REAL ESTATE SECTION CHIEF

Job Description:

REAL ESTATE SECTION CHIEF

Description

POSITION OVERVIEW

Applications accepted from: ALL PERSONS INTERESTED
Job Classification: Section Chief
Division: Real Estate
Reporting Location: 900 Bagby Street, Houston, TX 77002
Workdays & Hours: *Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 5:00pm (*Subject to change)

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT:

The City of Houston Legal Department strives to provide the highest quality municipal legal services to the City, its elect appointed officials, and its employees in the most efficient manner feasible through adherence to the following guiding principles:

• Quality & Service - Achieving high customer satisfaction as judged by our clients,
• Partnership & Teamwork - Working cooperatively internally and with our clients to achieve the City's goals,
• Integrity & Candor - Acting with a commitment to honesty and ethical behavior,
• Dignity & Diversity - Demonstrating esteem for the worth of each individual,
• Innovation & Imagination - Seeking novel and creative approaches to achieving the City's objectives.

Composed of approximately 100 of Houston's finest attorneys working in 10 legal practice sections, the Legal Department personal injury, commercial and civil rights litigation, major commercial and real estate transactions, a diverse array resources, labor and employment matters, while also counseling the municipal corporation on economic development constitutional, election matters, ethics and quality of life matters, and preparing City ordinances governing Houston and its citizens. Every employee is committed to the Department's motto - "Service Through Law."

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

The City of Houston seeks applicants for the position of Real Estate Section Chief who supervises and directs the activities of the Real Estate section, including performing complex professional and administrative legal functions. The Section Chief provides legal counsel and representation to city departments as well as city officers and employees in their official capacities. The applicant must be an experienced commercial real estate attorney and practice manager with at least 10 years of relevant practice and personnel management experience.

Section Chief responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Assists, supports and advises the City Attorney as necessary.
• Schedules, supervises and reviews the activities of attorneys within an assigned group. Advises subordinate attorneys in litigation, transactional, and/or client counseling matters.
• Provides legal advice/counsel to City Council and provides City departments, officials, and employees with counsel, representation, and legal advice.
• Develops and reviews ordinances and other legislation.
• Trains and develops attorneys within working groups. Evaluates performance of section professional
• staff members.
• Develops or modifies work plans, methods and procedures, determines work priorities and work schedules to provide adequate staff coverage. Provides work instruction and advises employees on difficult and/or unusual assignments. Assigns and distributes work, reviews work to ensure sound legal advice and accurate/sufficient documentation and provides feedback with recommendations for proper completion.
• Prepares job postings, conducts hiring interviews, selects candidate(s) for job opening(s), and participates in salary analyses.
• Resolves problems and mediates conflicts encountered during daily operations and determines appropriate solutions; promotes teamwork. Communicate with staff regarding business issues and their impact on the organization.
• Develops goals, documents performance, provides performance feedback, and formally evaluates the work of employees.
• Documents causes for disciplinary action and makes formal recommendations for positive corrective discipline.
• Responds to formal and informal employee grievances and prepares written responses.
• Participates in planning and managing budget systems as appropriate. Prepares and presents budget recommendations for review and approval. Operates within budget parameters and adjusts work plans/ activities as a result of budget changes.
• Conducts legal research and reviews information related to cases or work assignments and approves, advocates, and drafts legislative actions.
• Implements and interprets policies and procedures developed for the assigned section. The Section Chief recommends implementation or modification of policies and procedures and provides guidance and interpretation to staff regarding application of organizational policies, priorities, standards, functional, and legal matters.
• Identifies causes and solutions consistent with organizational directives to resolve operational and procedural problems.
• Serves as a subject matter expert with particularized knowledge in one or more areas of law.
• Assists in creation, development, and implementation of public policy as requested.
• Ensures compliance by legal staff with Code of Professional Responsibility.
• Handles other matters with or on behalf of or in support of any other Section or Section Chief of the Legal Department.

Real Estate Section

• Manages real estate transactions related to the acquisition, sale, development, use or maintenance of real property
• Reviews tax increment reinvestment zone matters including project plans, annexations, and budgets
• Overseeing tax abatement agreements
• Analyzes real property documents including deeds, easements, leases, licenses, assignments, and development agreements
• Provides legal advice/counsel to city departments, elected officials, and employees on laws concerning real property
• Analyzes bills during the legislative session and the impact of the bills on the City.
• Directs and participates in negotiation and preparation of transactional documents and participates in complex transactional matters.

COMPLEXITY:

Work is very non-standardized and widely varied, involving many complex and significant variables. The position requires a significant range and scope of legal knowledge. Analytic ability and inductive thinking are required in extensively adapting policies, procedures and methods to fit unusual or complex situations.

IMPACT OF ACTIONS:

Errors in work could lead to major costs and problems and could significantly affect short-term results of the City. Work is typically performed under general direction with policy direction provided. The incumbent participates in setting overall work objectives.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED:

Direct Supervision:

Involves scheduling, supervision and evaluation of work as a Legal Department Executive. This position reports to Executive Management of the Legal Department and has a significant level of input concerning personnel actions such as hiring, terminations, and pay changes.

Indirect Supervision:

Involves supervision and evaluation of work as a Legal Department Executive.

CONTACTS:

Internal Contacts:

Level of internal contact includes interaction with departmental and City leadership. Interaction may require negotiation and persuasion on sensitive and controversial matters. Communications, particularly those regarding critical decisions, require diplomacy and resourcefulness.

External Contacts:

Level of external contact is primarily with prominent persons such as community leaders, business and industry leaders, government officials, financial agencies. and media representatives. Interaction may require negotiation and persuasion on sensitive and controversial matters. Communications, particularly those regarding critical decisions, require diplomacy and resourcefulness. All duties and responsibilities may not be included in the above job description. Performs related work as required.

WORKING CONDITIONS

This position is physically comfortable; the individual has discretion about walking, standing, etc. There are no major sources of discomfort in a normal office environment. Most work will be conducted in standard office conditions in a typical office environment. Occasional domestic travel may be required. Requires the ability to perform routine office tasks, including occasional lifting objects of up to 20 lbs., and making simple gross motor responses within large tolerances.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

EDUCATIONAL:
Requires a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from an American Bar Association accredited college of law. Requires basic computer skills and working knowledge of the Microsoft Office suite.

EXPERIENCE:
Minimum of 10 years of experience practicing law and must be an active member in good standing of the Texas State Bar and eligible for admission to federal court. License to practice law in Texas must be kept current as a condition of employment.

LICENSE:
Must be a member of the Texas State Bar and admitted to or eligible for admittance to the Bar of the Southern District of Texas. License to practice law in Texas must be kept as a condition of employment.

PREFERENCES

Preference will be given to applicants with:

• At least 10 years of complex real estate transaction experience.
• At least 3 years of law personnel management experience.
• Exceptional academic and professional achievement.
• Excellent oral advocacy, writing, analytical and organizational skills.
• Experience working with federal, state or local governmental entities.
• Willingness to work extended hours as needed to accommodate case load demands.
• General understanding of federal, state and local rules relating to real property.
• Proficiency with Office 365 suite of programs, including Word, Outlook and Excel, as well as legal research tools.

**Preference shall be given to eligible veteran applicants provided such persons possess the qualifications necessary for competent discharge of the duties involved in the position applied for, such persons are among the most qualified candidates for the position, and all other factors in accordance with Executive Order 1-6.**

GENERAL INFORMATION

SELECTION/SKILLS TESTS REQUIRED: No

All applicants will be expected to provide a writing sample, law school transcripts and 3 - 5 professional references.

SAFETY IMPACT POSITION: No

If yes, this position is subject to random drug testing and if a promotional position, candidate must pass an assignment drug test.

SALARY INFORMATION:

Factors used in determining the salary offered include the candidate's qualifications as well as the pay rates of other employees in similar positions.
Pay Grade: 36
Salary Range: Salary will be determined depending on qualifications.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES:
Only online applications will be accepted for this City of Houston job and must be received by the Human Resources Department during posting opening and closing dates shown. Applications must be submitted online at: www.houstontx.gov .

To view your detailed application status, please log-in to your online profile by visiting: http://agency.governmentjobs.com/houston/default.cfm or call (832) 393-6214.

All new and rehires must pass a pre-employment drug test and are subject to a physical examination and verification of information.

Due to the high volume of applications received, the Hiring Department will contact you directly, should you be selected to advance in our recruitment process.

If you need special services or accommodations, call (832) 393-6214.
If you need login assistance or technical support call 855-524-5627.

EOE - Equal Employment Opportunity
The City of Houston is committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.

The city offers a competitive benefits program, including competitively priced health coverage and a defined contribution pension plan. Benefits include:

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Wellness
• Supplemental Insurance
• Life insurance
• Long-term disability
• Retirement pension
• 457 deferred compensation plan
• Employee Assistance Program
• 10 days of vacation each year
• 11 city holidays, plus one floating holiday
• Compensable Sick Leave
• Personal Leave
• Flexible schedules
• Hybrid-Telework for eligible positions
• Professional development opportunities
• Transportation/parking plan
• Section 125 pretax deductions
• Dependent Care Reimbursement Plan
• Paid Prenatal, Parental and Infant Wellness Leaves
• Healthcare Flexible Spending Account

For plan details, visit http://www.houstontx.gov/hr/benefits.html

Closing Date/Time: 9/24/2025 11:59 PM Central

Salary:

$220,306.32 - $227,119.88 Annually