Attorney

Company Overview:

With an annual budget of $2.3 billion and more than 7,000 employees throughout the five boroughs, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC Health Department) is one of the largest public health agencies in the world, serving 8 million New Yorkers from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds. We're tackling a broad range of public health issues with innovative policies and programs and getting exceptional results, but our work is never finished. The breadth of our innovative programs provides the widest range of choices for every member of our team. 

With grant funds from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), NYC Health Department is undertaking a new initiative that will meet critical infrastructure needs and make possible strategic investments that will have lasting effects on public health. Investments and improvements through this initiative will help modernize DOHMH’s foundational capabilities and data infrastructure, enabling it to partner in complex health and health care environments and, in turn, support better public health outcomes, including COVID-19. This initiative supports larger efforts to rebalance investments in public health and more equitably serve communities and populations.

The selected candidate will be an employee of Public Health Solutions, a nonprofit organization which is the fiscal and administrative manager of the grant but will be supervised by the NYC Health Department. This is a grant-funded position ending in November 2027.

The Office of General Counsel (OGC) provides legal advice and assistance to the entire agency. Specifically, OGC works to ensure that the innovative programs and initiatives of DOHMH are supported by a dedicated legal team. The OGC team is comprised of attorneys who work in a variety of areas including legal affairs (legal and policy analysis; health code enforcement; records access), contracts, privacy, and employment law. OGC also houses the Institutional Review Board and attorneys working in the Assisted Outpatient Treatment program. 

Position Summary:

DOHMH has an opening for three attorney positions to serve as an Assistant General Counsel. The Assistant General Counsel will be a key member of the legal team to provide counsel and support on legal matters. Under the direct supervision of the First Deputy General Counsel or Unit Directors, the identified candidate will serve as an Assistant General Counsel within Legal Affairs and utilizing their knowledge of the legislative process will be required to provide support on an array of public health legal issues including the following: 

Qualifications and Requirements:

Additional Desired Qualities:

Preferred Skills: laws, policies, and legal systems influence the cause, distribution, and prevention of disease and injury

• Strong written and oral advocacy skills with attention to detail
• Knowledge of or interest in administrative or regulatory law
• Ability to negotiate settlements with opposing counsel
• Strong interpersonal, creative problem-solving, and organizational skills
• Ability to work productively and collaboratively as part of a team
• Demonstrated ability to work independently
• Excellent judgment and decision-making skills
• Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines and manage cases and projects in a timely manner
• Willingness to learn on the job, exhibit a high degree of initiative in managing multiple priorities simultaneously
• Highly detail-oriented with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects.
• Ability to use online legal research platforms such as Westlaw, CLEAR, and Lexis Nexis.
• Current working knowledge of Health Department procedures, policies and practices is a plus.
• Current knowledge or interest in public health matters is a plus.

Benefits:

• Hybrid Work Schedule.
• Generous Paid Time Off and Holidays.
• An attractive and comprehensive benefits package including Medical, Dental and Vision.
• Flexible Spending Accounts and Commuter Benefits.
• Company Paid Life Insurance and Disability Coverage.
• 403(b) + employer matching and discretionary company contributions.
• College Savings Plan.
• Ongoing trainings and continuous opportunities for professional growth and development.

Additional Information: 

At PHS, we place immense value on diversity within our teams, understanding that varied backgrounds and experiences significantly enhance our community and propel us toward our goals. If you find you don’t have experience in all the areas listed above, we still encourage you to apply and share your background and experiences in your application. We are eager to discover how your unique perspective can bring positive transformations to our team and help advance our mission of creating healthier, more equitable communities. 

We look forward to learning more about you! 

PHS is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from women, people of color, persons with disabilities, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and veterans.