Associate Counsel

Overview

Duties Description The Associate Counsel will serve as Chief of the Bureau of Minerals and Materials Management in the DEC Office of General Counsel. As Bureau Chief, the Associate Counsel will directly supervise approximately 8 attorneys and other staff currently providing legal support to the Divisions of Mineral Resources, Materials Management and Environmental Permits, as well as the Offices of Environmental Justice and Indian Nation Affairs with topics ranging widely from solid and hazardous waste, pesticides, chemical policy, product stewardship, bottle bill, plastic bags, mining, oil and gas, radiation, permitting, records management, rule making, environmental justice and Indian Nation matters.

The attorneys in this bureau provide day-to-day legal counsel to program staff; draft, review and edit regulations legislation and policies; draft legal documents; manage litigation, represent the agency during negotiations and public proceedings; and advise management on legal issues affecting their respective programs. Given the complex and diverse subject matter and number of staff in the Bureau, the Associate Counsel must possess subject matter expertise and management experience to support the Department’s mission and ensure timely legal advice and support for the affected programs.

The description of the duties for this position and percentage of time for each duty follows.

• 45% Monthly:
  The Associate Counsel will supervise and manage the 7 staff in the Bureau.
• Assign work to Bureau staff, and manage staff to ensure timely completion of assigned duties;
• Review work from Bureau members to make sure the work product is of acceptable quality, correct any deficiencies, and forward approved work to the Deputy Counsel, Director, and General Counsel;
• Perform supervisory functions for the Bureau, including drafting work plans and evaluations for Bureau members, developing form documents for the Bureau, approving vacations and other leave;
• Directly supervise staff in-training to be legal professionals; and
• Perform other supervisory duties as needed.
• 20% Monthly:
  The Associate Counsel will serve as counsel to the General Counsel, Director of OGC, Deputy Counsel, Executive Staff members, Division Directors, Regional Directors and Regional Attorneys.
• Provide timely advice and guidance and respond to inquiries from Executive Staff, the Deputy Counsel, Director, and the General Counsel;
• Respond to inquiries regarding the interpretation of law and legal procedure;
• Interact with staff from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with respect to the Department’s implementation of the Solid Waste and pesticide programs and with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on interstate gas storage projects.
• Advise the Commissioner and Governor’s staff as to the Department’s implementation of the Bureau’s programs;
• Provide legal support for the development and implementation of legislation and regulations for the Bureau’s programs; and
• Regularly meet with management staff from the Divisions of Materials Management (DMM), Minerals, and Environmental Remediation, to ensure program needs are being met.
• 10% Monthly:
  The Associate Counsel will serve as litigation counsel.
• Supervise Department staff members assigned to defend litigation matters in the Bureau’s programs, including providing support during any administrative hearing matters;
• Must have strong interpersonal skills to ensure there is a good working relationship with the Office of the Attorney General, and the individual must be able to assist with the drafting and review of necessary documents related to any civil litigation; and
• The attorney must ensure that the Department’s perspective, policies and goals are considered in developing litigation strategy.
• 25% Monthly:
  The Associate Counsel will serve as program counsel to the Divisions of Materials Management, Minerals, and the Office of Environmental Justice and Office of Indian Nation Affairs and regularly correspond with the Director, Bureau Directors, and program staff members.
• Offer legal opinions and make recommendations to program staff from these Divisions on a variety of program areas;
• Prov…