Senior Counsel, Transactions - Procurement & Contracts

Job Title Senior Counsel, Transactions - Procurement & Contracts Salary Range $145,231 - $181,539 Department / Division Legal Supervisor Deputy General Counsel, Procurement & Contracts Location 93-02 Sutphin Blvd, Jamaica, NY 11435 Hours Of Work 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM. This position is eligible for telework and new hires may apply 30 days after their effective date of hire. Company Overview The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is North America's largest transportation network, serving a population of 15.3 million people across a 5,000-square-mile travel area surrounding New York City, Long Island, southeastern New York State, and Connecticut. The MTA network comprises the nation's largest bus fleet and more subway and commuter rail cars than all other U.S. transit systems combined. MTA strives to provide a safe and reliable commute, excellent customer service, and rewarding opportunities. Overview Of Division And Position The MTA Legal Department’s Procurement & Contracts Division is seeking a Senior Counsel I, II, or III depending on experience level. The division provides legal, transactional, and strategic advice to MTA, its subsidiaries, and affiliates on a broad range of matters critical to planning and operations, including enterprise-wide contract negotiations for goods, services, and public works. Responsibilities A Senior Counsel in the Procurement & Contracts Division is a Senior-level position with primary responsibility for protecting and preserving the MTA’s legal interests on a wide array of procurement, sourcing, contracting, and commercial matters. Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Drafting solicitations and negotiating terms and conditions for a variety of MTA procurement and interagency agreements, including the purchase of goods, services, hardware, software, infrastructure and equipment contracts. Analyzing and/or drafting agency rules, policies and procedures. Analyzing proposed or enacted legislation, as well as any municipal, state or federal rule or regulation involving or affecting the agencies. Collaborating with, and/or supervising, outside counsel and MTA junior attorneys. Advising mid-level and senior management on issues of risk mitigation, contractor responsibility, and contract disputes, as required. A Senior Counsel - Transactions may, depending on the matter assigned, be asked to work collaboratively with: MTA Legal Department Deputy General Counsels and all MTA Legal Department professional and administrative staff. MTA Departments and Units/Offices, including Accessibility, Audit, Communications, Compliance/Ethics, Diversity and Civil Rights, Finance, Information Technology, Labor Relations, People, Procurement, Strategic Initiatives, and System Safety. Presidents, Senior Vice Presidents, and senior staff at New York City Transit, Metro-North Railroad, Long Island Rail Road, Bridges and Tunnels, and Construction and Development. Federal, State or local administrative agencies. Office of the MTA Inspector General. MTA’s labor partners. Senior Counsel – Levels I, II, and III The Senior Counsel, Transactions position reports to a Deputy General Counsel or Assistant Deputy General Counsel in a Transactions Division of the consolidated MTA Legal Department. Depending on the needs of the Legal Department and the Division, the duties include representing the MTA and its operating agencies in transactions, client counseling, compliance, negotiations, dispute resolution, risk management, and, for Environmental & Condemnation Divisions, litigation matters of increasing complexity and independence. The duties also include providing legal counsel on statutory, regulatory, agency policy, and other matters that pertain to or impact the operations of the MTA and its affiliates and subsidiaries. Level I: Provides legal representation on complex transactional and compliance matters with limited supervision. Responsibilities include drafting and reviewing moderately complex agreements and contracts, conducting due diligence, advising on regulatory and policy issues, managing risk, handling moderately complex negotiations and dispute resolution, preparing authorizing documentation, presenting legal advice to mid-level and senior management, occasionally supervising junior attorneys, interacting with outside counsel, and commenting on legislative and regulatory proposals. For specialized divisions, may assist with moderate litigation tasks such as discovery and appellate arguments. Level II: Manages highly complex and sensitive matters with minimal supervision, including transactions with significant financial or policy exposure. Leads fast-paced negotiations, drafts and reviews multifaceted agreements, oversees due diligence for complex deals, handles disputes involving multiple parties, supervises junior attorneys and outside counsel, coordinates with outside counsel on litigation with major implications, takes leadership in drafting agency rules, procedures, and proposed legislation, and drives complex settlement discussions. In specialized divisions, independently manages complex litigation tasks, including witness examinations at trial. Level III: Operates with substantial independence on high-stakes, highly complex matters, providing strategic legal counsel and shaping overall transactions and dispute resolution strategies. Leads and closes voluminous negotiations, structures deals to meet business and legal objectives and innovates solutions for intricate conflicts and risks. Reviews and drafts contracts with significant programmatic impact, finalizes board-level documentation, negotiates directly with regulators, directs the most complex or novel litigation matters through trial and appeal, often coordinating with outside counsel, and serves as a key advisor on policy, governance, and regulatory issues at the highest level. Education And Experience JD from an accredited law school and licensed to practice law in New York. A minimum of five (5) years of relevant law firm, public sector legal or in-house experience. Preferred Experience Public sector legal experience, particularly in New York City or New York State. Transportation sector experience. History of successfully supervising or mentoring junior attorneys. Record of communicating with and advising an organization’s senior management. Required Competencies Strong legal research and writing ability. Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to interface effectively with people at all levels of the organization and external parties. Demonstrated knowledge base and practice skills relating to the various practice areas and responsibilities of this position. Demonstrated leadership skills. Other Information May need to work outside of normal work hours (i.e., evenings and weekends). Travel may be required to other MTA locations or other external sites. According to the New York State Public Officers Law and the MTA Code of Ethics, all employees who hold a policymaking position must file an Annual Statement of Financial Disclosure (FDS) with the NYS Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government (the “Commission”). Equal Employment Opportunity MTA and its subsidiary and affiliated agencies are Equal Opportunity Employers, including those concerning veteran status and individuals with disabilities. The MTA encourages qualified applicants from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and abilities, including military service members, to apply. #J-18808-Ljbffr