Deputy General Counsel I

Deputy General Counsel I

Salary

$52.31 - $78.45 Hourly

Location

Central Office - Seattle, WA

Job Type

Regular Full-Time Position

Job Number

105980

Department

Executive

Division

Office of the General Counsel

Opening Date

10/02/2026

Closing Date

Continuous

• Description
• Benefits

Job Summary

We offer competitive salary, great benefits, and work that matters to our community.

The Organization: The Seattle Housing Authority (SHA) is a mission-driven leader in affordable housing, headquartered on Elliott Avenue West with sweeping views of Elliott Bay and the Puget Sound. With additional field offices across Seattle, we're committed to expanding housing opportunities, strengthening communities, and supporting a workplace where people grow and thrive.

The position: We're looking for a Deputy General Counsel I to join our team! This role is perfect for someone who can work under the direction of the General Counsel to provide legal advice, service assistance and recommendations with respect to SHA programs and activities; represent SHA in various courts, administrative, and alternative dispute resolution proceedings; prepare various legal documents; train, supervise and evaluate assigned staff.

We anticipate the person filling this position will work primarily on landlord-tenant issues related to lease enforcement and represent SHA in unlawful detainer proceedings but may be assigned other legal work as it arises.

The Location: 101 Elliott Ave W, Seattle, WA 98119

The ideal candidate will have:

• Graduation from an accredited law school with admission to the Washington State Bar
• Active Washington State Bar Association membership
• Three (3) years of professional legal experience
• Experience and expertise in one or more of the following practice areas:
• Employment
• Labor and employee relations
• Real estate and land use
• Public works construction and public financing (including tax-credit projects)
• Federal purchasing and contracting laws and regulations
• Landlord-tenant law
• State laws regulating public agencies and municipalities, including the Washington State Housing Authorities Law (Chapter 35.82 RCW)
• Federal laws and regulations applicable to low-income public housing and Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) programs
• Federal programs for public housing agencies, such as Moving to Work and Section 3 requirements

Special consideration for experience with Washington State landlord-tenant laws

What will you do?

• Represent SHA in Superior Court unlawful detainer proceedings and appeals, if any.
• Provide legal counsel, service assistance and recommendations with respect to SHA programs and activities; advise and counsel staff on matters relating to the provision of low-income housing and federally funded housing vouchers.
• Provide counsel and recommendations relating to landlord-tenant issues, including but not limited to unlawful detainer litigation, notices/terminations for cause and for non-pay, and related procedures and requirements under state law, city ordinances, and federal law and regulations.
• Draft notices, letters, pleadings, and briefing for unlawful detainers and other lease enforcement actions; attend grievance hearings related to unlawful detainers and other lease enforcement processes; meet with opposing counsel to discuss termination or other lease enforcement involving tenants or program participants; present and argue motions before judges and commissioners of the Superior Court related to lease enforcement actions; conduct interviews and depositions of witnesses involved in lease enforcement; and track lease enforcement actions through the court system.
• Represent SHA in court proceedings or interact with outside counsel representing SHA in court proceedings relating to agency liability; meet with opposing counsel to discuss issues relating to such matters; conduct interviews and depositions of witnesses involved in lawsuits; draft legal pleadings; support and interact with SHA's Risk Management staff.
• Advise, counsel, and represent SHA and its staff in hearings or court proceedings relating to fraudulent activity, including but not limited to activity related to vouchers and certificates, housing assistance payments (HAP) contracts, and employee misconduct; conduct and attend interviews and depositions of witnesses; draft documents to recover funds owed to SHA lost to fraudulent misconduct.
• Respond to EEOC on complaints filed by SHA employees; respond to complaints filed with Seattle Human Rights Department, Washington State Human Rights Commission, and HUD; conduct and attend interviews and depositions of witnesses.
• Respond to civil rights complaints filed by SHA tenants or program participants; respond to complaints filed with HUD or referred for investigation to the Seattle Office of Civil Rights and/or Washington State Human Rights Commission; conduct and attend interviews and depositions of witnesses.
• Assist the General Counsel in providing legal services and representation to SHA and its employees; render legal services on matters involving considerable difficulty and complexity including questions for which no clear legal precedent is available.
• Analyze problems, conduct legal research, and provide legal opinions related to difficult and complex legal problems; respond to requests from private attorneys, local governmental officials, and the general public for explanations of SHA policies and practices involving significant legal issues.
• In conjunction with the SHA Accommodations Coordinators, provide advice and counsel to SHA Housing Operations regarding reasonable accommodation issues for disabled residents under the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Fair Housing Amendments Act, and Washington state laws against housing discrimination.
• Render legal opinions with respect to Public Housing.
• Attend resident, manager, supervisor, and other meetings to discuss legal issues and answer questions regarding SHA processes, procedures, and policies.
• Operate a computer and other office equipment as assigned.
• Participate in the development and implementation of goals, work plans, performance measures, and continuous improvement of service delivery to assist in attaining the unit/program/department initiatives and goals, agency core strategies, and mission through a spirit of service, teamwork, and respect. Work respectfully and courteously with other employees, follow direction, and work well under pressure.
• Provide advice and counsel to SHA management regarding employment and labor law issues, including discrimination, disabled employees, workplace policies, Family and Medical Leave, wages and hour issues, worker's compensation programs, collective bargaining, Unfair Labor Practices, and grievances.
• Provide advice and counsel to SHA employees regarding contracts, construction and design, and procurement. Prepare standardized contract language; prepare, review, and revise contracts.
• Provide training to SHA management and employees regarding prevention of sexual and other discriminatory harassment.
• Advise and/or represent SHA in collective bargaining negotiations; prepare and revise collective bargaining agreement drafts; advise and/or represent SHA in any employment grievances or unfair labor practice proceedings.
• Work closely with the General Counsel's Office paralegal in the performance of support tasks performed in furtherance of legal proceedings.
• Ensure that all safety and health rules, standards and procedures are observed;; ensure that accident investigations of all accidents are formally reported on or within the next workday of when the accident occurred; monitor and enforce the agency's Safety and Health Program and actively support and participate in the Emergency Preparedness program and tasks.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

For additional information on the job, please see the full job description.

How to Apply: To apply, complete the online NeoGov application by clicking the Apply button in the upper right-hand corner of this posting.

Application Tips:

• Update the Work Experience and Education sections with your most current information. Note: SHA does not accept external attachments such as resumes or cover letters.
• Complete the Agency-Wide questions. Even if you've applied to SHA before, please review and update your responses.
• Respond to any Supplemental Questions, if applicable.

Why Should You Apply?

• Our Culture: SHA offers a supportive, energetic workplace where collaboration and growth thrive. Our talented team has helped make us a nationally recognized leader in affordable housing and community development.

• Competitive Salary

• Comprehensive Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance

• Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS)

• Generous paid leave and holidays

• Work-Life Balance

• Reasonable hours

• Opportunity for part-time remote work (dependent on the position)

• Professional Development

• On-the-job training and growth opportunities

• --

Our Commitment to Equity

SHA values your unique background and perspective - we encourage you to apply even if you don't meet every listed qualification. Learn more in our diversity and application equity statement.

Benefits

Seattle Housing Authority (SHA) is pleased to offer an excellent benefits package for Regular and Project full-time and part-time employees scheduled to work at least 80 hours per month. (Temporary and On-Call positions are not eligible for the full benefits package).

The following is a brief summary of the SHA benefit programs:

Eligibility

As a new hire, your coverage begins on the first calendar day of the month if your hired date is on the first of that month. Otherwise, your coverage begins on the first of the following month.

Medical

Employees may select from four medical plans - Kaiser Permanente Standard Plan, Kaiser Permanente Deductible Plan, City of Seattle Preventive Plan, and City of Seattle Traditional Plan.

The monthly cost for each of the plans are as follows:

Kaiser Permanente Standard Plan is $48.40 with or without children or $99.90 with spouse/domestic partner with or without children

Kaiser Permanente Deductible Plan is $25.00 with or without children or $56.92 with spouse/domestic partner with or without children

City of Seattle Preventive Plan is $48.12 with or without children or $98.50 with spouse/domestic partner with or without children

City of Seattle Traditional Plan is $0 with or without children or $32.34 with spouse/domestic partner with or without children

Dental

Employees may select from two dental plans - Delta Dental, an incentive plan, or Dental Health Services, a managed care plan. Our dental plans include coverage for eligible dependents and are paid for by SHA.

Vision

SHA offers two vision plans through VSP Vision Care. The Basic plan is fully paid for by SHA. The Vision Buy-Up plan is paid for by the employee. The Buy-Up plan provides more frequent coverage of lenses, frames, and contact lenses and includes coverage of progressive lenses.

Long Term Disability Insurance

If you are disabled, the Basic Plan will be combined with other sources of income to pay you up to $400 a month after a 90-day waiting period. Employees may purchase long-term disability coverage that provides up to 60% of gross monthly salary during disability.

Group Term Life (GTL) Insurance

You can select from one of two plans - Basic GTL, which is one-and-a-half times your annual earnings or Limited Basic GTL of $50,000.00. SHA will contribute 40% of the cost for the GTL insurance.

If you have elected Basic GTL, you may purchase supplemental term life insurance for yourself, your spouse/domestic partner, and your dependent children. The maximum amount of supplemental life insurance available is four times your annual income for the employee, 50% of the amount of coverage you elect for the spouse, and $2,000, $5,000 or $10,000 for children.

Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance

SHA offers an employee-paid group AD&D insurance plan. An employee may cover themself or a family member for amounts from $25,000 to $500,000 in $25,000 increments. AD&D insurance pays a death benefit if the insured person dies due to an accident or a percentage of the full insurance amount if the covered person loses a limb.

Retirement Plan

Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) membership is defined by Washington State statutes and is mandatory if you are hired into an eligible position. However, if you are retired from or have been a member of the City of Seattle, Spokane or Tacoma Employees Retirement System, your PERS enrollment must be verified and approved by the Washington State Department of Retirement System.

Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

Employees have the option of making pre-tax contributions to pay for IRS eligible expenses. There are two accounts: a Health Care Flexible Spending Account and a Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account. Employees can sign up for one or both accounts.

Leave Benefits

Annual Leave is provided for vacation and personal time off. First year employees earn up to 3.84 hours per bi-weekly pay period (100 hours annually), increasing incrementally due to service years - up to 7.69 per hours per pay period at 25 years of service (200 hours annually). Leave hours for part time staff are pro-rated. There is a 240-hour annual carryover limit for annual leave.

Sick leave is provided for health care and related appointments. Employees earn 3.69 hours per pay period. Hours for part time staff are pro-rated. There is no maximum or carryover limit for sick leave.

Seattle Housing Authority observes twelve legal holidays, as detailed below.

New Years Day

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Presidents Day

Memorial Day

Juneteenth

Independence Day

Labor Day

Indigenous Peoples Day

Veterans Day

Thanksgiving Day

The day following Thanksgiving

Christmas Day

Additionally, up to three personal holidays are granted to regular employees each calendar year. They are available to be scheduled in advance by the employee with supervisor approval.

Regular administrative non-represented employees hired between January 1 and May 31 are granted three personal holidays. If hired from June 1 until November 10, two personal holidays are granted. If hired beginning November 11 or later, no personal holidays are granted until January 1.

Pay for Performance Program & Merit Awards

Regular Administrative non-represented staff are eligible for Merit Pay and Merit Leave awards based on their annual performance evaluation, as well as on the agencys fiscal year performance from January through December of each year. An employees merit awards are based on the employees performance rating, the position of the employees salary within the salary range, and the fiscal performance of the agency. For new and promoted employees, the merit awards will be pro-rated based on length of time in the current position during the calendar year.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)

As an SHA employee, you may be eligible for federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness. This federal program was created to assist full-time public service professionals in reducing their federal student loan debt burden.

Employee Transportation Program

A fully subsidized commuter ORCA Passport is offered for use on Metro, Community Transit, Pierce Transit, Kitsap Transit, Everett Transit, Sound Transit, Link Light Rail, Sounder Commuter Train routes. It can also be used on the Seattle Center Monorail. ORCA Passport also provides reduced or fully covered fares on most vanpool routes.

Additionally, an Emergency Ride Home Program, bike racks at various sites, and shower facilities at several offices are also provided, along with discount Zipcar membership (if accepted). Finally, group discount parking is available for registered vanpools in certain areas.

Flex-Time

With supervisor approval, work hours may be scheduled around core hours of 8:00 am to 5:00 pm or a compressed 4/10 workweek. This option is not available for every position.

Telework

With supervisor approval, employees can perform assigned duties from home at certain times. This option is not available for every position.

Employee Assistance Program

Confidential counseling, referral, and information services are available through ComPsych.

Washington Deferred Compensation Program

Tax deferred savings plans are available through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems Deferred Compensation Program.

Employer Seattle Housing Authority

Address 101 Elliot Ave W

Seattle, Washington, 98119

Phone 206-615-3323

Website http://www.seattlehousing.org