Executive Agency Counsel

Justia; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

The Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) seeks an Executive Agency Counsel to serve as a senior legal advisor for property tax exemptions and abatements.

You will handle complex legal work in TIHS, draft legislation, participate in hearings, review proposed City and State laws, and coordinate with the Law Department on administrative litigation. Reporting to the Deputy General Counsel, you will help safeguard HPD programs.

Qualifications

• Admission to the New York State Bar; four years of recent full-time responsible legal experience after admission, including eighteen months in supervision of other attorneys.

Responsibilities

• Perform complex legal work related to tax incentives and housing supervision with significant financial, procedural and policy consequences.
• Analyze federal, state and local statutes and regulations.
• Draft and/or review proposed state and local legislation and regulations as well as litigation papers related to tax incentives compliance enforcement and real property tax benefit applications.
• Counsel senior agency staff.
• Handle other complex legal issues.

Skills

Legal writing

Legal research

Legislation drafting

Analytical thinking

Independent work

Team collaboration

Seven years experience

Education

New York State Bar admission

Job description

Job Description

About the Agency:

The Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) oversees housing standards across all 3.7 million homes in New York City.

As the nation’s largest municipal housing agency, HPD is responsible for building and preserving affordable housing, protecting tenants from harassment and displacement, and holding landlords accountable across the five boroughs. Under Commissioner Dina Levy and the Mamdani Administration, HPD is pursuing an ambitious housing agenda focused on the needs of New York’s tenants. With a broad set of tools including standards enforcement, tenant resources, and the creation of new affordable housing, HPD is committed to making New York City a more affordable place for renters and homeowners alike.

Your Team

Within HPD’s Office of Legal Affairs is the Tax Incentives And Housing Supervision Division ("TIHSD")

TIHSD handles most legal issues relating to property tax exemptions and abatements, Mitchell Lama developments, Redevelopment Companies, and rent regulation.

Your Impact

As an Executive Agency Counsel you will be a senior legal advisor for the Agency in support of HPD's property tax exemptions and abatements.

Your Role

You will perform complex legal work in the areas under TIHS’s jurisdiction including residential property tax exemptions and abatements as well as supervision of Mitchell Lama and Redevelopment companies. You will participate in drafting legislation and rules, holding public hearings, attending high-level meetings regarding Agency policy, and reviewing proposed City and State legislation. You also may act as a liaison with the Law Department on important administrative law litigation affecting HPD programs. You will report to the Deputy General Counsel that oversees TIHS.

Your Responsibilities

The Executive Agency Counsel’s responsibilities may include but not be limited to: Perform complex legal work related to tax incentives and housing supervision with significant financial, procedural and policy consequences. Analyze federal, state and local statutes and regulations. Draft and/or review proposed state and local legislation and regulations as well as litigation papers related to tax incentives compliance enforcement and real property tax benefit application denials prepared by the New York City Law Department. Counsel senior agency staff. Handle other complex legal issues.

Preferred skills

• Excellent writing, legal research, and analytic skills, and attention to detail
• Ability to draft legislation and rules
• Ability to review and analyze proposed legislation and rules and digest impacts on the Agency
• Ability to liaise with litigation to protect Agency programs and processes
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to work independently or as a part of a team
• At least seven years of relevant experience

EXECUTIVE AGENCY COUNSEL - 95005

Qualifications

Admission to the New York State Bar; and four years of recent full-time responsible, relevant, satisfactory legal experience subsequent to admission to any bar, eighteen months of which must have been in the supervision of other attorneys, in an administrative, managerial or executive capacity, or performing highly complex and significant legal work.

Incumbents must remain Members of the New York State Bar in good standing for the duration of this employment.

Additional Information

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.