Agency Attorney, Bureau of Environmental Surveillance and Policy
About The Position
The Bureau of Environmental Surveillance and Policy (BESP) at the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene seeks a lawyer to serve as Division Counsel on its Environmental Health Legal team. The team supports the division’s regulatory, enforcement, and policy initiatives in collaboration with division leadership and the agency’s Office of General Counsel. The role focuses on food safety and supports regulation and enforcement involving restaurants and mobile food vendors. Reporting to the Executive Director of EH Legal, the Division Counsel advises inspectional program leadership and staff on enforcement actions and represents the Department in civil summons proceedings before the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH). The role also supports staff appearing at hearings and contributes to legal and policy projects intended to protect and promote the health of New Yorkers.
Requirements
- Admission to the New York State Bar and continued membership in good standing throughout employment.
- One year of satisfactory U.S. legal experience after admission to any state bar, or six months of satisfactory service as an Agency Attorney Interne.
- For Assignment Level II: one year of experience at Assignment Level I or two years of comparable legal experience after bar admission in areas of law related to the assignment.
- For Assignment Level III: two years of experience at Assignment Levels I and/or II or three years of comparable legal experience after bar admission in areas of law related to the assignment.
Nice To Haves
- Sound judgment, attention to detail, and analytical skills, with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills for legal and lay audiences.
- Strong organizational and project management skills.
- Experience in environmental health and public health.
- Administrative hearing, code enforcement, and regulatory experience in a public, nonprofit, or academic setting.
- Experience with OATH rules and administrative court procedures.
- Ability to work collaboratively with legal partners and program or other collaborators who are not versed in legal procedures and language.
- Experience in environmental justice and health equity.
Responsibilities
- Support the Bureau of Food Safety and Community Sanitation on legal matters concerning expanded regulation and enforcement of restaurants and mobile food vending.
- Represent the Department in hearings before the OATH Hearings Division.
- Support and train inspectors and other staff to appear effectively at hearings.
- Draft and file appeals of OATH Hearings Division decisions and respond to respondent appeals.
- Review and analyze OATH Hearings Division decisions and appellate rulings, and develop and recommend strategies to improve adjudication outcomes.
- Advise the Bureau of Food Safety and Community Sanitation on enforcing applicable laws and regulations.
- Draft policies, procedures, guidance documents, agency regulations, and legal guidance in collaboration with the Environmental Health Legal team and General Counsel staff.
- Train program staff as needed.
- Draft violations, orders, settlement agreements, and other legal documents issued to regulated people or entities.
- Support, coordinate, or lead legal research into equity and climate reviews of the Health Code and investigate similar efforts in other jurisdictions.
Benefits
- Potential eligibility for federal or state loan forgiveness and repayment assistance programs.
- Premium-free health insurance plan.
- Additional health, fitness, and financial benefits may be available depending on the position’s associated union or benefit fund.
- Public-sector defined-benefit pension plan.
- Tax-deferred savings program.
- Worksite Wellness Program.
- Depending on the position, the ability to work from home up to two days during the week.
- Job security compared with private-sector employment.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
No Education Listed
