In-House Legal Counsel and Director of Property Services

SUMMARY: This position oversees the real property transfers for the conference. Responsibilities include reviewing and signing all documents used in a sale or purchase of real property for the conference, schools, churches and Pine Springs Ranch. It includes advising conference officers and others on real property issues. It includes oversight of conference income properties and non-income producing real estate inventory, REI. It includes setting up and maintaining real property files for all property owned by SECC except properties owned by SECC as trustee or executor of a private trust or probate estate. This position provides legal services as general counsel for the SECC corporation and providing legal advice and services to the conference officers, administrators, Executive Committee and other committees, churches, schools and Pine Springs Ranch. This position requires an active license with the California State Bar.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Department Director

• Manages the Property Services Department staff consisting of the administrative assistant and accountant. Responsible for the creation of job descriptions, hiring, training, evaluating, employment actions.
• Assists in the preparation of the Property Services Departmental budget. Responsible for departmental budget management.
• Serves on Property Services Board, Stahlheber Board, and as requested for Executive Committee, Personnel Committee, and Administrative Committee.
• Coordinates with treasury on external audits of SECC.
• Approves payment of department expenses.

Property

• Processes all real property transactions for SECC, churches, schools and other SECC institutions.
• Serves as primary contact for oversight of conference income property.
• Serves as secretary of the Augustus P. Stahlheber Board.
• Serves as secretary for Property Services Board.
• Implements Environmental Survey policy for all added real property.
• Plans and implements strategy to eliminate non income producing real property not in active ministry use.
• Manages conference real estate inventory.
• Oversees the establishment of property tax exemptions for all SECC properties engaged in exempt activities.
• Oversees the payment of all property taxes on conference property and the billing and collection of the entity responsible.
• Oversees the collection and maintenance of all leases of property in the name of SECC.
• Assists churches and other entities with negotiation and entering communication site leases.
• Plans and maintains records on all real property recorded in the name of SECC.

Legal Counsel

• Provides legal advice and counsel to the executive officers, vice presidents, Superintendent of Schools, Human Resources Director and Department Directors.
• Oversees the selection and work of external legal services provided to the conference.
• Provides legal advice to Trust Services on the administration of trusts and related issues.
• Provides legal advice to pastors on non-profit regulations, disturbance issues, potential legal disputes and general law issues affecting churches.
• Provides legal advice to school administrators on school law issues and general legal issues.
• Reviews contracts for SECC, churches, schools and Pine Springs Ranch.
• Processes employment termination external legal review.
• Prepares, revises and disseminates model leases for SECC entities to use.
• Prepares and disseminates model construction contracts for small projects for SECC entities to use.
• Advises SECC Executive Committee and Personnel Committee regarding legal issues.
• Provides a preliminary level of advice on employment law.
• Serves as corporate agent for service of process.
• Interacts with the local legal community and Adventist lawyers generally on behalf of the conference.
• Oversees maintenance of the corporate legal structure with the Secretary of State.
• Continuously works to protect the conference from liability, ensure fair treatment of employees and others and comply with applicable laws.

JOB SPECIFICATIONS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill ability required and physical and work environment.

Education and/or Experience

This position requires active membership in the California State Bar Association and experience in the areas of non-profit legal issues, real property transactions, and estate planning and trust management.

Language Skills

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret technical journals, financial reports, and legal documents. Ability to respond effectively to inquiries or concerns from administrators, directors, boards, churches, schools, regulatory agencies, or legal representatives. Ability to create and make effective presentations in areas of responsibility.

Mathematical Skills

Ability to perform basic math using whole numbers and all units of measure, common fractions, and decimals. Knowledge of loan amortizations and the ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent.

Reasoning Ability

Ability to apply principles of analytical thinking to a wide range of intellectual and practical problems. Ability to deal with a variety of abstract and concrete variables or in situations where limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

Current active membership in the State Bar of California. Must be eligible for a Missionary License/Credential, Ministerial License/Credential or Commissioned Ministerial Credential. Driver's license required because of extensive travel.

Other Skills & Abilities

Knowledge of word processing and spreadsheets is required. Must respect privacy in estate matters. Ability solve problems and to assist others to work together cooperatively. Must possess listening and Communication skills. Must possess adaptability and creative responses to setbacks and obstacles. Group and interpersonal effectiveness, cooperativeness and teamwork, skills at negotiating disagreements. Regular attendance required.

Physical Demands/Work Environment

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to walk, stand, sit, and use hands to handle, finger, reach with hands and arms and talk and hear. Occasionally the employee must kneel. Successful performance requires specific vision abilities that include close vision and ability to adjust focus. Occasionally lift up to 25 pounds. Works in office environment where the noise level is usually moderate.

Office or home work environment with moderate noise level. Occasionally exposed to outside weather during off site work.

* * * Reasonable accommodations may be used to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.