What are the responsibilities and job description for the Senior Compliance and Operations Attorney position at Amherst Services Corp?
The Amherst Group's companies are comprised of leading real estate investment and advisory firms with a mission to transform the way real estate is owned, financed and managed. Amherst leverages its proprietary data, analytics, technology, and decades of experience to seek solutions for a fragmented, slow-to-evolve real estate ecosystem and to materially improve the experience for residents, buyers, sellers, communities, and investors. Today Amherst has over 1000 employees and $14.1 billion in assets under management. Over the past decade, Amherst has scaled its platform to become one of the largest operators of single-family assets and has acquired, renovated, and leased more than 46,000 homes across 32 markets in the U.S. The firm delivers customized, stabilized cash-flowing portfolios of assets to its investors, wrapped in all the ongoing services required to manage, own, and finance the asset including property management, portfolio management, and a full capital markets team. In addition to its single-family rental platform, Amherst’s debt business pursues two distinct credit strategies in mortgage-backed securities and commercial real estate lending. Over its 25-year history, Amherst has developed a deep bench of research and technology talent, and leverages data and analytics at every stage in the asset lifecycle to improve operations and preserve long-term value for our investors and the more than 188,000 residents the firm has served. We are seeking an experienced and business-oriented Senior Compliance and Operations Attorney to oversee regulatory compliance for our national single-family rental (SFR) platform and provide legal support for real estate operations, including leasing, acquisitions, dispositions, easement review and day-to-day property management issues. This role serves as the primary legal contact for regulatory compliance, ensuring laws and regulations are proactively monitored, interpreted and operationalized into business operations. This role requires a strong foundation in real estate law, property management and multi-jurisdictional compliance. The ideal candidate will have at least 6 to 8 years of experience, including at least 2 years in-house with a single or multifamily residential owner operator and a demonstrated ability to translate legal and regulatory requirements into practical business processes. Key Responsibilities: Regulatory Compliance Oversight Lead regulatory compliance efforts across jurisdictions for the SFR business. Monitor and interpret evolving laws and regulations affecting property management, leasing, landlord-tenant relations, and real estate operations. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to implement regulatory changes and compliance initiatives efficiently. Develop and maintain internal policies, procedures and training materials to promote compliance and mitigate risk. Manage compliance reporting, audits, and risk assessments. Property Management & Real Estate Legal Support Provide legal support for the real estate transactions and leasing teams. Provide legal guidance on property management matters such as tenant relations, maintenance, habitability, evictions, and fair housing. Review and negotiate agreements such as property management contracts, vendor agreements and easements. Support the legal and operational teams in resolving day-to-day issues related to property operations, code compliance and local ordinances. Governance, Risk & Implementation Collaborate with business teams to ensure compliance frameworks align with operational goals. Coordinate with internal legal, compliance and risk management teams to implement best practices. Help design and deploy tools to monitor compliance across jurisdictions. Serve as a subject matter expert on regulatory matters affecting the property management and SFR business. Training & Communication Develop and deliver compliance training to property management and operations teams. Communicate complex legal and regulatory concepts clearly and effectively to non-legal stakeholders. Promote a culture of compliance and ethical conduct across the organization. Qualifications J.D. from an accredited law school. Active bar membership in at least one U.S. state (Texas preferred). 6 to 8 years of relevant legal experience, including at least 2 years in-house experience in real estate, property management or compliance roles. Demonstrated expertise in landlord-tenant law, property management, fair housing and regulatory compliance. Experience advising on multi-jurisdictional compliance matters, including operational implementation. Strong understanding of real estate transactions, leasing, acquisitions and property operations. Excellent communication, analytical and organizational skills. Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and projects in a fast-paced environment. Collaborative, business-minded, and proactive approach to problem-solving. Preferred Experience Prior experience in institutional single-family rental (SFR), REITs or large-scale real estate operations. Experience with compliance management systems or frameworks (e.g., policy management, audit tracking). Familiarity with relevant federal, state, and local regulations, including fair housing, consumer protection and landlord-tenant laws. Our full-time employee benefits include: A competitive compensation package, annual bonus, 401k match Flexible PTO including 7 paid holidays, 1 floating holiday, and 1 volunteer day Employer-paid benefits (medical, dental, vision, health savings account) Professional career development and reimbursement Up to 16 weeks paid maternity leave; up to 4 weeks of paid parental leave Backup childcare offered through Bright Horizons Amherst is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information or veteran status, and encourage all applicants to apply. At Amherst, we harness the power of people and technology and leverage decades of experience to transform the way real estate is created, owned, financed, and managed in the U.S. Our team integrates data and analytics firm-wide to bring to market new solutions for the U.S. housing market. We are powered by the most talented, committed, and diverse colleagues in the industry, who drive our inclusive, dynamic culture, and propel our supercharged growth. Join us on our mission to revolutionize how all of us interact with real estate.