partnerships, joint ventures, general contractor terms, real estate transaction documents, and other documents.

Employment Benefits: The successful candidate will be eligible for subsidized health benefits (medical, prescription, dental and vision coverage) and life insurance; leave, including annual (vacation), personal , sick, and paid parental leave, ; and will be eligible for participation in a contributory defined benefit pension plan in which they are vested after ten years State employees are eligible to participate in two supplemental retirement plans:the 457 Deferred Compensation Plan and the 401(k) Savings and Investment Plan. The State also offers a free mass transit benefit for local bus and express bus services.

Qualifications: The ideal candidate will have 5 years of experience as the chief legal counsel to a public agency or nonprofit organization providing advice on real estate development transactions, or experience leading real estate transactional activities with a private law firm, public agency, or nonprofit organization. Candidate must have outstanding written and oral communication skills; thorough knowledge of real estate law; ability to prepare, analyze, and maintain detailed reports and records; ability to collaborate and coordinate with multiple departments within the State and Baltimore City. Maryland Bar required.