Senior Counsel/Counsel (Housing and Community Investment)
Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA)
Application
Details
Posted: 13-Mar-23
Location: Washington, D.C.
Type: Full Time
Salary: $85,944 - $194,949 per year
Categories:
Attorney
Government
Preferred Education:
Juris Doctor
Additional Information:
Telecommuting is allowed.
Summary
Serves as a staff attorney in the Mission Branch of OGC, providing advice and assisting other members of OGC in rendering legal services to the Agency in support of carrying out the Agency's mission and goals. This position focuses on legal matters relating to rulemaking, regulatory interpretations, guidance, non-safety and soundness supervision of regulated entities, and oversight of mission responsibilities, including affordable housing and community investment programs as applicable.
Duties
The incumbent will serve on the Housing and Community Investment Team (HCIT) within OGC's Mission Branch. HCIT provides legal support on issues related to the regulated entities' affordable housing goals, affordable housing programs, community investment programs, and duty to serve underserved markets program. HCIT also provides legal support related to charter act authorities, credit risk transfer transactions, mortgage lending and mortgage insurance, mortgage servicing, other secondary mortgage market transactions and issues, related regulatory matters, and agency reports.
General Duties
1. Provides legal analysis, advice and assistance on complex issues facing the Agency.
2. Drafts and supports the development of documents such as legal opinions, regulations and related documents, legislation, contracts and other agreements, correspondence, and other documents of importance to the Agency.
3. Consults with officials and staff of the Office of General Counsel and other FHFA divisions to assure that the legal advice and assistance rendered to such officials is appropriate and consistent with FHFA's policies.
4. Supports formal and informal efforts to communicate Agency legal positions to staff of the regulated entities.
5. Provides advice and legal determinations to support matters involving the planning, discussion, and coordination of activities related to one or more of the Agency's functions.
6. May serve as legal counsel in front of external parties, including other federal financial regulatory agencies, congressional committees, and outside stakeholders, on behalf of the Agency.
7. Conducts legal research to apply statutes, regulations, and other guidance governing federal agencies and financial institutions to one or more of the Agency's functions.
8. Identifies problems and proposes potential solutions by applying legal knowledge to Agency functions.
9. Performs other duties as assigned.
Particular Duties and Responsibilities
10. Supports senior attorneys in legal research, analysis, and writing, participates in rulemakings, and provides regulatory interpretations and guidance on matters relating to the Agency's and regulated entities' missions, including but not limited to: safety and soundness supervision of the regulated entities; Enterprise conservatorship activities; Enterprise charter act compliance; legislative activities impacting the regulated entities; regulated entities affordable housing goals; Enterprise duty to serve underserved markets; Enterprise credit risk transfer transactions; FHLBank affordable housing and community investment programs; Enterprise resolution planning, and Agency reports on the regulated entities' mission activities.
11. Drafts regulations, memoranda of law, legal opinions, agreements, and other similar written work product on one or more areas of law related to the Agency's mission, such work product is typically reviewed by senior legal staff.
12. Applies knowledge of relevant statutes, regulations, and precedents to legal issues facing FHFA. Applicable statutes include the Federal Home Loan Bank Act of 1932 (as amended), the Federal Housing Enterprises Financial Safety and Soundness Act of 1992 (as amended), and the Administrative Procedure Act (as amended).
13. Provides input and assistance to assigned legal projects related to relevant Agency mission areas, including the involvement of other legal staff, the relationships with subject matter experts outside of OGC, project planning and tracking, and other relevant duties to ensure legal guidance is provided where necessary.
14. Supports other legal areas within OGC as workloads and situations warrant.
Conditions of Employment
Must be a U.S. Citizen or National
Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service
Resume and supporting documents (See How To Apply)
Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by background investigation
May be required to successfully complete a probationary period
Only experience and education obtained by the closing date of this announcement will be considered.
Qualifications
BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENT: All applicants must possess the following
- J.D. or LL.B. degree --AND-
- Active membership of the bar in good standing in any state, territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
AND
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE:
Qualifying experience for the EL/GS-11 level includes one year of specialized experience at least equivalent to the EL/GS-09 which is in or directly related to the line of work of the position to be filled and which has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position.
Examples of specialized experience required include the following:
Conducting legal research and analysis and providing legal advice related to one or more of the following topics: the regulation of depository institutions or other types of financial institutions; affordable housing and community investment matters; secondary mortgage markets; or a similar field of law or policy.
Collaborating with legal colleagues, subject matter experts, and other staff in the drafting of regulations or other guidance materials.
Qualifying experience for the EL/GS-12 level includes one year of specialized experience at least equivalent to the EL/GS-11 which is in or directly related to the line of work of the position to be filled and which has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position.
Examples of specialized experience required include the following:
Conducting legal research and analysis and providing legal advice related to one or more of the following topics: the regulation of depository institutions or other types of financial institutions; affordable housing and community investment matters; secondary mortgage markets; or single-family or multifamily housing transactions.
Participating in the drafting of regulations or other guidance materials.
Supporting the review of legal documents and provision of legal advice for complex financial transactions.
Qualifying experience for the EL/GS-13 level includes one year of specialized experience at least equivalent to the EL/GS-12 which is in or directly related to the line of work of the position to be filled and which has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position.
Examples of specialized experience required include the following:
Conducting legal research and analysis and providing legal advice related to one or more of the following topics: the regulation of depository institutions or other types of financial institutions; affordable housing and community investment matters; secondary mortgage markets; or single-family or multifamily housing transactions.
Reviewing legal documents and providing legal advice for complex financial transactions.
Participating in the drafting of regulations or other guidance materials.
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) was established by the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (HERA) and is responsible for the effective supervision, regulation, and housing mission oversight of the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae), the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac), and the Federal Home Loan Bank System, which includes the 11 Federal Home Loan Banks (FHLBanks) and the Office of Finance (OF). The Agency's mission is to ensure that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the Enterprises) and the FHLBanks (together, "the regulated entities") fulfill their mission by operating in a safe and sound manner to serve as a reliable source of liquidity and funding for housing finance and community investment.
At FHFA every employee plays a vital role in meeting our mission and we depend on them to aspire to excel in every aspect of their work; have the highest ethical and professional standards; respect each other, information and resources; and promote diversity in our employment and business practices.
Our team primarily consists of examiners, accountants, economists, financial analysts, information technology specialists, and attorneys. W...e also recruit for a variety of other positions such as policy experts, budget and procurement specialists, human resources specialists, facilities and space management professionals and student interns.
FHFA is committed to Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and the guidelines of the EEO Commission. FHFA offers a wide variety of EEO services. To learn more, please visit the EEO page.
