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Job Description

The Iowa Finance Authority (IFA) is searching for an outstanding, motivated professional to join our team as our Assistant Legal Counsel.

The Legal Counsel position will provide support and legal assistance to various programs within our agency including the Bonds, Finance, and Agriculture teams. The Assistant Legal Counsel will lead the efforts of the Iowa Finance Authority’s “Red Tape Review” of all program rules over the next two years.

About The Iowa Finance Authority

The Iowa Finance Authority was created in 1975 to advance affordable housing opportunities for Iowans. Since that time, we’ve helped thousands of Iowans purchase their first home or find a rental home in which their families can thrive.

The Iowa Finance Authority has grown to provide a wealth of resources for Iowans, including low-cost water quality financing for communities, assistance for beginning farmers to establish their farming operations, homelessness assistance for Iowans in need and residential and commercial title protection.

…And we’re just getting started. Are you the perfect candidate to help us assist even more Iowans?

General Duties

Red Tape Review:

• Assists the Legal Team in completion of the multi-year “Red Tape Review” process.
• Drafts and revises rules associated with the organization to meet Legislative deadline of July 2026.
• After completion of the initial “Red Tape Review” will assist in setting procedures and timelines to conduct regular reviews of organization rules.

Programs Legal Support

• Drafts and reviews documents, including contracts, for justification, accuracy and completeness.
• Answers questions relating to policy and administrative actions relating to the agency’s programs.
• Drafts and reviews the agency's contracts with state and federal agencies detailing the terms of the applicable agreement/program and the respective obligations of each party involved.
• Drafts/reviews language, contracts and other documentation for the agency's various programs (for example, multifamily loan documents, grant documents, etc.).

General Legal Duties

• Reviews documents for the Iowa Finance Authority and its staff.
• Drafts and reviews agency forms, contracts, and other legal documents.
• Researches laws, legal opinions, policies, regulations and cases.
• Examines formal filings for legal sufficiency and full disclosure required by statues, rules and regulations.
• Prepares correspondence relating to a variety of issues, including but not limited to, the preparation of opinions, legislative reports, briefs, other legal issues or documents.

Ideal candidates will exemplify our core values and have experience in:

• Negotiating, drafting and reviewing contracts
• Tax exempt bonds
• State and Federal grant and loan programs

INNOVATIVE - We inspire people with our ideas, turn those ideas into reality and know how to replicate success.

MISSION ORIENTED - We keep a constant focus on the Iowans our programs benefit.

PURPOSEFUL - We nurture a culture of outstanding work, collaboration and diligence

ACCOUNTABLE – We accept responsibility, are trustworthy in our commitments, respectful to one another, and transparent in our actions.

CUSTOMER SERVICE FOCUS – We are courteous, responsive and respectful and serve as a reliable resource for our clients and constituents.

THOUGHT LEADERS – We are imaginative visionaries who find creative ways to reveal opportunities and leverage data to help drive decisions.

The Programs Legal Counsel position is a non-merit, contract covered position that is classified by the State of Iowa as an Attorney 2. This position is exempt (salaried) per FLSA regulations.

Benefits

As an employee of the Iowa Finance Authority, you are a State of Iowa employee and eligible for a comprehensive benefits package that includes the following and more:

• Insurance – Health, Dental, Life and Long-Term Disability
• IPERS (Iowa Public Employee Retirement System)
• Leave – Sick, Vacation, Family and Military Leave
• Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts

To learn more about benefits available to State of Iowa employees visit the benefits web page.

New to the area or looking to relocate to Iowa? Visit This is Iowa to see how Iowa offers something for everyone- competitively low cost of living, bustling cities and neighborhoods, access to entertainment , opportunities for career growth and unrivaled access to outdoor adventures .

Applicant must pass a comprehensive background check before an offer for employment will be extended.

An EEO/AA Employer

Our agency uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify .

This is a non-merit position. Candidates must follow the instructions in the "To Apply" section.

Positions in this class are exempt from the screening and referral requirements of the Iowa Department of Administrative Services - Human Resources Enterprise.

Only applicants who meet the Minimum Qualification Requirements and meet all selective requirements will be placed on the eligible list.

Selectives

354 Law Degree

Possession of a law degree from an accredited institution.

Minimum Qualification Requirements

Minimum Qualifications:

Applicants must meet at least one of the following minimum requirements to qualify for positions in this job classification:

• Graduation from an accredited school of law, and experience equal to two years of full-time work in the practice of law; not including experience as a law clerk.
• Current, continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes eighteen months of full-time work with the employing agency in the practice of law; not including experience as a law clerk.

And

Must possess a law degree from an accredited institution.

For additional information, please click on this link to view the job description.

Additional Qualification Requirements

Within a period of time after hire, as determined by the appointing authority, employees in this class may be required to be admitted to the Iowa State Bar if required at the time of appointment.