Agency Attorney (Energy Policy)

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 collaborative, service-oriented environment, where flexibility and ability to achieve results are valued. Staff must conduct all duties relevant to their position in their assigned division and demonstrate an advanced level of expertise. This position requires a focus on aligning daily operations to the agency's strategic priorities, engage stakeholders in planning and ensure performance using well-defined success metrics and project management strategies. All staff are expected to deliver timely and quality work products and services, participate in ongoing improvement activities, proactively deepen their knowledge of procurement and government operations, and will use modern technology software and hardware to complete daily duties. This position must collaborate with other team members to implement projects, help to maintain and/or analyze operational data, and interact with external stakeholders.

Under the direction of the General Counsel, with latitude for the exercise of independent judgment, the Agency Attorney (Energy Policy) is responsible for assisting with legal and policy projects of the office; providing legal advice to the City Chief Procurement Officer (CCPO) and other MOCS and agency staff. Principal duties and responsibilities are as follows:

• Providing legal advice and analysis to the CCPO, General Counsel, and agency contracting personnel on the City's procurement rules and processes, with a focus on environmental policy and regulations;

• Designing procurement-related compliance policies for Local Law 97 of 2019 - building greenhouse gas emissions;

• Providing legal compliance oversight for Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) laws and promulgation of new EPP rules and standards;

• Managing compliance with Local Law 112 of 2021 regarding agency purchasing, use, and disposal of textiles;

• Developing agency training materials and guidance regarding environmental purchasing;

• Supporting the work of the MOCS General Counsel Unit, including:

• Providing legal advice on a broad rang range of procurement-related matters, including but not limited to procurement innovation and vendor integrity information and processes, vendor appeals, FOIL requests and pending legislation;

• Drafting of memoranda of policy and procedure, guidelines for implementation of new legislation, non-responsibility determinations, agency contracts, and public testimony for public hearings;

• Representing the CCPO/MOCS in connection with various interagency task forces, working groups, and the City's Contract Dispute Resolution Board;

• Assisting in the resolution of disputes regarding contract registration issues, vendor protests and audit findings with the Office of the Comptroller; drafting and reviewing responses to audit findings;

• Assisting agencies with compliance with various local laws, rules, and regulations.

New York City residency is generally required within 90 days of appointment. However, City Employees in certain titles who have worked for the City for 2 continuous years may also be eligible to reside in Nassau, Suffolk, Putnam, Westchester, Rockland, or Orange County. To determine if the residency requirement applies to you, please discuss with the agency representative at the time of interview.

Minimum Qualifications

1.Do you have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university?

2.Do you have an associate degree from an accredited college or university along with two (2) years of experience with administrative, analytic, coordinative, supervisory or liaison responsibilities?

3.Do you have a four-year high school diploma, or its educational equivalent approved by a state's Department of Education or a recognized accrediting organization along with four (4) years of experience as described in question "2" above?

4.Do you have a satisfactory combination of education and/or experience equivalent to that described in questions "1," "2," and/or "3" above?

Preferred Skills

1.Admission to the New York State Bar 2. One year of satisfactory United States legal experience after admission to any state bar and 3. Experience in the field of environmental law. Incumbents must remain Members of the New York State Bar in good standing for the duration of this employment.

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 https://studentaid.gov/pslf/

Residency Requirement

New York City residency is generally required within 90 days of appointment. However, City Employees in certain titles who have worked for the City for 2 continuous years may also be eligible to reside in Nassau, Suffolk, Putnam, Westchester, Rockland, or Orange County. To determine if the residency requirement applies to you, please discuss with the agency representative at the time of interview.

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 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.