Director of Policy & Supervising Attorney
San Francisco Housing Authority
February 19, 2015
Professional Area:
Other topics not covered above
Experience:
3-5 years
Contact person:
Matthew Waggoner
Phone:
4157153278
Fax:
4153300785
Email:
waggonerm@sfha.org
Location:
San Francisco, CA
CLASSIFICATION: Director of Policy & Supervising Attorney
DEPARTMENT: Policy and Governmental AffairsDATE OPENED: February 19, 2015 FILING DEADLINE: March 9, 2015 SALARY: $4,145 – 5,039 Bi-Weekly EMPLOYMENT TYPE: Regular/Full-time
DEPARTMENT: Policy and Governmental AffairsDATE OPENED: February 19, 2015 FILING DEADLINE: March 9, 2015 SALARY: $4,145 – 5,039 Bi-Weekly EMPLOYMENT TYPE: Regular/Full-time
APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED BY MAIL OR IN PERSON AT THE SFHA HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT.
DEFINITION Under administrative direction from the Executive Director, the Director of Policy and Supervising Attorney provides direction and oversight for all functions and activities of the Department. Plans, directs and implements comprehensive Authority-wide public affairs, community and outreach activities, coordinates activities with other Departments, public officials and organizations; fosters cooperative working relationships among Authority Departments and with intergovernmental and regulatory agencies and public and private groups, including community based organizations; supervises the work of lower level attorneys and may personally perform the most difficult, complex, and sensitive legal work; provides legal advice and manages unlawful detainer actions; plans, organizes, manages, and provides administrative direction and oversight for all functions and activities of the Legal Department and oversees all aspects of scheduling and coordinating Commission/Committee meetings. The Director will also perform substantive legal work.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED
Receives administrative direction from the Executive Director. Exercises general supervision and direction over legal, professional, and support staff. Class Characteristics This is a Department level classification that oversees, directs, and participates in all activities of the Government Policy and Legal Department, including short- and long-term planning, development, and administration of departmental policies, procedures, and services. The work provides for a wide variety of independent decision-making. This class provides assistance to the Executive Director and other departments in a variety of administrative, coordinative, analytical, and liaison capacities. Successful performance of the work requires knowledge of the law, public policy, municipal functions and activities, including the role of an appointed Board of Commissioners, and the ability to develop, oversee, and implement projects, programs, and guidelines in a variety of areas. Responsibilities include coordinating the activities of the department with those of other departments and outside agencies and managing and overseeing the complex and varied functions of the department. The incumbent is accountable for accomplishing departmental planning and operational goals and objectives and for furthering Authority goals and objectives within general policy guidelines.
Receives administrative direction from the Executive Director. Exercises general supervision and direction over legal, professional, and support staff. Class Characteristics This is a Department level classification that oversees, directs, and participates in all activities of the Government Policy and Legal Department, including short- and long-term planning, development, and administration of departmental policies, procedures, and services. The work provides for a wide variety of independent decision-making. This class provides assistance to the Executive Director and other departments in a variety of administrative, coordinative, analytical, and liaison capacities. Successful performance of the work requires knowledge of the law, public policy, municipal functions and activities, including the role of an appointed Board of Commissioners, and the ability to develop, oversee, and implement projects, programs, and guidelines in a variety of areas. Responsibilities include coordinating the activities of the department with those of other departments and outside agencies and managing and overseeing the complex and varied functions of the department. The incumbent is accountable for accomplishing departmental planning and operational goals and objectives and for furthering Authority goals and objectives within general policy guidelines.
EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
(Illustrative Only) Management reserves the rights to add, modify, change, or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job.
(Illustrative Only) Management reserves the rights to add, modify, change, or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job.
- Develop and implement Authority goals, objectives, policies, procedures; and work standards for the Government Policy and Legal Department and for other assigned areas of responsibility.
- Coordinate and respond to a variety of informal and formal complaints received from the Authority’s customers and stakeholders, such as United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Bay Area Legal Aid, and Human Rights Commission.
- Coordinate hearings for Housing Choice Voucher and Public Housing Operations.
- Manages and participates in the development and administration of the department’s annual budget, directs the forecast of additional funds needed for staffing, equipment, materials and supplies; directs the monitoring of an approves expenditures, directs and implements adjustments as necessary.
- Lead, coordinate, and provide direction to a variety of committees in developing policies, priorities, goals and objectives; such as the Annual Plan Process for the Authority.
- Provide supervision, direction, training, support, and leadership to attorney(s) and staff, and evaluates work.
- Participate in selection process of staff.
- Build and maintain effective relationships with a variety of community based organizations, groups and individuals.
- Liaison to the Board of Commissioners; reviewing notices for accuracy and consistency with Commission Bylaws, managing preparation of agenda’s and commission/committee books.
- Administration of lease enforcement activities at the Authority,
- Facilitate public records requests by researching laws/codes related to proper responses to the request and ensuring that requests are responded to within established timelines. Provide expert professional assistance and guidance to Commissioners, on matters upon request.
- Explains and interprets departmental programs, policies and activities to outside agencies, clients and stakeholders.
- Prepares, reviews, and presents staff reports, various management and information updates and reports at Commission/Committee meetings, meetings of stakeholders and different organizations.
- Responds to difficult and sensitive public inquiries and complaints and assists with resolution and alternative recommendations. Responds to and/or provide oversight to responses to subpoenas, preparing legal opinion memorandum.
- Other duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS Knowledge of:
- Legal principles and their application; research methods and court procedures; corporate filings with the State of California and Franchise Tax Board in order for the SFHA to remain in good standing.
- Rules of evidence and procedure; legal terms and forms in common use. Administrative law and the conduct of proceedings before administrative bodies. Statutory and case law literature and authorities.
- Provisions of laws and Government Code sections administered or enforced.
- A Director’s responsibility for promoting equal opportunity in hiring and employee development and promotion; maintain a work environment that is free of discrimination and harassment.
- Principles practices and techniques used to effectively establish cooperative relationships and represent the Authority in aspects of its business including community groups, governmental agencies and regulation organizations.
- Principles and practices of employee supervision, including work planning, assignment, review and evaluation, and training of staff.
- Federal, State, and local laws statutes and ordinances with emphasis on municipal law.
- Federal, State, and local trial and appeal procedures and methods of case preparation and presentation for both civil and criminal matters.
- Methods of legal research, including computer research.
- Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, and Authority staff.
Ability to:
- Analyze legal principles and precedents and apply them to complex legal and administrative problems.
- Perform legal research and legal recommendations; monitoring of litigation assigned to outside counsel.
- Present statements of fact, law and argument clearly and logically.
- Draft and direct the drafting of opinions, pleadings, rulings, regulations and legislation.
- Negotiate effectively on behalf of the Authority
- Conduct and direct the conduct of civil litigation.
- Interpret, apply and ensure compliance with Federal, State, and local policies, procedures, laws, and regulations.
- Effectively represent the Authority and the department in meetings, with governmental agencies, community groups, individuals, and regulatory agencies.
- Establish, foster and maintain positive and effective working relationships.
- Operate computers, and other equipment needed to perform the essential job functions.
- Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, and Authority staff.
- Conduct effective negotiations and effectively represent the Authority and the department in meetings with governmental agencies, various businesses, professionals, regulatory, and legislative organizations.
- Prepare clear and concise reports, correspondence, policies, procedures, and other written materials.
Education and Experience: Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be: Possession of a Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited school of law, preferably with a specialization or emphasis in municipal law in areas such as unlawful detainer actions, public policy, labor relations, land use, environmental, and/or administrative law and four years of experience in public agency law, including two years of supervisory experience.
Licenses and Certifications:
- Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid California Driver’s License by time of appointment and insurability by the Authority’s insurance carrier.
- Possession of a California State Bar license.
- Sensitivity to and experience working with the ethnically and culturally diverse individuals, communities, agencies and organizations which comprise the constituency of the San Francisco Housing Authority.
Physical Demands: Must possess mobility to work in a standard office setting and use standard office equipment, including a computer; to operate a motor vehicle and to visit various Authority and meeting sites; vision to read printed materials and a computer screen; and hearing and speech to communicate in person and over the telephone. This is primarily a sedentary office classification although standing in work areas and walking between work areas may be required. Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter, and retrieve data using a computer keyboard, typewriter keyboard, or calculator and to operate standard office equipment. Positions in this classification occasionally bend, stoop, kneel, reach, push, and pull drawers open and closed to retrieve and file information. Employees must possess the ability to lift, carry, push, and pull materials and objects up to 25 pounds with the use of proper equipment. Environmental Elements Employees work in an office environment with moderate noise levels, controlled temperature conditions, and no direct exposure to hazardous physical substances. Employees may interact with upset staff and/or public and private representatives in interpreting and enforcing departmental policies and procedures.
SELECTION PLAN Applicants meeting the minimum qualifications will be administered an examination that may consist of any combination of written, oral or other exercises or assessment procedures that evaluate, knowledge, skill, ability or qualifications. Applicants must pass each phase of the process to be placed on the list that will be used to fill vacancies for the next nine (9) months. Vacancies will be filled based on the Rule of the List. The Authority may without notice, change or eliminate any particular assessment component or combination of components as the needs of the Agency dictate. Employment offers are contingent upon documentation of the right to work in the United States and a criminal record check.
HOW TO APPLY Applications are being accepted by mail or in person. Interested individuals should submit a SFHA Employment Application to the San Francisco Housing Authority’s Human Resources Department, 1815, Egbert Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94124. Applications will be accepted on a continuous basis to establish an eligible pool of candidates to fill current and future vacancies. The employment application can be obtained at www.sfha.org. Resumes may be attached to the application; however, resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed San Francisco Housing Authority application.
VERIFICATION OF EXPERIENCE AND/OR EDUCATION Applicants may be required to submit verification of (proof) of qualifying education and experience at any point in the application, examination or selection process.
REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION Qualified individuals with disabilities requesting reasonable accommodations must do so within five (5) days after the invitation to the assessment process, to allow sufficient time to make arrangements by contacting the Human Resources Department at (415) 715-310. The SFHA requires applicants to provide supporting documentation to substantiate a request for reasonable accommodation. In order to qualify for a reasonable accommodation, applicants must have a disability/medical condition pursuant to the ADA, FEHA, or other applicable statute.
AFH EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY The SFHA does not discriminate on the basis of race, age, ancestry, disability (mental and physical), color, creed, national origin, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, political affiliation, religious creed, sex, sexual orientation, military or veteran status in its employment practices or the provision of services.