Staff Counsel/FOIA

The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) is a leading housing finance agency in the nation focused on financing affordable housing in Illinois. The Staff Counsel/FOIA will represent the Authority in legal matters, handle real estate closings, and serve as the FOIA officer, ensuring compliance with information requests and advising on administrative law issues.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for closing basic loans and grants. Drafts and negotiates loan and grant documents and reviews and approves all due diligence submitted by grantees and borrowers
• Represents the Authority with legal issues related to asset management on previously closed loans and grants, including, but not limited to, workouts, foreclosures, transfers of physical assets and loan and grant modifications. May be required to appear in court on matters pertaining to foreclosures, mechanics liens, fair housing, and building code violations
• Responsible for advising Authority staff on issues arising under the administrative law areas of, including, but not limited to, freedom of information, procurement, ethics, open meetings, and administrative procedures
• Handles transactions involving only federal and state tax credit allocations
• Responsible for drafting and negotiating contracts
• Serves as the Authority’s FOIA Officer in close consultation with one or more of the Authority’s Associate & Corporate Counsel personnel. Receives and responds to requests for information of public record using multiple resources and streams of data to research and locate relevant information. Resolves information requests within the required timeframes and where appropriate, requests extensions in writing. Assesses whether the magnitude information requested proves burdensome in adherence with the State of Illinois Freedom of Information guidelines. Maintains and updates log of all FOIA requests. Prepares and maintains statistical and narrative work activity reports
• Responsible for conducting research and assisting on other matters as assigned by a Supervising Senior Counsel, the Deputy General Counsel or the General Counsel
• Additional duties as assigned

Skills

• B.A. or B.S., or equivalent, and a J.D
• Must be an attorney licensed to practice law in the State of Illinois, in good standing
• Minimum of one year of experience in real estate law and/or contract law
• Affordable housing experience is desired

Benefits

• Paid time off, plus paid holidays
• Currently in a hybrid work arrangement, but candidates must reside in Illinois at time of hire
• Medical/dental/vision/life insurance plans
• Short/long term disability
• Tuition reimbursement
• Flex spending
• 401K plan – immediate vesting
• IHDA employees may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs
• Flexible scheduling is available, upon completion of a six-month probationary period

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