Legal Specialist

Overview

The Division of Administration/Disaster Recover Unit (DRU) has a vacancy. This job is Unclassified.

The Louisiana Office of Community Development (OCD) administers Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery and Mitigation (CDBG-DR and CDBG-MIT) grants and other federal and state funding allocated to the State of Louisiana. These programs support long-term recovery, resilience, and mitigation for communities affected by Presidentially Declared Disasters. OCD’s grant portfolio exceeds $20 billion and encompasses multiple federal awards, each containing numerous programs, funding activities, and implementation timelines.

This professional position provides specialized guidance on recovery program areas as they relate to policy and implementation. It assists the division in interpretation and understanding of specialized program directives, best practices, applicable regulations, and legislation. The position coordinates with key partners and agencies for special disaster recovery needs and specific technical expertise, and provides highly responsible and complex technical support in specialized recovery efforts to the division Assistant Executive Director or designee and OCD management.

The Division of Administration is the state government’s management arm and the hub of its financial operations. Division offices perform a wide variety of activities including the following:

• Overseeing the state’s capital construction program
• Working to provide state and federal grants for community development
• Development of the state budget
• Providing technology services
• Giving agencies guidance in the state purchasing and contracting process as they seek goods and services
• Administering a program that provides federal funds to help Louisiana residents recover from a series of devastating hurricanes

Qualifications

Possession of a license to practice law in the state of Louisiana, plus two years of experience as a practicing attorney.

• Experience working on Disaster Recovery or CDBG-related programs
• Experience with state procurement and public works projects
• Experience with construction programs/projects/contracts (residential/commercial)
• Experience coordinating with multiple agencies
• Experience with compliance or monitoring programs/projects/contracts
• Microsoft Office proficient, particularly in Word and Excel

(Duties are illustrative and not comprehensive. Responsibilities may vary.)

• Provide workflow support on special project tasks assigned on a short, medium or long-term basis in the disaster recovery programs and mitigation and resiliency programs funded with U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds.
• Work with various programs or team leaders to provide legal support where needed. Program assignments may be changed based on agency needs.
• Ensure assigned projects and tasks comply with applicable local, state and federal regulations, Action Plan Amendments, Federal Register Notices, public laws, as well as the terms of all agreements with OCD.
• Provide workflow support for project and program stakeholders and other sections of the agency, relative to:

• preparation of action plans
• development of policies and procedures
• procurement processes
• coordination of use of CDBG funds with other public and private funding sources
• interagency transfer agreements
• memoranda of understanding
• sub-recipient agreements
• technical assistance in CDBG requirements and program policies and procedures
• handling of public record requests
• analysis and advice on legislative instruments and/or on property law and title issues

• Work on individual grant or loan files in various programs under the direction of legal counsel with respect to grant or loan noncompliance or default, construction disputes, or other issues, which may arise within the implementation of programs, including, as assigned:
• Tracking file activities and preparing communication/status reports.
• Participating in conferences with grant recipients and borrowers.
• Participating in file workout strategies and development of workout agreements.
• Drafting communications with grantees, borrowers and third…