About NYC Health + Hospitals
Empower Every New Yorker — Without Exception — to Live the Healthiest Life Possible
NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest public health care system in the United States. We provide essential outpatient, inpatient and home-based services to more than one million New Yorkers every year across the city’s five boroughs. Our large health system consists of ambulatory centers, acute care centers, post-acute care/long-term care, rehabilitation programs, Home Care, and Correctional Health Services. Our diverse workforce is uniquely focused on empowering New Yorkers, without exception, to live the healthiest life possible.
At NYC Health + Hospitals, our mission is to deliver high quality care health services, without exception. Every employee takes a person-centered approach that exemplifies the ICARE values (Integrity, Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence) through empathic communication and partnerships between all persons.
Job Description
The System’s Central Labor Relations Department is looking for an Associate Counsel to assist in its practice. As a health care provider and a governmental entity, the System operates in a complex legal, regulatory, and unionized environment. The Central Labor Relations Department represents the System at fact finding hearings, arbitration proceedings, and matters before the Office of Collective Bargaining, Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings, and the System’s Personnel Review Board for example. This work also involves holding grievance conferences; negotiating settlements or mediating disputes on disciplinary and contractual matters; preparing briefs, legal opinions, verified answers and complaints, memoranda and other legal submissions; and providing advice on labor relations related matters to others within the System.
The Associate Counsel, under direction, regularly litigates matters on behalf of the System, including but not limited to, disciplinary matters, contractual grievances, and representation and improper practice proceedings. The Associate Counsel, under direction, also guides, trains, and educates staff; and makes recommendations on various labor relations matters. The Associate Counsel, under direction, also interprets and renders opinions on labor relations law, personnel rules and regulations, labor contracts, and legislation that may affect the conduct of the System’s personnel and labor relations policies, plans, and programs, and their administration and implementation.
General tasks and responsibilities will include:
- Advises and represents the System in arbitration proceedings and in other administrative or quasi-judicial proceedings, including calling for the attendance of witnesses, testimony, or the presentation of documentary or other evidence arising out of labor and employee relations disputes.
- Advises on questions of law, statutes, administrative codes, regulations, and rules affecting the operation of the System and in guarding against legal risk; and reviews proposed legislation and its implications on labor relations matters.
- May supervise subordinates in pre-trial preparation, legal research, preparation of briefs, opinions, etc., and reviews work for completeness, and compliance with policy and standards.
- May participate in conferences and meetings regarding the legal interpretation and meaning of the general body of law on labor relations matters that may affect the System.
- May participate in reviewing the implementation of programs, practices, and procedures to ensure compliance with the general body of labor and labor relations law, statutes, administrative codes, rules and regulations.
- Trains System employees on labor relations practices and procedures.
- Participates in labor management meetings, mediations, and in the resolution and settlement of various labor relations related disputes.
- Performs related work.
Minimum Qualifications
1. A baccalaureate degree or equivalent, and LLB or JD from an accredited School of
Law; and admission to New York State Bar; and
2. Three (3) years of experience and background in the practice of law subsequent to
admission to the Bar in matters of litigation, negligence, corporate law, contracts,
real estate, labor relations, labor law and employee relations, or
3. Two (2) years of experience and background in the practice of law subsequent to
admission to the Bar in matters of litigation, negligence, corporate law, contracts,
real estate, labor relations, employment law and employee relations, with two (2)
years of progressively responsible experience in a professional or managerial
capacity in respective fields applicable to the general body of law, specialties or
practice.
Department Preferences
- Trial experience, including in the presentation of witnesses and evidence in court proceedings, arbitrations, or in administrative or quasi-judicial settings.
