General Counsel

Overview

The Mayor's Office of Contract Services (MOCS) is a New york City oversight and service agency that manages procurement citywide, from planning and release of agency solicitations to payment of vendors. Annually, agencies procure billions in products and services from a diverse pool of vendors that represent various industries. MOCS therefore aims to ensure that the procurement process remains fair, transparent, efficient, and cost‑effective.

MOCS makes it easier to do business through use of end‑to‑end technology tools, increases transparency by publication of enriched data and hosting public hearings, and strengthens procurement operations by providing direct assistance and resources to all stakeholders. MOCS also partners with agencies and vendors to identify areas for policy reform, resulting in ongoing process improvement to reduce administrative burdens and increase the positive impact of services on communities. The MOCS Director serves as the City Chief Procurement Officer.

MOCS team members operate in a fast‑paced, collaborative, service‑oriented environment, where flexibility and ability to achieve results are valued. All managers lead teams and/or lines of service, assuming increasing levels of responsibility for the organization’s success. Managers align daily operations to the agency’s strategic priorities, engage stakeholders in planning, and drive performance using well‑defined success metrics, along with effective people and project management strategies (including but not limited to the assignment of work, maintenance of performance standards, maintaining baseline staff knowledge and professional development).

Position Summary

The General Counsel serves as a member of the agency’s Executive Team guiding the agency’s overall direction, shares responsibility for coordinating joint projects with peers, has significant latitude for decision‑making within divisions, and contributes to initiatives of agency or citywide significance. The ideal candidate will have experience finding the appropriate balance between minimizing legal risk and maximizing institutional effectiveness while providing legal counsel to senior leaders. The role requires strong verbal and written communications skills, the ability to develop and deliver presentations, and facilitate meetings with legal practitioners and a wide array of stakeholders.

Strategic Decision‑Making

• Provide legal advice and analysis to the MOCS Director/City Chief Procurement Officer (CCPO), MOCS staff and agency contracting/legal staff on a broad range of procurement‑related matters.
• Collaborate with Director and Executive Team to support agency strategic planning and implementation.
• Proactively review, draft, and implement policies and procedures to mitigate risk and strengthen agency practices and ensure internal processes are effective; monitor changes in the external environment for opportunities and risks.
• Demonstrate sound judgement that includes a risk management, equity, and inclusion lens.

Legal Compliance

• Strategic management of the General Counsel Unit.
• Supervise all agency attorneys implementing various compliance and policy initiatives, including but not limited to FOIL requests, record retention, privacy policies, legally required reports, mitigation of conflicts of interest matters.
• Advise the Director and Deputy Directors and other agency staff on labor and employment matters, including but not limited to investigations and disciplinary actions.
• Advise the Director, MOCS and agency staff, and City Hall concerning Comptroller contract registration and emergency procurement matters.
• Oversee staff performance of confidential background reviews of prospective/current City vendors and PASSPort caution entries.
• Draft CCPO decisions on appeals by vendors of agency non‑responsibility determinations; represent CCPO as a panelist of the Contract Dispute Resolution Board.

Business Management

• Preparation and review of agency standard contract forms, memorandum of understandings, non‑disclosure agreements, as well special contracts and other legal documents; direct participation in contract negotiations.
• Provide advice regarding implementation of contracts and agreements and legal aspects of business relationships.
• Strategic legal support for PASSPort, the citywide online procurement portal:
  • Advise on system design and implementation protocols.
  • Collaborate with professional staff responsible for processing PASSPort disclosure questionnaires by vendors.
  • Advise agencies and assist vendors in completing statutorily required vendor disclosures in PASSPort.
  • Develop training materials and coordinate PASSPort/Vendor Responsibility and Ethics training for agencies and vendors.

Citywide Policy and Legal Compliance

• Partner with the New York City Law Department with respect to matters of legal counsel on procurement related matters, litigation support, and contract approvals.
• Resolve complex vendor integrity issues that may require inter‑agency coordination with the Department of Investigation (DOI), City Hall, contracting agencies, and the New York City Council.
• Deliver testimony to City Council and draft/participate in drafting testimony for the Director; review new legislation and Executive Orders; draft proposed legislation.
• Coordinate with City Hall press office, Mayor’s Office of Legislative Affairs, and intergovernmental affairs on contract/procurement related issues.
• Represent the Director and MOCS in connection with various citywide and interagency task forces and working groups.
• Assume other responsibilities as assigned by the Director.

Minimum Qualifications

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.

Preferred Skills

• A minimum of ten (10) years relevant professional experience, including three (3) at the senior, managerial, or executive level.
• Strong commitment to advancing equity through legal and structural reform.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, inclusion, equity, and accessibility.
• Excellent leadership, organizational and communication skills.
• Excellent analytical, legal writing, negotiation and problem‑solving skills.
• Experience in management responsibilities at a local, state or federal government agency.
• Experience in government management, litigation, legislation and rulemaking, and government procurement procedures.
• Prior experience working with and/or knowledge of procurement law.
• Intergovernmental and operational experience.
• Commitment to maintaining strict confidentiality on highly sensitive matters.
• Strong interpersonal, leadership and management skills and experience managing other attorneys and legal staff.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

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

Residency Requirement

New York City Residency is not required for this position.

Work Location

255 Greenwich Street, 9th floor, New York, NY 10007

Additional Information

Mayor’s Office of Contract Services is an equal opportunity employer. Mayor’s Office of Contract Services recognizes the unique skills and strengths gained through military service. Veterans and service members of the U.S. Armed Forces are strongly encouraged to apply. Special accommodations provided to applicants with disabilities. Please contact MOCS Disability Service Facilitator at View email address on click.appcast.io or View phone number on click.appcast.io only to request an accommodation. No other phone calls or personal inquiries permitted.

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.