Vice President Conifer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Description

 VP - Senior Counsel

Full-Time

Remote

The VP - Senior Counsel serves as the principal legal advisor for the day-to-day operations of Conifer's asset management and property management lines of business - designing enterprise-wide risk frameworks, navigating affordable housing regulatory requirements, and protecting the company from systemic liabilities. Working closely with the Chief Legal Officer and cross-functional teams in Asset Management, Property Management and Corporate Office functions, the successful candidate will be a trusted, highly responsive, and solutions-oriented legal partner.

The main areas of legal activity requiring expertise:

Contract Architecture & Vendor Management

Establish enterprise-level contract standards, templates, and standard operating procedures for high-value vendor partnerships, technology platforms, and asset-level and property-level services across the portfolio

Negotiate enterprise agreements, master service agreements (MSAs), and strategic vendor contracts, ensuring favorable indemnity, liability limits, insurance, and data protection provisions

Streamline the commercial contract lifecycle across all operational divisions to balance business speed with sound risk protection

Regulatory Compliance & Government Relations

Formulate proactive compliance strategies to navigate evolving municipal, state, and federal real estate mandates, affordable housing program rules, environmental laws, and consumer protection requirements

Advise on affordable housing regulatory frameworks including LIHTC regulatory agreements, HUD requirements, and state and local housing authority (HFA) rules affecting the portfolio

Act as a primary legal interface with local and state regulatory agencies, housing authorities, building departments, and elected officials on zoning interpretations, municipal compliance, and enforcement actions

Interpret the business impact of emerging regulatory trends and implement policy changes to reduce corporate exposure

Fair Housing, Civil Rights & Accessibility

Oversee the investigation and resolution of Fair Housing, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and civil rights or discrimination complaints across the portfolio

Partner with operational leaders to draft and audit enterprise-wide accessibility policies and anti-discrimination frameworks, including reasonable accommodation and modification procedures

Represent the organization, or direct specialized counsel, in administrative audits and investigations by agencies such as HUD, state HFAs, and civil rights commissions

Litigation Management & Risk Assessment

Oversee the company's operational litigation portfolio - general liability, and commercial matters - to identify systemic operational vulnerabilities

Direct outside litigation counsel, define defense and settlement strategies, approve major filings, manage legal spend, and provide regular status updates to the CLO

Conduct routine corporate risk assessments across all business lines and deploy mitigation programs to minimize corporate liability

People & Culture

Review and advise on HR-related policies as they relate to multi-state staff and applicable employment law, in coordination with People & Culture and the CLO

Requirements

EXPERIENCE

Minimum eight (8+) years of law firm or in-house legal experience, including experience in a corporate in-house operations role

Deep, high-level understanding of real estate operational mechanics, commercial insurance structures, and systemic regulatory risks

Experience working with affordable housing regulatory frameworks (LIHTC, HUD, state HFA / housing authority programs) is strongly preferred

Demonstrated success navigating sensitive investigations, dealing with regulatory bodies, and interfacing effectively with public officials

Prior in-house counsel experience in a property management, real estate, or affordable housing environment is preferred

Proficient in legal research and writing, with the ability to make practical, business-focused recommendations

Proficient in MS Office Suite (Word, Outlook)

EDUCATION

Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited U.S. law school

Active member in good standing of a state bar; admission in NY, NJ, MD, PA, VA, and/or CO is a plus

  ATTRIBUTES REQUIRED

• Effective communicator - able to translate complex legal matters into clear, actionable guidance for non-legal staff
• Demonstrated ability to manage a high volume of matters with strong organizational and time management skills
• Solutions-oriented with a proactive, hands-on approach to legal support
•  Flexible - able to prioritize competing demands, address issues as they arise, and adapt quickly when needed
•  Exercises sound business judgment and professionalism at all times
• Resourceful; effective research and problem-solving skills, able to "think outside the box"
• Able to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a geographically distributed team
• Positive, outgoing attitude toward colleagues, residents, and third parties