General Counsel

City of New York; New York (NY); On-site; USD 68,000 - 175,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of New York Department of Veterans’ Services is seeking an Executive Agency Counsel to lead legal services and guide procurement, labor relations, and policy initiatives for a start-up–like agency serving NYC veterans and their families.

Under the General Counsel, you will oversee contract actions, advise on labor contracts, and coordinate with multiple city agencies to ensure compliance and effective advocacy for veterans.

Qualifications

• Admitted to New York State Bar; four years of relevant legal experience after admission, including at least eighteen months supervising other attorneys.

Responsibilities

• Assist in procurement contracts, contract amendments, renewals and related actions.
• Interface with DVS staff, OGC and NYC procurement teams to navigate vendor acquisition processes.
• Review and advise on labor contracts, rules and regulations; coordinate with unions and NYC Office of Labor Relations.
• Research and resolve labor-related matters, grievances and safety issues.
• Support special projects and policy implementation as the department grows.

Skills

Legal experience

Supervisory experience

Administrative/managerial

Education

New York State Bar admission

Job description

About DVS
The mission of the Department of Veterans’ Services is to connect, mobilize, and empower New York City’s Veteran Community in order to foster purpose-driven lives for New York City Service Members – past and present – in addition to their caregivers, survivors, and families. DVS fulfills this mission by providing New York City’s approximately 200,000 Veterans with essential services and programs focused on pivotal areas such as economic empowerment, housing security, benefits, health and wellness, and culture.

About DVS
The mission of the Department of Veterans’ Services is to connect, mobilize, and empower New York City’s Veteran Community in order to foster purpose-driven lives for New York City Service Members – past and present – in addition to their caregivers, survivors, and families. DVS fulfills this mission by providing New York City’s approximately 200,000 Veterans with essential services and programs focused on pivotal areas such as economic empowerment, housing security, benefits, health and wellness, and culture.
About The Role General Counsel
The Department of Veterans' Services is dedicated to improving the lives of New York City veterans and
their families through community engagement, targeted advocacy and compassionate service.
Marshaling the collective resources of the City of New York, the Department strives to: expand education
and career opportunities for veterans through a rapidly growing network of public, private, and non-profit
partners; ensure that they have access to quality benefits, resources and services; cultivate an holistic
health model to ensure the physical, mental and spiritual well-being of veterans and their families; and
connect homeless and at-risk veterans with permanent housing and support services.
Under the direction of the General Counsel, and with some latitude to exercise independent judgment,
The General Counsel Will
Procurement Contracts

• Assist in the preparation of all procurement and contract actions, contract amendments, renewals,
  

extensions, required for the preparation of solicitation bids, conducts other pre-solicitation review and
post-award review activities necessary, to provide vendors with clarification of contract terms and
conditions; including creating packages required for the registration of contract awards, contract
negotiations, contract initiation, renewals, modifications and amendments;

• Prepare RFPs and other types of procurements in accordance with the City’s Procurement Policy Board
  

Rules;

• Prepare new contracts, contract amendments and contract extensions;
• Interface with DVS staff, General Counsel (OGC), and other NYC procurement and contracts teams to
  

navigate the vendor acquisition process from the RFI/RFP stage through registration;
Labor Relations

• Review, interpret and provide advice on labor contracts, rules, and regulations;
• Serve as liaison to the department, various labor unions, and NYC Office of Labor Relations;
• Evaluate disciplinary matters for legal sufficiency, draft charges;
• Assign managers to conduct Grievance Step Conferences;
• Investigate and research labor related matters, grievances, and related issues;
• Respond to and coordinate with management to resolve employee complaints regarding potential
  

grievances and health and safety matters;

• Serve as Department representative on Labor Management Committee;
• Gather relevant documents and prepare written summaries of investigations and closing memos to the
  

General Counsel, including referrals to appropriate bureaus for action;

• Research legal issues relating to EEO law and conduct investigations of complex Equal Employment
  

Opportunity (EEO) violations;
General

• Assist in special projects that arise as a result of the continued build-out, progression, and policy
  

implementation associated with DVS as a start-up agency;

• Perform other related duties as required
  

EXECUTIVE AGENCY COUNSEL - 95005
Minimum 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.
Preferred Skills

• Prior experience with veterans’ issues at the City, State and Federal Levels. - Knowledge of New York Freedom of Information Law is preferred. - Excellent writing, analytical, communications, and people skills. - Ability to complete assigned tasks in an independent, organized and timely manner.
  

Public Service Loan Forgiveness
As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education’s website at https://studentaid.gov/pslf/.
Residency Requirement
New York City Residency is not required for this position
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.
, $68,213.00 – $175,000.00