Closing Date: 25th July, 2024
Description:
The Executive Agency Counsel for Emergency Housing Operations will be an employee of HPD detailed to HRO and will work out of HRO's offices in lower Manhattan.
Your Team:
The HRO's Office of the General Counsel and ACCO provides legal support services to the entire office. The Office works closely with legal affairs divisions of other NYC agencies, including the Law Department, HPD, NYCEM, DEP, and others as appropriate.
Your Impact:
HRO's mission is to lead post-disaster housing recovery operations and pre-disaster recovery preparedness, in addition to providing operational support in response to other crises with an impact on housing. Currently, HRO has assumed lead responsibility for managing housing response to the asylum seekers shelter crisis. This includes the overseeing the existing and preparing for the launch of several Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Center (HERRC) sites and programs, congregate shelters, upstate hotels, faith-based bed programs and a hotel vouchers program, among other initiatives.
Your Role:
Your Responsibilities:
Responsibilities of the Executive Agency Counsel will include, but not be limited to:
Required Skills:
Note: Only those candidates under consideration will be contacted.
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:
Proven interest in crisis management, community development, urban planning, affordable housing, and asylum law. - Knowledge of New York City affordable housing, crisis management and shelter programs. - Familiarity with local community and emergency service response providers. - Familiarity with federal, state, and local laws and regulations/rules related to procurement. - Keen judgment and excellent analytical and problem-solving skills. - Strong Interpersonal and communication skills. - Excellent writing and legal research skills with strong attention to detail. - Demonstrated capacity for performing and prioritizing multiple tasks and exhibit a high degree of initiative in managing multiple priorities, meeting deadlines, and using independent judgment, in a professional and appropriate manner in a fast-paced, high intensity environment. - Ability to work well with multiple external stakeholders and agencies and internal partners.
Your Team:
The HRO's Office of the General Counsel and ACCO provides legal support services to the entire office. The Office works closely with legal affairs divisions of other NYC agencies, including the Law Department, HPD, NYCEM, DEP, and others as appropriate.
Your Impact:
HRO's mission is to lead post-disaster housing recovery operations and pre-disaster recovery preparedness, in addition to providing operational support in response to other crises with an impact on housing. Currently, HRO has assumed lead responsibility for managing housing response to the asylum seekers shelter crisis. This includes the overseeing the existing and preparing for the launch of several Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Center (HERRC) sites and programs, congregate shelters, upstate hotels, faith-based bed programs and a hotel vouchers program, among other initiatives.
Your Role:
- Reporting to HRO's General Counsel and Agency Chief Contracting Officer (ACCO), and working closely with HRO's Director of Emergency Housing Operations and other HRO staff, the Executive Agency Counsel will provide high level legal resources to support the increasing volume of new contracts related to the asylum seeker population and utilize their legal expertise and knowledge to advise and serve as a legal counselor for the agency's crisis response relating to management of the asylum seeker shelter sites and other special initiatives.
- The Executive Agency Counsel will be responsible for preparing and reviewing contracts and procedures related to the organization, development and management of asylum seeker shelter sites and work with program staff to ensure compliance with relevant program policies and goals. Executive Agency Counsel will analyze and evaluate legal documents and policies and provide recommendations on behalf of the office.
- In the event of a natural disaster, the Executive Agency Counsel might be involved with HRO's housing recovery work as needed.
Your Responsibilities:
Responsibilities of the Executive Agency Counsel will include, but not be limited to:
- Assist the General Counsel in managing contractual relationships, including drafting/reviewing contract documents, conducting investigations and resolving legal disputes.
- Negotiate, structure, and draft various contracts and agreements with external contractors and vendors. Ensure that contracts meet and follow all legal and internal operating procedures, guidelines, and obligations, including City procurement rules and compliance with federal, state, and local laws.
- Draft, review, and produce programmatic documents, policies, pre-litigation materials, regulatory responses, and litigation materials on behalf of the agency.
- Review documents for production in litigation, subpoenas, or other legal matters. Identify responsive, privileged, and problematic documents for escalation.
- Receive Freedom of Information Law (“FOIL”) requests and requests for appeal of agency determinations, collect and review related documents, and draft determinations in accordance with Program rules.
- Counsel agency employees related to operations, contract administration and compliance with laws and offer guidance on issue resolution for existing commercial relationships.
- Work with legal staff from other City agencies, promoting interagency cooperation and ensuring appropriate disposition of information requests.
- Serve as a liaison to the NYC Law Department on court challenges.
- Research and analyze legal issues at the General Counsel's request.
- Assist the General Counsel with other projects and tasks as needed.
Required Skills:
- Admission to the New York State Bar, and at least four years of recent, full-time responsible, relevant, and satisfactory legal experience subsequent to the admission to any bar.
- Contract drafting and policy drafting experience.
Note: Only those candidates under consideration will be contacted.
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:
Proven interest in crisis management, community development, urban planning, affordable housing, and asylum law. - Knowledge of New York City affordable housing, crisis management and shelter programs. - Familiarity with local community and emergency service response providers. - Familiarity with federal, state, and local laws and regulations/rules related to procurement. - Keen judgment and excellent analytical and problem-solving skills. - Strong Interpersonal and communication skills. - Excellent writing and legal research skills with strong attention to detail. - Demonstrated capacity for performing and prioritizing multiple tasks and exhibit a high degree of initiative in managing multiple priorities, meeting deadlines, and using independent judgment, in a professional and appropriate manner in a fast-paced, high intensity environment. - Ability to work well with multiple external stakeholders and agencies and internal partners.
