Principal Attorney (Contract Administration)

NYC School Construction Authority; New York (NY); On-site; USD 131,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

Prescription Drug Options

Dental & Vision Coverage

Pension Plan (QPP)

401K/457/IRA options

Transit Check Program

Public Loan Forgiveness Program

Paid PTO

Job summary

The NYC School Construction Authority is seeking a Principal Attorney for Contract Administration to provide strategic legal counsel on procurement, contracting, and risk management across construction, design, goods, and services. You will draft, review, and negotiate complex contracts and advise senior leadership on compliance with federal, state, and local laws.

You will lead and mentor a legal team, collaborate with Architecture, Engineering, Real Estate, Finance, and other departments, and

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school.
• Admission to NYS Bar in good standing.
• At least nine years of diverse legal experience in business or construction contracts or litigation.
• Experience with public procurement or government contracting preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal counsel on procurements and contracts for construction, design, goods, and services.
• Draft, review, and negotiate solicitations and contracts in compliance with laws and policies.
• Advise on procurement methods, bidding, contracts, and risk; update policies and templates.
• Lead in litigation coordination, outside counsel, and training for staff.
• Collaborate with multiple departments and present recommendations to senior leadership.

Skills

Legal analytics & guidance

Negotiation & contract drafting

Public procurement knowledge

Risk management

Education

Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school

Admission to the New York State Bar and current good standing

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

PowerPoint

Outlook

OneDrive

Job description

Build your career while building NYC schools!

Contract Administration administers the solicitation process of construction, non-construction and personal services contracts. The Division also ensures the timely ordering and installation of all furniture and equipment required at new and existing schools and process all SCA purchase orders. Within Contact Administration is the Prequalification Unit that vets all firms wishing to do business with the SCA for credit-worthiness, financial stability, integrity, and licensing.

Job Description Summary

The Principal Attorney for Contract Administration reports to the General Counsel and provides legal advice and guidance on all Authority procurement and related contracting matters, including construction, design, goods, and professional services. The Principal Attorney advises on SCA’s procurement and contracting activities, including reviewing, drafting, and negotiating procurement and contract documents, interpreting applicable legal requirements, identifying and mitigating legal risks, and ensuring compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and SCA policies.

Job Description Responsibilities

• Procurement & Contracts Provide legal counsel on procurements and contracts for construction, design and engineering services, goods, and professional services. Draft, review, and negotiate solicitations, contracts, amendments, and related documents in compliance with applicable federal, New York State, and New York City laws, Public Authorities Law, and SCA policies. Advise Contract Administration and other departments on procurement methods, competitive bidding, contract terms, approvals, and legal risks. Develop and update procurement policies, procedures, contract provisions, templates, and legal guidance.

• Compliance & Risk Management Advise on contractor responsibility, vendor integrity, conflicts of interest, contract performance, defaults, disputes, claims, remedies, and contract interpretation. Support audits, Board matters, oversight reviews, corrective actions, and procurement reporting. Monitor legal and regulatory developments and recommend changes to SCA policies and practices.

• Legal Counsel & Litigation Review and negotiate contract terms, exceptions to SCA standard terms, and insurance requirements. Prepare legal analyses and recommendations for the General Counsel and senior leadership on complex or sensitive matters. Coordinate procurement-related litigation, disputes, investigations, subpoenas, and records requests. Manage outside counsel, including litigation strategy, case oversight, risk assessment, and coordination with internal stakeholders. Conduct legal research and provide legal guidance and training to SCA staff.

• Leadership & Collaboration Serve as a primary legal advisor to Contract Administration and collaborate with Architecture and Engineering, Construction Management, Real Estate, Finance, and other departments. Represent the Legal Department in procurement negotiations and discussions with contractors, consultants, vendors, government agencies, and other stakeholders. Present legal recommendations to senior leadership, the Board of Trustees, auditors, and oversight entities as needed. Make recommendations on complex procurement and contracting matters, escrow high-risk issues to the General Counsel, and support updates to the Contract Administration Manual of Policies and Procedures.

• Staff Development Supervise, evaluate, coach, and develop direct reports, strengthening their ability to identify and address legal and contractual issues.

Minimum Qualifications

• Baccalaureate degree.
• Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school.
• Admission to the New York State Bar and current good standing.
• At least nine years of diverse legal experience, post bar admission in one of the following areas: business contracts, construction contracts or general litigation, or a satisfactory combination of education and experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Significant experience in public procurement, government contracting, construction law, or transactional matters within a public authority, government agency, or large construction organization.
• At least six years of experience involving procurement, contract administration, contracting, construction transactions, or a related area, and at least four years of experience independently handling complex legal matters and advising senior personnel.
• Strong knowledge of New York City, New York State, and federal procurement laws and regulations, including construction bid documents and Requests for Proposals (RFPs).
• Excellent legal research, writing, negotiation, analytical, organizational, and decision-making skills.
• Ability to communicate complex legal matters effectively to legal and non-legal audiences.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and OneDrive.

Civil Service Classification

Non-Competitive Salary Range: $131,026 - $210,000

Posting End Date: 11/19/2026

Education

Juris Doctor

Certifications (if required)

BAR - NYS Office of Court Administration

Work Experience

Nine years of full time diverse legal experience, post bar admission in one of the following areas: business contracts, construction contracts or general litigation.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

It is the policy of the New York City School Construction Authority (NYCSCA) to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. In addition, the NYCSCA will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals.

Benefits

• Medical (100% employer paid for basic coverage available)
• Prescription Drug Options
• Dental & Vision Coverage
• NYC Qualified Pension Plan (QPP)
• Optional Retirement Savings Plans including 401K, 457 and IRA options
• Transit Check Program
• Public Loan Forgiveness Program
• Competitive Paid Time Off (PTO) Benefits

Learning and Development Program

As part of our ongoing commitment to employee growth and development, the SCA’s Learning and Development (L&D) program offers a variety of valuable benefits. These include tuition reimbursement for continued education that is directly related to your current role, as well as access to a broad range of individual and organizational training opportunities. Trainings on leadership development, technical skill-building, compliance, personal and professional growth.

Employment Eligibility

The SCA is interested in qualified candidates who are eligible to work in the United States. The SCA is not able to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time. We participate in the federal E-Verify program to confirm the identity and employment authorization of all newly hired employees. For further information about the E-Verify program, please click here: https://www.e-verify.gov/employees

Mission Statement

The School Construction Authority's (SCA) mission is to design and construct safe, attractive and environmentally sound public schools for children throughout the many communities of New York City. We are dedicated to building and modernizing schools in a responsible, cost-effective manner while achieving the highest standards of excellence in safety, quality and integrity.