General Counsel

City of New York•New York City, NY

21h

About The Position

The General Counsel of the NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) plays an essential role in advancing the agency's mission by providing strategic legal oversight across one of the most operationally diverse portfolios in city government. From managing legal matters related to procurement, real estate, and civil service policies to guiding compliance in areas such as energy management, labor relations, and privacy, the General Counsel ensures DCAS operates within the law while achieving its operational goals. This position is not only the agency’s chief legal advisor but also a strategic partner to the Commissioner and executive team balancing legal risk with innovation, efficiency, and effective governance. As DCAS continues to evolve to meet the City’s dynamic needs, the General Counsel will lead legal strategy during periods of transformation, helping to shape agency policy, support major citywide initiatives, and build a legal team that drives excellence and accountability. The General Counsel is indispensable to ensuring that DCAS remains a legally sound, forward-thinking, and high-performing agency serving all New Yorkers. The New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) is seeking a highly skilled, strategic and dynamic attorney to serve as General Counsel. This role requires an experienced attorney with a deep understanding of municipal operations, exceptional leadership and management skills, and the ability to navigate complex legal landscapes within a diverse portfolio of legal matters including citywide and agency procurement; real estate transactions; facilities management; civil service and citywide personnel policies; fleet operations; energy management; records access; privacy; labor relations; and employee discipline; and any other legal or compliance responsibilities as DCAS in-house counsel. The General Counsel will provide trusted legal guidance and strategic advice to the Commissioner, executive leadership, senior management and staff across all DCAS lines of service. The successful candidate will oversee and direct a team of approximately 60 attorneys, auditors and support staff, ensuring the agency operates in full compliance with federal, state and local laws, regulations. This position is ideal for a legal professional with extensive experience in public sector law. The role requires a leader who can embrace organizational change, drive transformation and establish forward-looking legal strategy to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the agency while balancing legal risk, operational and policy considerations. The successful candidate will be skilled at managing transitions, optimizing resources and fostering a culture of adaptability to align with the evolving agency needs and priorities.

Requirements

Admission to the New York State Bar
Four years of recent full-time responsible, relevant, satisfactory legal experience subsequent to admission to any bar
Eighteen months of which must have been in the supervision of other attorneys or in an administrative, managerial or executive capacity.

Nice To Haves

Deep understanding of municipal operations
Exceptional leadership and management skills
Ability to navigate complex legal landscapes within a diverse portfolio of legal matters including citywide and agency procurement; real estate transactions; facilities management; civil service and citywide personnel policies; fleet operations; energy management; records access; privacy; labor relations; and employee discipline; and any other legal or compliance responsibilities as DCAS in-house counsel.
Extensive experience in public sector law
Skilled at managing transitions, optimizing resources and fostering a culture of adaptability to align with the evolving agency needs and priorities.

Responsibilities

Serve as the Chief Legal Officer and provide guidance and recommendations to the Commissioner and senior leadership on all legal matters affecting DCAS operations, ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
Partner with senior management to develop, implement and enforce agency-wide policies, procedures and compliance strategies.
Advise the Commissioner on proposed legislative changes and develop legal arguments supporting DCAS-sponsored legislative proposals.
Oversee the disposition of contracts, liability claims, labor disputes and civil service matters.
Participate in complex and/or high-priority contract negotiations on behalf of the agency.
Serve as the chief liaison between DCAS and the Law Department to facilitate the handling of legal disputes and litigation.
Represent the Commissioner at meetings with other public and private entities, ensuring DCAS’ legal interests are effectively represented.
Collaborate with DCAS Public Affairs to review agency communications, publications and public statements to mitigate legal risks and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.
Lead the legal team through organizational change, optimizing structures, roles and workflows to enhance efficiency and responsiveness to agency priorities.
Manage and mentor a team of attorneys and professionals, fostering a collaborative and high-performing legal department that adapts to evolving agency needs.