Assistant General Counsel - Employment Law Unit, Office of General Counsel

The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (the “NYC Health Department") Office of Legal Affairs at the NYC Health Department provides legal support for the Agency and its many public health functions serving more than eight million New Yorkers. The Employment Law Unit (“ELU”) exercises jurisdiction over all non-managerial employees working at NYC Health Department and is responsible for handling employee disciplinary matters and fitness for duty cases, among others. ELU serves as the NYC Health Department’s liaison to the Conflicts of Interest Board and provides advice regarding Chapter 68 and other conflicts of interest matters.

ELU seeks an agency attorney to practice in all phases of the disciplinary process including investigations, preparation of disciplinary charges, and preparation for prosecution from the informal conference through the appeal process. This position involves drafting disciplinary charges, leading meetings with staff and union representatives to mediate cases for resolution in early stages, strategizing outcome options and advocating for resolutions in the best interest of the City, negotiating settlements, and drafting settlement agreements. The agency attorney will appear independently to prosecute cases at OATH. The attorney in this position will perform other duties as requested by the Office of General Counsel.

Duties will include but not be limited to:

• Administrative duties include organizing case files and updating the unit’s database. Appearances are currently via video conference and in person at the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings, Office of Labor Relations, and the Civil Service Commission.
• ELU is responsible for providing Agency employees with advice concerning the conflicts of interest law, including acceptance of gifts and use of City time, and drafting conflict of interest law waiver requests.
• ELU also provides training to supervisory staff on the concept of progressive discipline and its relation to the administrative disciplinary process, and the agency attorney will present such trainings.
• All NYC Health Department employees participate in mandatory Agency-wide activities for emergency preparedness and must respond promptly.

Preferred Skills:

• JD from an accredited law school, member in good standing of the New York State Bar and/or admitted in another State Bar.
• Administrative and/or employment law litigation experience.
• Conflict resolution, mediation, and/or ADR education and/or experience.
• Demonstrated commitment to advancing health equity and supporting racial justice.
• Clear and persuasive writing ability for extensive internal and external communications.
• Excellent communication skills, including emotional intelligence and connections building with external stakeholders.
• Strong Writing Skills with great attention to detail and efficient organizational skills Established in 1805, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC Health Department) is the oldest and largest health department in the U.S., dedicated to protecting and improving the health of NYC. Our mission is to safeguard the health of every resident and cultivate a city where everyone, regardless of age, background, or location, can achieve their optimal health. We provide a wide array of programs and services focused on food and nutrition, anti-tobacco support, chronic disease prevention, HIV/AIDS treatment, family and child health, environmental health, mental health, and social justice initiatives. As the primary population health strategist and policy authority for NYC, with a rich history of public health initiatives and scientific advancements, from addressing the 1822 yellow fever outbreak to the COVID-19 pandemic, we serve as a global leader in public health innovation and expertise.

Come join us and help to continue our efforts in making a difference in the lives of all New Yorkers! Commitment to Equity: 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.

The NYC Health Department is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation to all individuals. To request reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, contact Sye-Eun Ahn, Director of the Office of Equal Employment Opportunity, at sahn1@health.nyc.gov or 347-396-6549.

Minimum Qualifications

• Admission to the New York State Bar; and either "2" or "3" below.
• One year of satisfactory United States legal experience subsequent to admission to any state bar; or
• 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.

Residency Requirement

New York City Residency is not required for this position