Senior Counsel

Company: Community Reinvestment Fund USA, Inc.

Job Function: Other


Background

Who We Are

Community Reinvestment Fund, USA (CRF) is a community development leader committed to bringing economic equity to communities across the country, in order to generate greater investment in the communities that need it most.

Community Reinvestment Fund, USA (CRF) is dedicated to building and sustaining a truly diverse, equitable, and inclusive culture. These are not just words on a page – Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are top priorities for the organization, and tie deeply to each of the core values and overall vision for the future.

CRF’s Theory of Change

CRF’s Theory of Change is the strategic framework used to guide its work. While CRF’s mission remains constant, the Theory of Change outlines how it contributes to the changes it seeks.

The challenge CRF works to address

The current economic system, perpetuated by institutional racism, individual biases and disparities, is unjust. It fosters the inequities that are causing widening disparities in incomes, wealth, and opportunity gaps.

How We Help

Together with its partners – including community leaders, nonprofit lenders, financial institutions, foundations and more – CRF is creating new strategies and technologies that build stronger local economies, create jobs and support economic mobility.

Summary

About the Position

We are looking for a highly motivated attorney with 5+ years of substantive transactional experience in financial services and lending transactions with strong contract drafting, reviewing, and negotiating skills, a solid understanding of commercial legal concepts, keen attention to detail, outstanding professional judgment and superb communication skills.  The successful candidate will consistently provide excellent advice and guidance to clients and colleagues on a variety of legal matters. They will build trusting relationships that allow the business partners to make well-informed decisions.

The successful candidate will possess the ability to prioritize, multi-task, work and solve problems independently with minimal supervision.  The candidate must also be proactive in identifying and resolving issues, anticipate and deliver on the needs of a fast-paced and innovative environment, be comfortable working with cross-functional teams, adapt to an agile environment and field escalation requests and issues, and have the flexibility to simultaneously manage a wide range of projects and business demands, while working collaboratively with the rest of the Legal Team.

Senior Counsel will assist with other Legal Department team members on matters as needed. This position is in the Legal Department and reports to the Chief Legal Counsel.

The role will require some travel to headquarters in Minneapolis, MN. Occasional evening and weekend hours may also be expected.

Responsibilities

Role Accountabilities (include, but not limited to)

  •  Document and advise on all legal aspects of commercial loan transactions and specialty finance transactions involving a variety of transaction structures and industries in accordance with industry standards, internal policies and procedures, relevant programmatic requirements and best legal practices including:
    • Developing, drafting, and maintaining commercial lending templates and forms; and
    • Negotiating, drafting and reviewing a broad range of commercial agreements including but not limited to: loan purchase agreements, loan sale, loan participation, loan servicing, commitment letters, collateral documentation, all manner of structured finance transactional agreements, master services, non-disclosure, professional services, non-disclosure, request for proposal responses and various other commercial agreements.
  • Advise business lines with respect to new products, programs, and services, regarding operational and legal risk and the applicability of federal and state law and regulations, including but not limited to non-profit entity status and Federal procurement standards
  • Serve as a trusted advisor to business lines, helping them implement strategic initiatives
  • Escalate issues, as appropriate, to identify issues and share potential concerns and ideas with other members of the Legal Department
  • Build and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholder groups
  • Work in partnership with other members of the Legal Team to establish best practices across all businesses
  • Provide legal advice on regulatory matters
  • Provide legal support and guidance on enterprise-wide regulatory reporting and compliance projects.
  • Proficient in Microsoft programs (e.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and technology.

Requirements

About You

Professional Experience and Skills

  • A minimum of 5 years’ experience of demonstrated transactional experience in commercial finance/lending transactions at an in-house or law firm setting.
  • Experience negotiating, drafting, reviewing and closing complex commercial finance transactions and various types of commercial agreements and structured finance transactions
  • Solid understanding of commercial legal concepts and strong drafting and contract negotiation skills
  • Exhibits excellent communication, decision quality, interpersonal skills and a high level of attention to detail
  • Proactive in identifying and resolving issues
  • Able to assess risks and provide thoughtful advice in a fast-paced environment
  • Able and willing to work collaboratively on cross-functional teams in an efficient and productive manner to effect change and achieve common goals
  • Strong commitment to client service
  • Able to quickly understand the business’ needs, apply solid professional judgment and work independently and effectively with business teams, other members of the Legal Department and other internal groups to create practical and business minded solutions and efficiently deliver results
  • Able to independently solicit information and input from different stakeholders as necessary and appropriate
  • Possess and demonstrates excellent business and legal judgment
  • Adapts style to differing audiences and often advises others on difficult matters
  • Able to collaborate confidently and effectively with a diverse range of stakeholders
  • Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills
  • Possess an interest in and willingness to learn new skills
  • Understand and follow complex workflow processes and organizational policies
  • Experience working with or knowledge of Community Development Finance Institutions (CDFIs) or industry
  • Experience with small business lending
  • General knowledge of laws applicable to non-profit entities
  • General knowledge of Federal procurement standards
  • Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment and successfully manage tight deadlines with minimal to no supervision and across multiple time zones

Educational Requirements:

Bachelor’s Degree and JD from an accredited law school and licensed, in good standing, to practice law in the state of Minnesota or otherwise in compliance with the in-house counsel registration rules of Minnesota.

Compensation and Benefits

What We Offer

The salary range for this exempt, fully remote position is $130,000 to $155,000 annually.

A collaborative working environment comprised of driven and highly engaged individuals committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion and the mission, vision and values of CRF. CRF is proud to extend its employees a wide array of benefits including, but not limited to:

  • Most positions offer flexibility for remote work
  • Health, dental, and vision insurance
  • 401K with a 5% match – eligible to participate after 6 months
  • Paid Time Off (PTO)
  • Hybrid Reimbursement Program
  • Educational Assistance
  • Long-Term and Short-Term Disability
  • Life Insurance
  • 10 Federal Holidays plus 2 Floating Holidays

How to Apply

Please send your resume and cover letter to [email protected] and check our our website, www.crfusa.com, for additional information about the role and CRF.