Company Description
Job Description
THE SELECTED CANDIDATE WILL BE OFFERED A SALARY BETWEEN $71,423 – $82,137.
The Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) protects and promotes the safety and well-being of New York City’s children and families by providing child welfare, juvenile justice, and early care services. In child welfare, ACS contracts with private nonprofit organizations to support and stabilize families at risk of a crisis through preventive services and provides foster care services for children not able to safely remain at home. Each year, the agency’s Division of Child Protection responds to more than 50,000 reports of suspected child abuse or neglect. In juvenile justice, ACS manages and funds services including detention and placement, intensive community-based alternatives for youth, and support services for families. ACS is also a key part of NYCs early childhood and education continuum, providing childcare assistance to thousands of child welfare involved and low-income children so they can access safe, affordable, quality care.
The Employment Law Unit (ELU) is under the Office of the General Counsel at ACS. ELU handles investigations and proceedings as to employee misconduct and unfitness under the CSL, researches and responds to external discrimination complaints, trains agency staff and leadership in employment law issues, liaises with the Law Dept., DOI, and other external oversight and stakeholders, and counsels agency leaders regarding employment law issues and policy initiatives.
The responsibilities of the ELU Agency Attorney Level II:
-Investigate allegations of incompetence and both on-duty and off- duty misconduct on the part of ACS employees.
-Prepare and present disciplinary proceedings against ACS employees with civil service and rights (Civil Service Law Section 75) as well as under CBA grievance procedures.
-Serve as hearing officers at internal administrative hearings regarding matters of employee misconduct, pursuant to the CBA grievance procedure.
-Advise the General Counsel and the Commissioner on disciplinary penalties/settlements, areas of potential liability to the agency is the area of employment law and discrimination complaints.
-Defend the agency against external complaints of employment discrimination. Investigate, research, and submit position papers to the EEOC, NYSDHR, and NYCHRC regarding such complaints.
-Present employee unfitness cases under Civil Service Law Section 72.
-Liaise with the Law Department on lawsuits against the agency involving employment discrimination.
-Provide guidance to managers and program area leadership on employment law/disciplinary issues both on a case-by-case basis and through regular trainings
-Fulfill DOI information requests with regard to employees under DOI investigation, in accordance with applicable legal requirements
-Consult with ACS’ internal OEEO and other relevant divisions regarding legal implications of reasonable accommodations and other related issues
-Provide orientation to new employees on the agency Code of Conduct
Qualifications
1. Admission to the New York State Bar; and either “2” or “3” below.
2. One year of satisfactory United States legal experience subsequent to admission to any state bar; or
3. Six months of satisfactory service as an Agency Attorney Interne (30086).
Incumbents must remain Members of the New York State Bar in good standing for the duration of this employment.
In addition to meeting the minimum Qualification Requirements:
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 subsequent to admission to the bar, in the areas of law related to the assignment. 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 subsequent to admission to the bar, in the areas of law related to the assignment.
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.