Executive Legal Counsel and Labor Designee

About the role

The Executive Legal Counsel and Labor Designee serves as the College Attorney and principal legal advisor to the President and senior leadership. The role includes serving as hearing officer for disciplinary and grievance matters, acting as the College’s liaison to the City University of New York Office of the General Counsel and the University Office of the Vice Chancellor for Labor Relations, and serving as the College’s Ethics Officer, Records Retention Officer, and Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) Officer.

Responsibilities

• Serving as senior legal advisor to the President and Executive Cabinet.
• Administration and interpretation of the University Bylaws, University and College policies and procedures, the College governance charter, and collective bargaining agreements.
• Providing counsel to leadership and employees on matters including contractual agreements, conflicts of interest, personnel issues, investigations, student and administrative matters.
• Negotiating, drafting, revising, and reviewing a broad range of contracts, including agreements with donors, suppliers, and internal and external partners.
• Responding to legal, policy, and procedural inquiries from College, University, and government officials.
• Reviewing subpoenas and requests for information under applicable public records laws.
• Preparing clear, effective, and persuasive legal and transactional correspondence and related documents.
• Ensuring compliance with CUNY policies and standards related to promotion and tenure and multiple position appointments.
• Preparing time-sensitive reports and submissions for external agencies.
• Serving as hearing officer for Step One classified and instructional staff actions, representing the College at Step Two hearings, and managing litigation and administrative matters involving College officers, faculty, and staff.
• Responding to a variety of complaints, such as employment discrimination complaints from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the New York State Division of Human Rights.
• Advising and supporting compliance with EEO, ADEA, ADA, Title VI, Title VII, and Title IX requirements in coordination with appropriate University, College, State, and Federal officials.

• Requirements

  • A Bachelor's degree and eight years' related experience.
  • A J.D., admission to the New York State Bar, and at least eight years of related experience.

  Qualifications

  • Strong legal judgment, deep subject matter expertise, excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and the ability to navigate complex and sensitive matters with discretion, professionalism, and sound decision-making.
  • Strong experience handling labor and employment matters, particularly in the public sector.
  • Experience advising executive leadership on complex legal matters and influencing strategic and operational decision-making.
  • Experience in nonprofit or higher education environments, preferably within CUNY.
  • Excellent legal research, writing, analytical, and communication skills.
  • Demonstrated sound judgment, discretion, and the ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines.
  • Ability to work effectively both independently and collaboratively across a complex organization.

  Benefits

  CUNY offers a range of health plans, competitive retirement/pension benefits and savings plans, tuition waivers for CUNY graduate study, and generous paid time off. Our staff also benefits from the extensive academic, arts, and athletic programs on our campuses and the opportunity to participate in a lively, diverse academic community in one of the greatest cities in the world.

  Pay

  $170,000-$189,000. Salary commensurate with education and experience.

  Schedule

  This role operates on a 70% hybrid schedule, with regular onsite attendance required and remote work permitted in accordance with agency policy and operational needs.