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Deputy General Counsel, Programs & Operations

August 22, 2025

To apply, click here to complete our brief application.

About Us: Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP), a non-profit public agency, works with communities to create innovative policy and financing solutions that provide affordable homes and better lives for the people of Massachusetts. We pioneer new development and financing models that use public resources more effectively, are responsive to local needs, promote housing equity, and achieve greater impact than conventional approaches to affordable housing. MHP focuses on the following programmatic areas: Community Assistance, Rental Development and Portfolio Management, Homeownership and Data & Policy.

Current Opportunity: The Deputy General Counsel, Programs and Operations, will use their extensive experience in affordable housing laws and policies to support our mission of expanding access to affordable housing and promoting housing equity throughout the Commonwealth. Reporting to the General Counsel, you will provide essential legal counsel to our internal teams, the management team, and staff. You will be the lead counsel on program development, administration and housing policy. You will also assist in other matters related to MHP’s operations, including state agency compliance, employment, contracting, interagency matters, legislative and other issues that require engagement from the Legal team. The Deputy General Counsel, Programs & Operations, will serve as a senior legal advisor to MHP’s internal teams with particular focus on:

  • Advise on the development and administration of federal and state affordable housing statutes, regulations, and guidance, including MGL Chapter 40B, and state subsidy loan and technical assistance programs.
  • Research and draft policy documents, statements, regulations, guidance, and contracts for internal and external audiences related to affordable housing programs, cases, procedures, and similar needs.
  • Supervise and manage the MassDocs loan documentation system and stakeholders, and MHP’s administration of certain MassDocs loan programs.
  • Organization-wide operational matters, including employment, nonprofit governance, state agency compliance, technology, and administrative matters.

At MHP, staff engagement, inclusion and belonging are integral to everything we do. We value individuals who are intentional about fostering inclusive environments and who recognize the power of diverse perspectives. The person in the Deputy General Counsel position is expected to embody these values not only in their work but in how they build relationships, make decisions, and contribute to a supportive team culture. To learn more about MHP's commitment to engagement and inclusion, click here.

How you will make an impact: In this role, you will take on a diverse range of responsibilities that leverage your expertise and reflect the depth and complexity of the position. The following areas of focus are designed to keep your work purposeful, engaging, and in support of our mission and strategic goals:

Affordable Housing Policy & Programs

  • Provide expert legal interpretation of and guidance regarding federal and state housing laws and government operations, especially including MGL Chapters 40B and 40T, fair housing laws, MassDocs programs, the MBTA Communities law, and ADU legislation.
  • Advise on the design and implementation of state housing finance programs in coordination with state agencies such as EOHLC and A&F.
  • Counsel internal teams on all MGL Chapter 40B matters related to MHP’s role as a subsidizing agency.
  • Counsel internal and external stakeholders on public construction issues, including land disposition, Davis-Bacon, and public construction requirements.
  • Serve as the primary contact from the Legal team in collaboration with state and municipal partners, including MassHousing, CEDAC, MassDevelopment, EOHLC, the Attorney General’s Office, and the Governor’s Legal Office.
  • Represent MHP in external legal forums and contribute to public-facing legal education and training on affordable housing related matters.
  • Monitor federal and state affordable housing regulations, legislation, and compliance requirements.
  • Provide internal legal briefings, Q&A sessions, and strategic messaging on emerging legal issues affecting MHP and/or state housing programs.

Complex Drafting & Contracting

  • Provide written legal analysis of and recommendations related to existing and emerging affordable housing policies and financing programs at the federal, state, and local levels.
  • Draft policy documents, regulations, legal memoranda, guidance and frameworks, interagency agreements, and amicus briefs related to housing programs and community development.
  • Collaborate with internal and external partners teams to produce clear, accessible materials related to the MassDocs system to support its ongoing administration and effective stakeholder engagement.
  • As needed, negotiate and draft complex contracts and service agreements with vendors, suppliers, government agencies, and independent contractors.

Operations & Regulatory Compliance

  • Collaborate with state agencies and stakeholders to ensure MHP’s regulatory compliance and program effectiveness.
  • Oversee administration and expansion of the MassDocs program among all stakeholders.
  • Serve as first point of contact on the Legal team for Community Assistance, Homeownership, Policy and Communications, and Center for Housing Data teams; act as a point of contact from the Legal team for the Rental Finance, Portfolio Management, and F&A teams.
  • Advise and assist in the administration of applicable state agency and public governance requirements, including records retention, public records requests, open meeting laws, and state ethics compliance.
  • Collaborate with Legal team members to reach annual team goals and complete strategic initiatives.
  • Develop and refine internal legal templates and standard operating procedures to support consistent and compliant practices across MHP.
  • Support General Counsel in MHP board governance and open meeting law implementation.
  • Support General Counsel on employment law matters and conduct investigations as needed.

Compensation: The budgeted compensation for this role is $165,000-180,000. Any final offer will be based on various factors including job-related knowledge, skills, competencies, and experience. The listed range is just one component of MHP's total compensation package for employees.

Benefits our employees value:   MHP understands that benefits are an important consideration when looking for a new role. We are proud to offer our employees a comprehensive benefits package including:

  • Hybrid and flexible work schedule
  • Health insurance through the state’s Group Insurance Commission
  • 403b retirement plans with employer match of up to 10% and immediate vesting
  • Annual 5-week paid time off (PTO) benefit and 13 paid holidays
  • Fully paid group term life and long-term disability insurance
  • Dental insurance with 90% of premium covered by MHP
  • Vision insurance with 50% of premium covered by MHP
  • Medical and dependent care Flexible Spending Accounts
  • Public transportation reimbursement
  • Tuition reimbursement up to $10,000
  • Professional development resources and assistance
  • Generous home office benefit
  • Membership discount for onsite gym

Work Location & Schedule: This is a hybrid position requiring a minimum of two in-office days per week in our Boston location (160 Federal St). One of these days is our designated team collaboration day, currently held on Tuesdays. The second day may vary based on agency needs. Additional in-office days may occasionally be required to support meetings, events, or other operational priorities. This approach balances flexibility with meaningful in-person engagement.

Knowledge, Experience and Skills:

  • Commitment to MHP’s mission.
  • Expert knowledge of Massachusetts affordable housing laws, including MGL Chapter 40B, subsidy financing programs including all “MassDocs” sources, state and federal fair housing laws, and state administrative law.
  • Experience drafting complex contracts and other legal documents.
  • Additional expertise in state ethics, conflicts of interest, government administration, Massachusetts regulatory procedures preferred with experience in at least one required.
  • Experience in employment law and/or personnel matters preferred but not required.
  • Minimum 10 years of legal experience in affordable housing regulatory/program development and finance.
  • A growth mindset with the capacity to work independently and take initiative in identifying and advancing new ideas and solutions.
  • Strong ethical standards and the proven capacity to use sound judgment and discretion when gathering and sharing information.
  • Adept in managing competing demands and dealing with frequent changes, delays, and/or unexpected circumstances.
  • Exceptional ability to communicate (verbally and in writing) findings and recommendations.
  • Expert knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite.
  • J.D. from an accredited law school.
  • Admission to the Massachusetts Bar.

MHP supports equal opportunity employment and all employment-related decisions are made in compliance with federal and state laws.

To apply, click here to complete our brief application.