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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, headed by General Counsel Elissa Stein Cushman, serves as in-house counsel to DEP. The work of the Bureau is managed by four units, representing the large array of matters that come before it, divided as follows: Environmental Affairs Unit, Water Supply & Environmental Litigation Unit, Contracts & Employment Unit, and Infrastructure & Operations Unit. The members of the Bureau are responsible for ensuring that all the agency’s legal needs are addressed, working in conjunction with the New York City Law Department, which represents the agency in litigation.
The Bureau of Legal Affairs, Infrastructure and Operations Unit attorneys work with DEP’s operations bureaus to support the agency in maintaining its facilities and infrastructure throughout the City and upstate, DEP executive staff to further the agency’s goals in coordination with mayoral agencies and public partners, and various governmental agencies at all levels. The Unit is extensively involved with agency and City-wide initiatives, including maintaining critical sewer and water facilities and infrastructure, establishing and maintaining green infrastructure, ensuring resiliency of agency operations in the face of climate change, and leading and coordinating the planning, implementation, and operation of the City’s coastal resilience infrastructure. In addition, the Unit supports the agency’s sewer and water regulatory permitting role through the interpretation of laws and regulations and review of required legal documentation.
With latitude for independent judgment and decision-making, the Assistant Counsel will handle and provide legal advice on a variety of procurement matters and contracts, including facility services and inter/intra municipal agreements, property transactions, regulatory permitting matters, legislation and other matters as needed. The Assistant Counsel will be required to undertake diverse, complicated projects, interface with DEP bureau and executive staff, consultants, and other government agencies, conduct legal research, and liaise with the City’s Law Department in connection with property and procurement matters and other legal issues.
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.
