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Firm Overview

Civitas Capital Group (“Civitas” or the “Firm”) is a rapidly growing alternative investment manager with approximately $1  billion in assets under management in commercial real estate, lodging, alternative credit, and related asset classes.  Civitas is particularly adept at serving global investors, including institutions, family offices, and qualified individuals. Our team collectively speaks 11 languages, serves investors from over 30 countries, and has direct cultural experience on every continent except Antarctica. We believe our collective diversity and cultural expertise are important competitive advantages. In pairing our international cultural competency with deep knowledge of the U.S. markets in which we invest, we generate better ideas. We do not seek to be all things to all people. Rather, we focus on niche, differentiated investment strategies – nothing cookie-cutter or off-the-shelf. We dig deeper to uncover opportunities that others miss.

Civitas Capital Group exists to create opportunities that enrich. This is the Firm’s purpose. We come to work every day to enrich the lives of our investors, our colleagues, and the communities in which we work. We do this in many ways. Some are directly related to the work we do: striving to earn an attractive risk-adjusted return to our investors, to create meaningful career paths for our employees, and to implement best-in-class practices that guide our peers. Some are indirectly related to the work, such as the partnerships the Firm maintains with minority-serving educational institutions. Still more are driven by our team’s desire to improve communities and lift up those who live in them – in our hometown of Dallas and beyond. In every case, in everything we do, we are guided by our core values:

• Focused Creativity: Relentless creativity + disciplined process = focus that generates results.
• Institutional Stewardship: We are stewards not only of our clients’ capital, but also of the EB-5 program itself.
• Respect and Grace: No jerks! This has been part of the bedrock of Civitas culture since Day 1.
  
  

At Civitas, our core purpose and values are more than words. They are the essence of who we are.

For further background, see civitascapital.com.

Position Summary

Civitas is seeking a Legal & Compliance manager with preferably with 5-7 years of experience. In this role, she/he will be responsible for legal and compliance support across all of Civitas’ operating divisions, including marketing and social media. Key responsibility will be to analyze potential real estate development and acquisition deals, with focus on issues of regulatory and fund governing document compliance and deal structure. You will also be required to carefully evaluate, articulate, and mitigate the risks associated with deals to senior investment and investor relations team members. The position will report to the Chief Compliance Officer & General Counsel, but will also require direct interaction with senior and executive management.

Responsibilities

• Assist with general investor review.
• Review, investigate, and respond to business legal and compliance issues and regulatory inquiries.
• Ensure that required regulatory filings are prepared and transmitted to the Company’s compliance consultants and legal partners for filing with FINRA/SEC in a timely manner.
• Review U.S. and international marketing material to ensure compliance with GIPS, SEC and FINRA rules where applicable. 
• Interpret rules and regulations, including regulatory developments to assess the impact on covered products and communicated new developments to company staff. 
• Review and approve social media content, videos, and other digital media such as internet and intranet websites, blogs, and mobile applications that promote thought leadership and brand recognition. 
• Communicate required edits, explain the regulatory basis for recommended changes, suggest alternatives for problematic language, and work cross-functionally to produce strong, effective, and compliant communications. 
• Deliver training to company staff on applicable marketing policies and procedures. 
• Collaborate with colleagues within legal and compliance and investor relations on the launch and development of new products including registered funds and sustainable product offerings. 
• Collaborate with the firm’s marketing and communications department on press releases, television interviews, media buys, public appearances, and client conferences and events. 
• Collaborate with attorneys and other legal staff to prepare and review initial, annual, and amended registration statements which include Private Placement Memoranda and ADV filings.
• Other duties as needed or required.

Qualifications

• Minimum of five (5) years of direct Legal and Compliance experience in the investment advisor industry preferably involving commercial real estate.
• Bachelor’s degree in an applicable discipline preferred.
• Broad knowledge of federal securities laws and regulations, including the Investment Advisers Act, Investment Company Act, FINRA rules and other federal regulations.
• Ability to interact with colleagues globally and to drive change consistently across regions.
• Experience working with 40 Act Funds, Institutional Clients and other investment vehicles preferred.
• Demonstrate ability to understand wide range of regulatory requirements applicable to investment advisers and to develop and implement appropriate procedures to comply therewith.
• Ability to think through and understand conflicts and complex scenarios and assess impact to the Firm.
• Excellent analytical, problem solving and organization skills with the ability to effectively manage workload with competing priorities.
• Demonstrate attention to details to deliver projects with high degree of accuracy in advance of the deadline.
• Possesses a workstyle that fosters a collaborative and team play working environment.
• Ability to decipher when to elevate issues to the next level of leadership for resolution when necessary.
• Proficiency of the Microsoft Office suite of applications.
• Certification in a related field of practice is a plus.
• Established knowledge of multiple types of real estate investments.
• Ability to thrive in a highly diverse and international environment.

Communication and Language Skills. Strong writing skills (standard, professional English) are required in this role. Fluency in one or more additional languages, especially Mandarin, Korean, Spanish, or Portuguese, is highly desired but not required.

Work Authorization. U.S. citizenship or permanent residency, with work authorization, is required. Civitas is unable to sponsor H-1B or other visas.

Background Check.  This position involves handling sensitive and confidential information. Prior to the start date and at any time during employment with the Firm, Civitas may perform a background check. Candidates will be required to grant the Firm written permission to conduct such checks as a condition of employment.

Confidentiality / Non-competition Agreement. Successful candidate will be required to enter into an employment agreement with the Firm, which agreement shall include provisions related to confidentiality and non-disclosure of certain information, as well as limited non-competition provisions.

**Women and Minority Applicants Encouraged** Civitas takes seriously its responsibility to strive for diversity in our workforce. We do this because it is the right thing to do and because it leads to better ideas – the lifeblood of our business. Therefore, we actively seek to recruit women and members of minority groups for every open position.

Compensation and Benefits. In addition to a competitive salary, Civitas offers plans for medical and dental insurance coverage, a Firm sponsored 401(k) plan, paid parking, and a generous vacation policy.

Inquiries
Please direct inquiries, via e-mail, to:

Sonja Milton

Director, People Experience

sonja.milton@civitascapital.com

No phone calls.