Real Estate Senior Counsel

Description

LIFE AT PACIFIC LIFESTYLE HOMES

Experience the difference of being part of the Pacific Lifestyle Homes family. As a two-time recipient of the prestigious Building Industry Association "Builder of the Year" award and the esteemed National Housing Quality Gold Award, we are more than just a homebuilder – we are dedicated to BUILDING BETTER LIVES. From our humble beginnings in 1996, we have grown to construct over 6,500 homes and 130 communities across SW Washington, the Portland Metro area, greater Puget Sound area, and the Boise Metro landscape. Join us and build your career with a company committed to excellence and community impact.

JOB MISSION

Pacific Lifestyle Homes is seeking a Real Estate Senior Counsel to serve as a key advisor to leadership, land acquisition, and development teams. This role is responsible for structuring, drafting, reviewing, and negotiating a wide range of real estate and operational agreements while proactively managing legal risk and supporting business objectives. This highly collaborative position requires both strong technical legal expertise and practical business judgment and reports directly to the Director of Land Acquisition and Development. 

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Real Estate Transactions:

• Draft, review, and negotiate: 
  • Purchase and Sale Agreements (PSAs) 
  • Letters of Intent (LOIs) 
  • Option Agreements, Joint Venture Agreements, and Land Banking Agreements 
• Provide legal support throughout the land acquisition and disposition process 
• Conduct title and due diligence review in coordination with internal and external partners 
• Identify and mitigate legal risks in real estate transactions 

Development & Community Governance:

• Draft and review: 
  • Covenants, Conditions & Restrictions (CC&Rs) 
  • Declarations and governing documents 
  • Easements, development agreements, and plat-related documents 
• Partner with development teams to ensure compliance with local regulations and entitlements 
• Advise on HOA structures and governance matters 

Contract Review & Risk Management:

• Review, draft, and negotiate third-party contracts, including: 
  • Vendor and service agreements 
  • Construction-related agreements 
  • Consulting and professional services contracts 
• Establish and maintain contract standards and templates 
• Ensure consistency in risk allocation and protection of company interests 

Legal Advisory & Compliance:

• Provide day-to-day legal guidance to internal stakeholders 
• Interpret and advise on applicable laws, land use, regulations, and compliance requirements 
• Coordinate with outside counsel as needed while managing cost and efficiency 
• Support dispute resolution and pre-litigation strategy when necessary 

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education & Experience

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school 
• Active license to practice law in Oregon and Washington (Idaho/Boise preferred) 
• 10-30+ years of experience in real estate and/or land use transactional law, actively practicing 
• Experience with residential development and/or homebuilding 

Skills & Competencies

• Strong drafting and negotiation skills with attention to detail 
• Ability to translate legal risk into practical business guidance 
• Proactive, solution-oriented mindset 
• High level of integrity and sound judgment 
• Strong communication skills with both legal and non-legal stakeholders 
• Ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment

WHY WORK HERE

BENEFITS

• Company supported medical, dental and vision benefits for employees and families
• Participation in our 401(k)-retirement savings plan with Company contributions
• New home discount
• 120 hours of paid time off for the first year
• Seven paid holidays
• Paid volunteer hours
• Employee Recognition Program
• Employee Referral Bonus - Up to $1,000
• Engaging company culture – Including our annual “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”
• And much more!

OUR CULTURE / VALUES

At Pacific Lifestyle Homes, our vibrant culture defines who we are. We believe in the power of open communication, where every voice is valued and heard. With a strong emphasis on personal growth, we offer one-on-one coaching, regular reviews, and prioritize internal promotion whenever feasible. Our actions are guided by our core values of respect, accountability, candor, humility, integrity, and teamwork, shaping every decision we make and every interaction we have.

Build your career at Pacific Lifestyle Homes, where we are committed to the idea that a skilled team can build homes and communities that withstand the test of time. Picture yourself driving by our neighborhoods a decade from now, brimming with pride knowing you played a vital role in their creation. Do not miss the opportunity to make a lasting impact with us!

For additional information about Pacific Lifestyle Home’s Company Culture and how it can enrich your career, we invite you to view the video at the following link: https://youtu.be/Hud-5EsJ2fw

WORK ENVIRONMENT

We are an in-person culture with a general work schedule of 8:00am – 5:00pm.

Our dress code and appearance policy reflect our commitment to professionalism and our dedication to maintaining a premier standard as a homebuilder.

Prior managerial reference checks, background check and a pre-employment drug screen are required steps in our hiring process.

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.