Deputy Director of the Employment Law Unit, Office of General Counsel

About the role

The Employment Law Unit (ELU) of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s Office of General Counsel seeks an experienced senior attorney to serve as Deputy Director. Reporting to the Director of ELU, the Deputy Director will function as an integral member of the legal team, handling high-level employment and disciplinary matters, conflicts of interest advice, and policy support across the agency.

Responsibilities

• Assist the Director of ELU in managing disciplinary cases, advising managers on strategy, and determining appropriate disciplinary actions and investigations.
• Draft and litigate disciplinary charges through informal conferences, appeals, OATH trials, OCB arbitrations, and Civil Service Commission hearings.
• Prepare and adjudicate NYS Civil Service Law Sections 71, 72, and 73 cases, including analyzing statements, evidence, interviewing witnesses, and drafting pleadings; litigate Section 72 cases before OATH.
• Evaluate and respond to conflicts of interest inquiries; interpret Chapter 68; advise on potential conflicts; draft waiver requests to the Conflicts of Interest Board (COIB) for the Commissioner.
• Train new ELU attorneys on Chapter 68 and supervisory staff on progressive discipline and administrative disciplinary processes.
• Support the General Counsel’s office with policy revisions and other assignments as needed.
• Supervise and train new ELU attorneys; monitor workflow and deadlines; prepare reports and summaries.
• Participate in agency-wide emergency preparedness activities and maintain confidentiality of sensitive information.
• Build positive working relationships across programs and handle ad hoc projects as assigned.

Requirements

• Admission to the New York State Bar.
• One year of satisfactory U.S. legal experience subsequent to admission to any state bar, or six months as an Agency Attorney Intern (30086).
• Incumbents must remain members of the New York State Bar in good standing for the duration of employment.

Qualifications

• To be assigned to Assignment Level II: one year at Assignment Level I or two years of comparable legal experience in relevant areas post-admission.
• To be assigned to Assignment Level III: two years at Assignment Levels I/II or three years of comparable legal experience in relevant areas post-admission.

Preferred Skills

• 5–10 years of professional legal experience after NYS bar admission.
• Highly detail-oriented with strong prioritization and project management skills.
• Proficiency with online legal research platforms (Westlaw, CLEAR, LexisNexis).
• Administrative law or employment law litigation experience.

Benefits

• Premium-free health insurance plan saving employees over $10K annually (2024 assessment).
• Additional health, fitness, and financial benefits based on union/benefit fund.
• Public sector defined benefit pension plan with steady monthly retirement payments.
• Tax-deferred savings program.
• Robust Worksite Wellness Program with health resources.

Pay

Salary commensurate with experience and assignment level.