DIRECTOR, LEGAL AFFAIRS

Compensation: USD 109,538 - USD 115,919 - yearly Job Description New York City Emergency Management (NYCEM) helps New Yorkers before, during, and after emergencies through preparedness, education, and response. NYCEM is responsible for coordinating citywide emergency planning and response for all types and scales of emergencies. We are staffed by more than 200 dedicated professionals with diverse backgrounds and areas of expertise, including individuals assigned from other City agencies. The Office of the Chief Counsel provides legal advice to the agency regarding critical, strategic, legal and policy issues and engages in transactional work in support of the NYCEM mission. It coordinates with the NYC Law Department, Office of the Counsel to the Mayor, and other state and federal counsels regarding a variety of legal issues ranging from emergency events to litigation. We are seeking an Attorney with expertise in privacy law, data protection, and information technology to join our dynamic legal team. Reporting to the Deputy Chief Counsel, this role provides strategic legal guidance at the intersection of law and technology and offers wide latitude for independent judgment. Responsibilities Attend meetings, conferences, and workshops as required. Supervise legal and administrative staff to ensure quality, completeness, and compliance with agency policies and standards. Provide timely, accurate legal advice on compliance, contracting, procurement, and related matters. Advise on global, federal, and state privacy regulations (e.g., GDPR, CCPA, HIPAA). Draft, review, and negotiate technology, SaaS, data processing, and other complex IT agreements. Collaborate with IT/MIS, security, and agency units to implement privacy‑by‑design practices. Monitor emerging privacy laws, cybersecurity regulations, and industry best practices. Support incident response and data breach investigations. Develop and review processes to ensure compliance with local laws, rules, and codes. Coordinate with internal teams and external agencies on legal issues, emergency events, and litigation. Promote interagency cooperation and maintain timely, accurate correspondence. Prepare and review legal documents, research applicable laws, and draft explanatory materials for agency and public use. Lead special projects and perform administrative duties as directed. Serve as acting supervisor during temporary absences. Preferred Skills Minimum 3 years of experience in privacy, data protection, and IT law, including 12 months of supervisory experience. Strong understanding of cybersecurity frameworks and technology contracts. Proven leadership and ability to supervise attorneys and legal support staff. Ability to develop policy and legal analyses that support emergency planning and initiatives. Exceptional organizational, communication, interpersonal and writing skills, with strong legal research, problem‑solving, and analytic skills. Strong knowledge of relevant city, state, and federal laws, rules, and regulations, and ability to interpret and apply them. Experience in emergency management and knowledge of New York State Executive Law, NYC Charter, and Administrative Code. Ability to apply a racial equity lens in policymaking. Excellent judgment and ability to work independently with little supervision. Ability to thrive in a fast‑paced, deadline‑driven environment. Competencies – Everyone Knowledge – possesses appropriate subject matter expertise. Work ethic and productivity – consistently high‑quality, accurate, and on‑time deliverables; dependable, accountable, and responsive. Strategic problem solving and innovation – thoughtful, deliberate, and innovative in problem solving. Effective communication – clear, precise, and timely communication that considers the audience. Teamwork – encourages collaboration, motivates others, active listening, and considers diverse perspectives. Competencies – Managers Strategic planning – creates a strategic vision and plan for the unit and aligns it with broader agency goals. Decision making – demonstrates confidence, decisiveness, adaptability, and good judgement; makes informed, equitable decisions. Relationship building – values and seeks diverse perspectives by demonstrating awareness, sensitivity, and acceptance of cultural differences. Giving and receiving feedback – delivers specific, growth‑centered feedback; listens and receives honest and open feedback. Communication – regularly communicates alignment of individual work with unit and agency goals, creates clear, well‑written deliverables. Coaching – uses coaching techniques to support staff development, sets goals, recommends resources, and tracks progress. Team management – conducts annual evaluations, monitors progress without micromanaging, mediates conflict, monitors workload, and ensures compliance with policies. Studies have shown that women, people of color, and other under‑represented groups are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they can perform every task in the job description. We encourage applicants to think broadly about their background and skill set for the role.

AGENCY ATTORNEY – 30087

Qualifications Admission to the New York State Bar; and either 2 or 3 below. One year of satisfactory United States legal experience after admission to any state bar; or Six months of satisfactory service as an Agency Attorney Intern (30086). Incumbents must remain members of the New York State Bar in good standing for the duration of employment. To be assigned to Assignment Level (AL) II, candidates must have one year of experience at Assignment Level I or two years of comparable legal experience after admission to the bar. To be assigned to AL III candidates must have two years of experience in Assignment Levels I and/or II or three years of comparable legal experience after admission. Additional Information 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 on any legally protected status or characteristic, including but not limited to sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy. #J-18808-Ljbffr City of New York