The NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) protects public health and the environment by supplying clean drinking water, collecting and treating wastewater, and reducing air, noise, and hazardous materials pollution. DEP is the largest combined municipal water and wastewater utility in the country, with nearly 6,000 employees. DEP delivers more than 1.1 billion gallons per day of the highest quality drinking water to 8.5 million NYC residents and more than 1 million people in Upstate New York, and has a wastewater conveyance and treatment system capable of processing over 1.3 billion gallons of wastewater per day to protect the environment and the city’s surrounding waterways.
DEP’s Bureau of Legal Affairs (BLA) works cooperatively with the New York City Law Department (Law Dept) to ensure that all DEP’s legal needs are addressed. Given DEP’s extensive infrastructure and operations, DEP is involved in a significant amount of litigation and claims filed with the New York City Comptroller’s Office. BLA’s staff provide critical litigation support to the Law Department attorneys representing the agency and respond to requests for records and information from the New York City Comptroller’s Office.
BLA is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Claim Specialist 2 in the Litigation Support Unit. This position, with some latitude for independent initiative and judgment, encompasses work of varying degrees of difficulty and responsibility. The work is performed under the supervision of higher level staff and/or attorneys, as well as other DEP personnel, to provide litigation and claim support. The candidate will perform various types of supervisory and clerical duties, including but not limited to the following:
• Assist with supervision of and assigning work to other claim specialists in the Litigation Support unit, and includes conducting review of their work.
• Testify in depositions and trials on behalf of the Litigation Support unit.
• Respond to litigation support requests, discovery demands, subpoenas, Comptroller claims, and/or other forms and papers related to legal proceedings and transaction.
• Maintain spreadsheets generating metrics in various functions performed by the unit.
• Collect, assemble, and review information/records from DEP bureaus to comply with discovery obligations and production, including interviewing agency custodians with potential evidence.
• Obtaining, reviewing, updating, organizing and maintaining physical and electronic case files.
• Perform routine administrative duties when necessary including, but not limited to photocopying, filing, scanning, archiving, data entry, indexing, reserving conference rooms, and managing calendars.
Minimum Qual Requirements
1. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university; or
2. An associate degree or 60 semester credits from an accredited college or university and two years of full-time satisfactory experience investigating and/or settling claims for personal injury or property damage or loss; or
3. A four-year high school diploma or its educational equivalent approved by a State’s Department of Education or a recognized accrediting organization and four years of full-time satisfactory
experience investigating and/or settling claims for personal injury or property damage or loss; or
4. A satisfactory combination of education and/or experience that is equivalent to 1, 2 or 3 above.
College education may be substituted for experience as described in 2 or 3 above on the basis that 30 semester credits from an accredited college or university may be substituted for each year of
required experience. However, all candidates must have a four-year high school diploma or its
educational equivalent.
Preferred Skills
The Claim Specialist will need to become familiar with DEP’s Databases to effectively retrieve and produce electronically stored information. The Claim Specialist must be proficient using Microsoft Office (especially Word and Excel). Strong communication and organizational skills are required. Drivers license required.
Additional Information
Driver License Requirement:
At the time of appointment to certain positions, candidates may be required to possess a Motor Vehicle Driver License valid in the State of New York. If required, employees must maintain this license for the duration of employment.
**LOAN FORGIVENESS**
The federal government provides student loan forgiveness through its Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF) to all qualifying public service employees.
Please visit the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program site to view the eligibility requirements:
https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/repay-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service
DEP is an equal opportunity employer with a strong commitment to the diversity of our organization and workforce. Your voluntary response to the NYCAPS on-line application section for referral information will assist us tremendously in our ability to track the success of our outreach recruitment efforts. Please be sure to indicate your source of referral to this job.
For more information about NYCDEP, visit us at: www.nyc.gov/dep
We appreciate your interest and thank all applicants who apply, but only candidates under consideration will be contacted.
All appointments are subject to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval.
To Apply
Click on Apply Now and submit a resume and cover letter.
Please review the City’s Civil Service Exam requirements for full-time employees at
https://www1.nyc.gov/jobs/get-started.page
55-a Program
This position is also open to qualified persons with a disability who are eligible for the 55-a Program. Please indicate at the top of your resume and cover letter that you would like to be considered for the position through the 55-a Program.
Public Svc 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 StudentAid.gov/PSLF .
Hours/Shift
35 hours/week
Work Location
59-17 Junction Blvd Corona Ny
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.
Recruitment Contact
Recruitment Contact: Grace Pigott
Recruitment Email: Recruit@dep.nyc.gov
POSTING DATE
07/26/2023
POST UNTIL
Until Filled
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.