General Counsel

Job DescriptionDCAS's mission is to make city government work for all New Yorkers. From managing New York City’s most iconic courthouses and municipal buildings, to purchasing over $1 billion annually in goods and services for more than 80 City agencies what we do ensures that all agencies can deliver on their mission. Our reach touches every facet of city government and is instrumental to the successful day-to-day operations of the City of New York. Our commitment to equity, effectiveness, and sustainability guides our work providing City agencies with the critical resources and support needed to succeed, including:

Recruiting, hiring, and training City employees.

Managing 55 public buildings.

Acquiring, selling, and leasing City property.

Purchasing over $1 billion in goods and services for City agencies.

Overseeing the greenest municipal vehicle fleet in the country.

Leading the City's efforts to reduce carbon emissions from government operations.

When you work at DCAS, you're not just working for one agency, but in service of them all. It's an opportunity to provide impactful support, quality customer service, and help protect the future of New York City for generations to come. Visit our website at nyc.gov/dcas to learn more about the work we do.The New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) seeks an experienced attorney to serve as General Counsel, providing strategic and legal advice to a dynamic agency that delivers critical support services to city agencies, government partners and the general public. They must have the ability to render legal opinions and guidance for a diverse portfolio of services, including citywide purchasing, real estate acquisitions, facilities management, civil service and citywide personnel policies, fleet operations, energy management, records access, labor relations, and employee discipline; and possess exceptional managerial and communication skills.As the agency’s chief legal officer, the General Counsel is the principal legal advisor to the Commissioner, senior executive staff and managers on all legal matters; oversees the performance of approximately 40 attorneys and support staff; and coordinates all legal efforts with the agency’s lines of services to resolve legal issues relating to the activities, functions and responsibilities of DCAS. The General Counsel participates in formulating and implementing agency-wide policy and procedures and partners with Human Resources to ensure compliance. They ensure compliance with existing federal, state and city laws, regulations and guidelines impacting DCAS operations, and advise the Commissioner concerning proposed legislative changes, including developing legal arguments supporting legislative proposals sponsored by DCAS. As DCAS’ chief legal counsel, they render legal opinions and provide guidance to the Commissioner, senior executive staff and managers on all legal matters; oversee the performance of attorneys and support staff by supervising their efforts with the agency’s lines of services to resolve legal issues relating to the activities, functions and responsibilities of DCAS; report to executive management; is responsible for the analysis and response to legal queries and issues raised by other city agencies, oversees the disposition of contracts, liability claims, labor disputes and civil service matters; participate in contract negotiations as warranted by the complexity and/or importance of individual contracts; counsel the operations of the DCAS’ employee discipline unit, including all aspects of the hearing process to ensure and prevent disputes, grievance, arbitration and litigation. As chief liaison between DCAS and the Law Department, the General Counsel facilitates the handling of all matters concerning both agencies, including an extensive litigation docket. As DCAS’ legal spokesperson, they represent the Commissioner at meetings with other public and private agencies, contractors and legislative bodies. They work with DCAS Communications and External Affairs line of service, examining all material such as publications, marketing materials and advertisements for legal risk.QualificationsAdmission 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 or in an administrative, managerial or executive capacity.Additional InformationThe 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.