Assistant, Associate, or Senior Counsel - Contracts

The State University of New York; City of Albany (NY); On-site; USD 92,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Tuition assistance

Parental leave

Retirement options

Paid holidays, vacation, and sick time

Job summary

The State University of New York System Administration in Albany, NY invites applications for a real estate and contracts counsel within the Contracts Practice Group. The position may be filled as Assistant, Associate, or Senior Counsel based on experience, with responsibilities to provide comprehensive legal services to SUNY and its campuses.

Responsibilities include reviewing and negotiating contracts, handling real estate matters, procurement guidance, and regulatory compliance.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor degree from an ABA-accredited law school or foreign equivalent.
• Admission to the New York State Bar, or eligibility for admission within six months.
• 2–3 years of practice for Assistant Counsel; 3–5 years for Associate Counsel; 5+ years for Senior Counsel.

Responsibilities

• Review, negotiate, draft and finalize contracts and assist with regulatory approvals.
• Handle real estate matters including leases, acquisitions, and related licenses.
• Advise on procurement, contract compliance, and regulator audits; respond to inquiries and debriefings.
• Draft/review data use agreements, MOUs, outside counsel contracts, and related matters.

Skills

Analytical skills

Research skills

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Education

Juris Doctor degree

New York State Bar admission or eligibility

Job description

Location: Albany, NY Category: Professional Positions Job Type: Full-time Posted On: Thu Nov 5 2026

Job Description

The Office of General Counsel (OGC) provides legal services and support to the Board of Trustees, the Chancellor and senior officers for the State University of New York (SUNY) at SUNY System Administration in Albany, New York, as well as to the presidents and administrators of the campuses within the System. Under the leadership of the Senior Vice Chancellor for Legal Affairs and the General Counsel, the SUNY Office of General Counsel is responsible for providing legal services to the System and the 29 state operated campuses. The OGC consists of more than 70 experienced higher education attorneys, paralegals and support staff located in Albany at the System Administration headquarters and in campus-based offices at the four University Centers, Health Science Centers, and various SUNY colleges.

The legal practice of the OGC involves a substantial array of topics, including public procurement, governance and ethics, legislation, health care, capital construction, public finance, labor grievances and arbitration, litigation oversight (the State's Attorney General defends litigation brought against the University), student affairs, and the use of real property, among others. The OGC represents the State University in interactions with State officials who may regulate the affairs of the State University, including the Attorney General, State Comptroller, the Governor and staff, and members of the State Legislature as well as other state and local agencies and entities.

Duties And Responsibilities

The State University of New York System Administration, located in Albany, New York invites applications for a real estate and contracts counsel position within the Contracts Practice Group (\"Contracts Counsel\") in OGC. The position will be filled as an Assistant, Associate, or Senior Counsel depending on the applicant's relevant experience.

As a staff member of the Office of the General Counsel, the Contracts Counsel will assume responsibilities to provide comprehensive legal services and guidance to the State University and its State-operated campuses on issues related to real estate, procurement, contracts, and business transactions.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities for this role will focus on reviewing, negotiating, drafting, finalizing and assisting with obtaining regulatory approval for contracts for the organization, in particular:

• Real estate matters, including but not limited to leases (as both landlord and tenant), acquisition (through purchase or gift) , subordination, attornment, estoppels, lease surrender, lease renewals, lease amendments, early termination agreements; and short-term licensing agreements for use of SUNY Campus space; and


• Procurement and contract matters, including but not limited to, advising on solicitation document compliance, contract negotiations, responses to regulator audit questions; debriefings; bid protests and bid protest appeals; and handling emergency procurements.

Additional responsibilities include drafting and/or reviewing data use agreements; affiliation and partnership agreements; interagency Memoranda of Understanding (\"MOU\"), outside counsel contracts and related regulatory approvals; researching legal issues, statutory and regulatory interpretation; answering legal inquiries from SUNY System and campus clients; as well as handling University-wide matters, and other duties as assigned.

Job Requirements

Required Qualifications

• Juris Doctor degree from an accredited ABA law school, or foreign equivalent.


• Admission to the New York State Bar, or eligibility for admission within six months.


• The applicant must have a minimum of 2-3 years of legal practice or relevant legal experience prior to beginning the position to be considered for the Assistant Counsel title; a minimum of 3-5 years of legal practice or relevant experience to be considered for the Associate Counsel title; and a minimum of 5+ years of legal practice or relevant experience to be considered for the Senior Counsel title.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience advising clients with complex contracts and real property issues, especially with governmental entities.


• Experience in complex case management.


• Superior written and oral communication and interpersonal skills.


• Strong analytical and legal research skills.


• Legal experience working in higher education and/or government law.

Additional Information

• Salary is dependent on a variety of factors, including but not limited to, experience, education, training, and certifications.


• The range for an Assistant Counsel position is $92,000 - $112,000.


• The range for an Associate Counsel position is $115,000 - $135,000.


• The range for a Senior Counsel position is $122,000 - $150,000.


• Excellent Benefit Package which includes: NYS health insurance, free dental and vision coverage, competitive retirement options, tuition assistance, parental leave at full pay, and generous vacation, sick, and holiday time. 13 days of paid holidays per year; 21 days of vacation and 21 days of sick time accrued each year. Please see our Management/Confidential benefits summary for additional information.


• Management/Confidential appointments work under the leadership and discretion of the appointing authority and are not represented by a union.


• This position will be located in Albany or Buffalo, NY Limited telecommuting may be available. Some travel may be required depending on the needs of clients.


• Offer of employment is contingent upon successful completion of a pre-employment background check and verification of degree(s) and credentials.

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. VISA sponsorship is not available for this position. Applicants with a valid driver's license are preferred.

SUNY System Administration Benefits

SUNY System Administration provides an outstanding and comprehensive benefits package to support you and your family through the many life changes you may experience while you work for SUNY. Our nationally recognized benefits include:

• Retirement: The choice between a fully funded pension plan and a self-driven defined contribution plan, along with two supplemental plans to increase your ability to save for retirement.


• Health Insurance: Several health insurance options at an affordable cost that provide full coverage without mandatory deductibles.


• Time Off: Paid time off with separate vacation and sick leave accruals up to 21 days a year for each category.


• Additional paid leave policy options for childbirth, adoption, elder care, and other family care situations.

Explore our full benefits offerings here: www.suny.edu/benefits