General Counsel

THE AGENCY
The Department of City Planning (DCP) plans for the strategic growth and development of the City through ground-up planning with communities, the development of land use policies and zoning regulations applicable citywide and by sharing its perspectives on growth and community needs with sister agencies in collaboration with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The New York City Department of City Planning is a great place to work – cultivating intellectual inspiration, professional development and creativity. Visit our website at to access the full listing of job opportunities and to learn more about our great agency.

THE DIVISION
The Counsel's Office advises the Department of City Planning (DCP), the City Planning Commission, other governmental agencies, and private entities on all issues related to zoning, land use review, planning, development, environmental review, and agency administration and procedures. The team also serves as the Department’s in-house Counsel on all matters. This role is unique in that it is the opportunity for an attorney to play a lead role in policy formulation and application in advance of planning for New York City.

THE ROLE
The General Counsel reports directly to the DCP Director and Chairperson of the City Planning Commission and performs a broad scope of duties, including leading the Counsel’s Office team of attorneys to advise the agency, City Planning Commission, other agencies and external applicants in all aspects of planning, zoning and environmental review law. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Lead and support the development of planning, zoning and environmental review policy and appropriate implementation strategies related to the Department’s agenda.
2. Advise and recommend on questions of land use law, policy and procedure to the City Planning Commission.
3. Participate in policy formulation and advise DCP staff on laws, policies, and precedent related to land use, zoning, environmental review and public policy.
4. Interact with the Law Department and other agencies to ensure compliance of land use policy with other applicable city and state laws, policies and rules.
5. Draft, review and complete legal drafting of complex legislation, zoning text, regulations and policy statements.
6. Review and prepare complex legal documents related to land use and environmental review projects.
7. Analyze and respond to legal recommendations from Federal, State and local entities and recommend a course of action to the Director and Department staff.
8. Manage the Counsel’s Office review of restrictive declarations and other documents associated with land use applications.
9. Advise the Department and land use applicants on all matters of law and policy as needed.
10. Assist agency managerial staff in the preparation and review of Environmental Impact Statements and other SEQRA/CEQR documentation.
11. Advise the Director and City Planning Commission on all aspects of relevant law.
12. Lead and conduct special studies and projects as directed.
13. Manage all aspects of the Department’s in-house Counsel need through leadership of the Counsel’s Office.
14. Lead all aspects of the Counsel’s Office practice, which include project management and responding to inquiries from the agency’s constituent organizations and the general public.
15. Supervise, manage, and direct the 6 attorneys and 2 Public Records/FOIL Officers of the Counsel’s Office, including Deputy General Counsel and staff attorneys, in a collaborative work environment.
16. Provide legal support for agency-wide activities, programs, initiatives, policies, transactions and business operations.
17. Keep apprised of legal developments and relevant practice areas and communicate highly technical legal guidance and information with clarity and skill.
18. Represent the Counsel’s Office and the agency in meetings internally, with City colleagues, and constituents.
19. Serve as legal advisor to the Director, management, and staff in all business units and advise and recommend on questions of law, fact and administrative policy, as well as serving as an escalation point regarding issues related to:
1. Human Resources, liaising with DCAS and the Mayor’s Office of Labor Relations.
2. Procurement: working with the Department’s Agency Chief Contract Officer to ensure that Procurement Policy Board rules are followed, and that the Department appropriately executes memorandums of understanding and contracts.
3. Records Management: Supervising the Department’s Records Management Officer and program, while ensuring compliance with freedom of information law (FOIL) requests.
4. Serve as the agency’s liaison to the City’s Law Department and other City agencies to solicit guidance, advocate on behalf of the agency, and coordinate on litigation and review of various legal and regulatory matters.

REQUIRED SKILLS:
- Admission to the New York State Bar; and five 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.
- Must have a fluency in some aspect of planning, land use, zoning or environmental review law, from the public, private or non-profit sector, and with experience in New York State.
- Must have ability to manage other attorneys in a collaborative environment, coaching and motivating them to continue to grow, develop and improve their skills.
- Must work well with in-house and outside clients and constituents, staying calm, cool and collected in all situations.
- Must be able to successfully manage multiple priorities, work productively under pressure, both independently and as a team member, and possess tact and excellent judgment in confidential situations.
- Must possess a strong attention to detail, strong verbal and written communication skills and strong computer skills with advanced proficiency with the Microsoft Office suite.

COUNSEL (CITY PLANNING) - 30128

Minimum Qualifications

1. A license to practice law in the State of New York; and
2. Three (3) years of satisfactory relevant legal experience subsequent to admission to the bar.

Preferred Skills

Any of the below or any combination of the below:
- Ability to creatively problem solve and to deliver positive results by balancing complicated and varied interests.
- Significant management and leadership expertise in the public sector.
- Substantial private sector real estate and development experience, with a track record of successful large commercial and legal negotiations with public and private stakeholders.
- Intricate knowledge of New York land use law and the function of city planning, the New York City Zoning Resolution and or the City Environmental Quality Review process.
- Familiarity with Federal, state and local regulations and legal frameworks.
- Expertise managing a large team of legal staff and working across city government agencies.
- Track record of advising senior government appointees and elected officials.
- Experience working for City government and/or non-profit clients.

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 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.

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