Senior Associate General Counsel (Counsel II)

Commonwealth of Massachusetts; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is seeking a Senior Associate General Counsel for its Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM). This position involves advising on complex public-sector legal issues, particularly in real estate, leasing, and construction matters.

Candidates should possess a Juris Doctor degree and be admitted to the Massachusetts Bar, with at least three years of experience in law. The role supports meaningful public projects and a hybrid work environment.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree required.
• Must be admitted to the Massachusetts Bar.
• 3+ years of professional legal experience needed.

Responsibilities

• Advise on significant real estate matters for the Commonwealth.
• Support public-private partnership projects.
• Draft, review, and negotiate legal agreements.
• Research statutes and analyze legal issues affecting DCAMM.

Skills

Legal judgment

Drafting skills

Negotiation skills

Research and analytical skills

Problem-solving

Education

Juris Doctor (JD) degree

Admission to the Massachusetts Bar

3+ years of professional experience in law

Job description

About DCAMM

The Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance manages and stewards the Commonwealth’s real estate assets, capital projects, and public buildings. DCAMM oversees more than $2 billion in capital programs and projects, manages millions of square feet of state buildings, and works with agencies across Massachusetts to deliver responsible, sustainable, and forward‑looking real‑estate and building solutions.

Our work affects communities across the Commonwealth. We help state agencies meet their operational needs, support public services, advance sustainability and climate goals, promote economic development, and make responsible use of public assets.

About the Role

DCAMM is seeking a thoughtful, practical, and intellectually curious attorney to join its Office of the General Counsel as a Senior Associate General Counsel.

This role is for an attorney who enjoys complex public‑sector problem solving. The work is varied and often involves high‑impact real estate, leasing, redevelopment, procurement, construction, permitting, and agency‑governance issues. The attorney will work closely with DCAMM leadership, program teams, other state agencies, municipalities, outside counsel, private‑sector partners, and elected and appointed officials.

The ideal candidate does not need to have done every part of this job before. We are looking for someone with excellent legal judgment, strong drafting and negotiation skills, intellectual curiosity, humility, and the ability to learn new areas of law and agency practice. Experience in commercial real estate is valuable, but candidates with related experience in public‑sector law, procurement, land use, construction, leasing, transactions, regulatory work, government counsel, or complex institutional advising are also encouraged to apply.

What You’ll Do

• Advise on significant real estate matters involving Commonwealth property, including acquisitions, dispositions, title issues, deed restrictions, and related agreements.
• Support redevelopment and public‑private partnership projects involving state office buildings, higher education campuses, health and human services campuses, and other public assets.
• Draft, review, and negotiate agreements, memoranda, briefing materials, and other legal documents.
• Counsel DCAMM teams and user agencies on leasing, procurement, contract amendments, project delivery, and dispute resolution.
• Research and analyze statutes, regulations, policies, precedents, and evolving legal issues affecting DCAMM’s work.
• Help translate complex legal requirements into practical advice for decision‑makers.
• Work collaboratively with senior staff, program teams, other agencies, municipal officials, and executive‑branch stakeholders.
• Support the General Counsel and Deputy General Counsels on strategic, legal, policy, and operational matters.

This reflects the existing posting’s core duties, including complex real‑estate acquisitions and dispositions, public‑private partnerships, leasing, legal research, interagency coordination, public presentations, and work with municipal, elected, and executive‑branch officials.

Who We’re Looking For

• Exercises sound judgment and communicates clearly with lawyers and non‑lawyers.
• Enjoys learning new legal and operational areas.
• Is comfortable asking questions, seeking out institutional knowledge, and working as part of a team.
• Can manage ambiguity and provide practical advice even when the answer is not obvious.
• Brings strong drafting, negotiation, research, and analytical skills.
• Can balance legal risk, business needs, public accountability, and mission impact.
• Builds trust with colleagues, clients, and external partners.
• Values public service and wants to contribute to projects that affect the people of Massachusetts.

Preferred Experience

We encourage candidates to apply even if they do not meet every preferred qualification.

• Leasing.
• Land use, zoning, permitting, or environmental review.
• Public‑private partnerships or redevelopment projects.
• Construction, public construction, or project delivery.
• Procurement, contracting, or public‑sector transactions.
• Government counsel, regulatory, legislative, or administrative law.
• Advising senior leaders, boards, commissions, public agencies, or institutional clients.
• Working with municipalities, state agencies, elected officials, or external stakeholders.

Candidates do not need to have experience in every listed area. We encourage applications from attorneys who bring strong legal judgment, curiosity, writing ability, negotiation skills, and a demonstrated capacity to learn.

Why Join DCAMM?

• Work on complex, meaningful public projects.
• Help shape the Commonwealth’s real‑estate and capital asset strategy.
• Advise on matters involving public buildings, campuses, leases, redevelopment, and long‑term public infrastructure.
• Collaborate with experienced professionals across law, real‑estate, construction, planning, finance, and public administration.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to an agency with a broad and important public mission.
• Continue growing as a lawyer by learning new legal, operational, and policy areas.
• DCAMM follows a hybrid work model that includes both in‑office and work‑from‑home days.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value diverse experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives and encourage candidates to apply even if they do not meet every preferred qualification. The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree.
• Admission to the Massachusetts Bar.
• At least three years of full‑time, or equivalent part‑time, professional experience in the practice of law.
• Current and valid Motor Vehicle Driver’s License (Class level specific to assignment) may be required.