The NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) enriches the environment and protects public health for all New Yorkers by providing 1.1 billion gallons of high-quality drinking water, managing wastewater and stormwater, and reducing air, noise, and hazardous materials pollution. DEP is the largest combined municipal water and wastewater utility in the country, with nearly 6,000 employees. DEP's water supply system is comprised of 19 reservoirs and 3 controlled lakes throughout the system’s 2,000 square mile watershed that extends 125 miles north and west of the City.

DEP’s Bureau of Legal Affairs (BLA) works cooperatively with the New York City Law Department (Law Department) to ensure that all of DEP’s legal needs are addressed. Given DEP’s extensive infrastructure and operations, DEP is involved in a significant amount of litigation and claims filed with the Comptroller’s office. BLA’s staff provide critical litigation support to the Law Department attorneys representing the agency and respond to requests for records and information from the Comptroller.

The Bureau of Legal Affairs business attorneys work cooperatively with DEP’s operations bureaus to advance the agency’s mission often achieved through extensive projects for the construction or reconstruction of its facilities and infrastructure throughout the City and upstate watershed areas.

DEP is seeking an attorney who will work in the Bureau of Legal Affairs on the drafting, negotiation, and review of the array of contracts that support DEP’s vast capital program and with latitude for independent judgment and decision-making. The attorney will be responsible for working directly with the Agency’s contracting, business and technical staff to ensure that the Agency’s interests are adequately protected, and for interfacing with outside parties, including contractors, consultants and other government agencies, as well as liaising with the City’s Law Department and Office of Technology and Innovation in connection with related procurement and claims matters and other legal issues.

With latitude for independent judgment and decision-making, the selected candidate will handle and provide legal advice on critical property transactions, a variety of procurement matters, including technology, facility services, and inter/intra municipal agreements, regulatory permitting matters, contract and procurement disputes, and legislation. Such candidate will be required to undertake diverse complicated projects requiring strong analytical, writing and client relations skills; extensive experience in conducting legal research.

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.

Excellent writing, research, analytical and oral communication skills. Ability to multitask without sacrificing quality and to function well in fast-paced environment. Experience with public procurement, construction projects and the drafting and negotiation of complex and technical agreements as well as handling of contract claims and disputes.

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/.

New York City Residency is not required for this position

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.

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