AGENCY COUNSEL

New York City Emergency Management (NYCEM) helps New Yorkers before, during, and after emergencies through preparedness, education, and response. NYCEM is responsible for coordinating citywide emergency planning and response for all types and scales of emergencies. We are staffed by more than 200 dedicated professionals with diverse backgrounds and areas of expertise, including individuals assigned from other City agencies.

The Office of the Chief Counsel provides legal advice to the agency regarding critical, strategic, legal and policy issues facing the agency, engages in transactional work in support of the NYCEM mission and coordinates with the NYC Law Department, Office of the Counsel to the Mayor, and other local, state and federal counsels regarding various legal issues ranging from emergency events to litigation, which impact the agency. The Office of Chief Counsel is comprised of the Legal Affairs Unit, Disability, Access, and Functional Needs (DAFN) Legal Unit, and the Records Management Unit.

The Legal Affairs unit within the Office of the Chief Counsel provides legal advice to NYCEM executives and staff regarding critical, strategic, legal and policy issues facing the agency which impact the public, engages in transactional work in support of the NYCEM mission and coordinates with the NYC Law Department, Office of the Counsel to the Mayor and City Hall, and other local, state and federal counsels regarding various legal issues ranging from emergency events to litigation, which impact the agency.

The selected candidate will report to the Senior Agency Counsel. Areas of responsibility will include:

- Negotiating, reviewing, and drafting legal documents, contracts, mutual aid agreements, intra-agency and intergovernmental agreements, and memoranda of understanding.
- Providing timely and accurate advice and drafting memos related to ethics and conflicts of interest board rules.
- Providing high quality work product and ensuring completeness and compliance with agency policy
and professional standards.
- Performing legal research and review of the law as applicable to emergency planning.
- As appropriate, working with legal staff from other City agencies, including the Office of the
Counsel to the Mayor and City Hall and the Corporation Counsel.
- Coordinating with state, regional, and federal agencies on legal issues ranging from emergency events to litigation that impacts the agency.
- Attending recommended trainings and exercises.
- Performing special projects as directed by Senior Agency Counsel and other senior attorneys.
- Performing administrative duties as directed by Senior Agency Counsel and other senior attorneys.

**PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING:

The selected candidate will be assigned to an on-call Emergency Operations Center (EOC) team and
will be expected to work non-business hours during some emergencies. These non-business hours include nights, weekends, holidays, and extended week hours outside of a 9AM-5PM schedule. The selected candidate will also participate in trainings to build skills and competencies in emergency response; will participate in drills and exercises associated with the on-call EOC team; and may volunteer to assist with Ready NY emergency preparedness presentations to external groups. EOC teams are on call for three weeks at a time, with six weeks off in between. During large-scale emergencies, the entire agency may be called upon to perform these duties regardless of on call/off call status.

Funding – This position is supported with a federal Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) grant funding through 8/31/2027 with the possibility of an extension.

Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without employer support to be eligible for selection.

IN ORDER TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS JOB, PLEASE SUBMIT A SEPARATE COVER LETTER IN THE ATTACHMENTS SECTION OF THE APPLICATION PORTAL.

PREFERRED SKILLS

- Admission to the New York State Bar and two (2) years of recent full-time relevant, satisfactory legal experience subsequent to admission to any bar.
- Ability to develop policy and legal analyses that provide a foundation for emergency planning and initiatives.
- Exceptional organizational, communication, interpersonal and writing skills.
- Excellent legal research skills, problem solving and analytic skills.
- Strong knowledge and understanding of relevant city, state and federal laws, rules and regulations and the ability to interpret and apply them.
- Experience in emergency management and/or knowledge of New York State Executive Law and the NYC Charter and Administrative Code is strongly desired.
- An informed perspective on applying a racial equity lens in policymaking.
- Excellent judgment; capability to work within a team structure and the ability to work independently or under supervision, as appropriate.
- Superior knowledge of Microsoft Office applications including Word, PowerPoint, and Excel and familiarity with Westlaw and/or Lexis/Nexis software
- Ability to thrive and work in a fast paced, deadline driven environment.

In addition, the selected candidate will be able to demonstrate a proven ability in the following areas, from the agency’s performance management model:

Competencies:
o Knowledge – possesses appropriate subject matter expertise.
o Work Ethic and Productivity – produces consistently high quality, accurate, and on-time deliverables; takes responsibility, is dependable, and accountable, and follows through; is responsive to requests from leadership.
o Strategic Problem Solving and Innovation – is thoughtful and deliberate in approach to solving problems; demonstrates innovation and creative thinking.
o Effective Communication – communication is clear, precise, and timely; understands their audience and display confidence in delivering their message.
o Teamwork – encourage collaboration and motivate others; is able to both lead and follow when necessary; is an active listener and consider a broad range of perspectives.

**Studies have shown that women, people of color, and other under-represented groups are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they are able to perform every task in the job description. We are interested in finding the best candidate for the job and will consider any equivalent combination of knowledge, skills, education and experience to meet qualifications. If you are interested in applying, we encourage you to think broadly about your background and skill set for the role.**

MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

1. Admission to the New York State Bar; and either "2" or "3" below.

2. One year of satisfactory United States legal experience subsequent to admission to any state bar; or

3. Six months of satisfactory service as an Agency Attorney Interne (30086). Incumbents must remain Members of the New York State Bar in good standing for the duration of this employment.

In addition to meeting the minimum Qualification Requirements:

To be assigned to Assignment Level (AL) II, candidates must have one year of experience at Assignment Level I or two years of comparable legal experience subsequent to admission to the bar, in the areas of law related to the assignment. To be assigned to AL III candidates must have two years of experience in Assignment Levels I and/or II or three years of comparable legal experience subsequent to admission to the bar, in the areas of law related to the assignment.

NOTE: New York City residency is generally required within 90 days of appointment. However, City Employees in certain titles who have worked for the City for 2 continuous years may also be eligible to reside in Nassau, Suffolk, Putnam, Westchester, Rockland, or Orange County through a waiver process. To determine if the residency requirement applies to you, please discuss with the agency representative at the time of interview.

AGENCY ATTORNEY - 30087

1. Admission to the New York State Bar; and either "2" or "3" below.
2. One year of satisfactory United States legal experience subsequent to admission to any state bar; or
3. Six months of satisfactory service as an Agency Attorney Interne (30086).
Incumbents must remain Members of the New York State Bar in good standing for the duration of this employment.
In addition to meeting the minimum Qualification Requirements:
To be assigned to Assignment Level (AL) II, candidates must have one year of experience at Assignment Level I or two years of comparable legal experience subsequent to admission to the bar, in the areas of law related to the assignment. To be assigned to AL III candidates must have two years of experience in Assignment Levels I and/or II or three years of comparable legal experience subsequent to admission to the bar, in the areas of law related to the assignment.

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.