Agency Attorney III, Compliance & Enforcement

About the Agency

The New York City Department of Housing Preservation Development (HPD) promotes quality and affordability in the city’s housing and creates neighborhood strength and diversity, ensuring every New Yorker has a safe, affordable place to live.

HPD’s Office of Development leads affordable housing efforts through construction and preservation. The Housing Incentives division provides tax credits, incentives, and zoning bonuses, while the Compliance & Enforcement (C&E) division investigates and takes enforcement action against building owners who fail to comply with applicable laws, codes, and regulations.

As an Attorney for the Housing Incentives Compliance & Enforcement division, you will investigate and enforce non‑compliance of building owners receiving tax incentives, supervise a team of paralegals, draft and review legislation, and report compliance cases to senior staff.

• Receive and analyze complaints of non‑compliance from HPD and external sources, determining sanctions or revocation of benefits.
• Investigate complaints by collecting facts from public sources, property owners, and residents.
• Make legal recommendations on violations and appropriate remedies.
• Prepare legal documents to prosecute violations or revoke benefits.
• Resolve cases through negotiated settlement, administrative proceedings, or court proceedings, including occasional appearances before OATH.
• Serve as the primary contact for owners, counsel, and residents of properties in assigned cases.
• Regularly report case status to the Assistant Commissioner and senior staff.
• Maintain case tracking and management systems.
• Provide input on program policies and processes to strengthen enforcement cases.
• Supervise attorneys, paralegals, and assistant project managers.
• Assist in producing an annual report listing buildings for which benefits have been revoked.

• A JD and at least one year of civil litigation or regulatory enforcement experience after admission to the New York bar.
• Experience with tax or real estate matters is a plus.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal, creative problem‑solving, and organizational skills.
• Superior analytical and research skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to work productively and collaboratively as part of a team.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and meet deadlines.
• High initiative and ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast‑paced, deadline‑driven environment.
• Strong facility with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
• Preference for candidates with experience working for or with government agencies and programs related to affordable housing compliance.

1. Admission to the New York State Bar and either one of the following:

• One year of satisfactory United States legal experience after admission to a state bar; or

• Six months of satisfactory service as an Agency Attorney Intern (30086).

Incumbents must remain members of the New York State Bar in good standing for the duration of employment.

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 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 in the areas of law related to the assignment.

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 sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.