General Counsel and Deputy Commissioner of Legal Affairs

The New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) keeps New York City healthy, safe, and clean by collecting, recycling, and disposing of waste, cleaning City streets and vacant lots, and clearing snow and ice. DSNY is the nation's largest municipal sanitation agency, with nearly 10,000 employees, 59 district garages, and a fleet of more than 5,000 trucks, cars, and other types of equipment. The Department clears litter, snow, and ice from approximately 6,500 miles of City streets and removes debris from vacant lots as well as abandoned vehicles from City streets. DSNY is seeking a strategic and highly-experienced attorney to serve as General Counsel and Deputy Commissioner for Legal Affairs (General Counsel). Reporting to the Commissioner, the General Counsel serves as the chief legal officer for the agency. This executive-level role oversees the Departments Bureau of Legal Affairs, a team of attorneys and related support staff with expertise in environmental law, labor law, procurement, litigation, legislative and regulatory matters, and employee discipline. The responsibilities will include but are not limited to: - Executive Legal Strategy: Serve as Agency General Counsel and primary legal advisor to the Commissioner and senior leadership on all matters impacting agency operations and policy. Provides legal opinions to Department officials in collaboration with the Corporation Counsel and Counsel to the Mayor.- Regulatory & Environmental Compliance: Oversee legal strategies related to waste management, policy, and compliance with local, state, and federal laws (including environmental review requirements and DEC and EPA regulations).- Administrative Law: Represents the Department in consultations and administrative proceedings with other City, State, and Federal agencies. - Procurement and Contracts: In collaboration with the Agency Chief Contracting Officer, provides oversight for the drafting and negotiation of agency procurements, including high-value service agreements for waste management, complex construction contracts, and concession agreements essential to NYCs waste management infrastructure.- Labor and Employment: Advises on sensitive labor issues and manages discipline-related matters that require the input or guidance of the Bureau of Legal Affairs for a diverse workforce of 10,000 civilian and uniformed employees and multiple labor unions. - Leadership: Provides guidance and strategic direction for the Bureaus attorneys across a wide spectrum of compliance and policy initiatives, including but not limited to Freedom of Information requests, record retention, HIPAA, privacy policies, legally required reports, mitigation of conflicts of interest matters, and equal employment opportunity and reasonable accommodations.