About the Agency:

The New York City Department of Housing Preservation (HPD) promotes quality and affordability in the city's housing, and diversity and strength in the city’s neighborhoods because every New Yorker deserves a safe, affordable place to live in a neighborhood they love.

- We maintain building and resident safety and health.
- We create opportunities for New Yorkers through housing affordability.
- We engage New Yorkers to build and sustain neighborhood strength and diversity.

HPD is entrusted with fulfilling these objectives through the goals and strategies of Housing Our Neighbors: A Blueprint for Housing and Homelessness, Mayor Adams’ comprehensive housing framework. To support this important work, the administration has committed $5 billion in new capital funding, bringing the 10-year planned investment in housing to $22 billion the largest in the city’s history. This investment, coupled with a commitment to reduce administrative and regulatory barriers, is a multi-pronged strategy to tackle New York City’s complex housing crisis, by addressing homelessness and housing instability, promoting economic stability and mobility, increasing homeownership opportunities, improving health and safety, and increasing opportunities for equitable growth.

Your Team:

The Office of Legal Affairs provides legal support services to the entire agency, and is comprised of the following Divisions:

- Contracts and Real Estate Division (CRED)
- Landlord/Tenant Litigation Divisions (LTLD)
- Mortgage Enforcement Litigation Division (MELD)
- Procurement Services Division (PSD)
- Regulatory Affairs Division (RAD)
- Tax Incentives and Housing Supervision Division (TIHSD)

Your Impact:

The Division of Crisis Responses manages HPD’s crisis response for the Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Center(s). The Division focuses on overseeing and preparing the launch of several HERRC sites and programs, including congregate shelters, upstate hotels, faith-based bed programs and a hotel vouchers program to support several asylum seeker initiatives and shelters. In addition, the Crisis Response Unit is structured to provide ongoing operational support and respond to other crises with an impact on housing, such as the pandemic and extreme weather conditions.

Your Role:

Reporting to the ACCO and working in close collaboration with the General Counsel in the Office of Legal Affairs and the Assistant Commissioner and Director of Crisis Response Operations, the Executive Agency Counsel will provide high level legal resources to support the increasing volume of new contracts related to the asylum seeker population and utilize their legal expertise and knowledge to advise and serve as legal counselor for the agency’s crisis response relating to management of the asylum seeker shelter sites and other special initiatives.
The Executive Agency Counsel will be responsible for preparing and reviewing contracts and procedures related to the organization, development and management of asylum seeker shelter sites and ensuring that HPD is compliant with relevant program policies and goals. The Executive Agency Counsel will analyze and evaluate legal documents and policies and provide recommendations on behalf of the agency.

Your Responsibilities:

Responsibilities of the Executive Agency Counsel will include, but not be limited to:

- The Executive Agency Counsel will conduct investigations and negotiate and draft contracts relating to asylum seeker shelter sites facilities and special policies and initiatives.
- Ensure that contracts meet and follow all legal and internal operating procedures, guidelines, and obligations.
- Litigate complex legal matters related to the asylum seeker populations and HPD’s imminent emergency crisis operation.
- Draft important and complex legislation and policies related to asylum seeker shelter site operations and administration on behalf of the agency.
- Will serve as legal counselor for the Crisis Response Unit, advising and making recommendations on relevant legal issues and recommend a course of action to provide necessary assistance to the arriving asylum seekers.

Admission to the New York State Bar; and 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, in an administrative, managerial or executive capacity, or performing highly complex and significant legal work.

Incumbents must remain Members of the New York State Bar in good standing for the duration of this employment.

- Admission to the New York State Bar, and at least four years of recent, full-time responsible, relevant, and satisfactory legal experience subsequent to the admission to any bar. - Proven interest in crisis management, community development, urban planning, affordable housing, and asylum law. - Knowledge of New York City affordable housing, crisis management and shelter programs. - Familiarity with local community and emergency service response providers. - Keen judgment and excellent analytical and problem-solving skills. - Strong Interpersonal and communication skills. - Excellent writing and legal research skills with strong attention to detail. - Demonstrated capacity for performing and prioritizing multiple tasks and exhibit a high degree of initiative in managing multiple priorities, meeting deadlines, and using independent judgment, in a professional and appropriate manner in a fast-paced, high intensity environment. - Ability to work well with multiple external stakeholders and agencies and internal partners. NYC Residency Required

As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education’s website at https://studentaid.gov/pslf/.

New York City Residency is not required for this position

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.