The Department of Social Services (DSS) is comprised of the administrative units of the New York City Human Resources Administration (HRA) and the Department of Homeless Services (DHS). HRA is dedicated to fighting poverty and income inequality by providing New Yorkers in need with essential benefits such as Food Assistance and Emergency Rental Assistance. DHS is committed to preventing and addressing homelessness in New York City by employing a variety of innovative strategies to help families and individuals successfully exit shelter and return to self sufficiency as quickly as possible.
DSS/HRA Fair Hearing Administration is responsible for providing representation of the Agency at NYS Administrative Hearings in the following program areas: Cash Assistance (CA), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), IREA, HASA and Medical Assistance Program (MAP). Fair Hearing Administration / MAP Fair Hearing Unit serves as an internal mechanism for clients and their representatives to address problems or complaints related to Medicaid eligibility decisions, with the goal of reducing the number of Fair Hearings.
Under the executive direction of the General Counsel/Chief Legal Affairs Officer, with extremely wide latitude for the exercise of independent judgment and decision-making, the Deputy Chief Legal Affairs Officer (DCLO) is responsible for developing policies and overseeing the implementation of policies, while providing legal expertise and guidance, as they influence the services provided and the operation of three areas within the Office of the General Counsel: Fair Hearing Administration (FHA), the Office of Policy, Procedures and Training (OPPT), and the Office of Advocacy.
The DCLO has oversight authority over the following major units within Fair Hearing Administration: Fair Hearing Representation (including SNAP/CASH and HASA Fair Hearings); Fair Hearing Tracking Monitoring and Review Unit; Centralized Packet Review Unit; IREA Fair Hearings; MICSA Fair Hearings; SNAP Fair Hearing Compliance; and Fair Hearing Representation & Counseling. The DCLO also has oversight authority over major subunits of the Office of Policy, Procedures, and Training (OPPT): Research and Policy Development; Office of Procedures (FIA, HPA, FHA) and Special Services Unit; and the Office of Training. In addition, the DCLO develops and plans effective mechanisms for working groups to address concerns from community advocates and to improve communications with advocacy groups. S/he ensures that the daily operations, functions and activities within FHA, OPPT, and advocacy working groups are in concert with the overall mission and vision of the Department of Social Services/Human Resources Administration/Department of Homeless Services (DSS/HRA/DHS) while ensuring that this area's applicable policies, procedures, and operations are in compliance all applicable Federal, State and City laws, regulations and policies.
The Office of the General Counsel /Fair Hearing Administration is recruiting for one (1) Executive Agency Counsel M-VI to function as the Deputy Chief Legal Affairs Officer (DCLO) who will:
- Develop and implement policies that impact upon the administration of public benefits provided by the Agency and plans for new and improved methodologies by which corrective actions are activated to protect the Agency from adverse litigation, thereby maximizing a cost savings for the City. Represents the agency in the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) Fair Hearings and New York City's Office of Administrative Trial Hearings (OATH) to resolve fair hearing cases.
- Monitor and ensure the effectiveness of the operations of the Office of Policy, Procedures and Training that develops policies, procedures, initiatives, and training by ensuring the relevancy of information to ensure staff are equipped with the information needed to be in compliance with City, State, and Federal mandates. Plan and establish policies necessary to integrate and standardize the work of trainers, curriculum developers and procedures writers to improve the quality of training and maintain the reliability of training information provided across the board to Department of Social Services staff who administer public benefits.
- Develop and implement plans for a full consolidation in the policy and training areas of the OPP T division, identifying and implementing opportunities for effective and efficient operations to expand the number of areas served to include all HRA and DHS Program areas including Program Accountability, External Affairs, Legal Affairs, and Operations, thereby consolidating the area within DSS to a central repository from which all information is disseminated and maintained allowing for better information control.
- Represent the Commissioner and the Department of Social Services, as well as HRA and DHS, in working group meetings with advocate groups, community-based organizations, and external oversight entities regarding Federal, State and local city based issues and provide appropriate legal expertise required on issues that impact DHS programs. Represent the General Counsel/Chief Legal Affairs Officer in public speaking engagements with legal practitioners. Develop a process to effectively and timely respond to individual concerns raised by advocates such as
legal service providers and non-profits working on issues including client-facing issues, operational process based issues and concerns, policy questions, and individual client case concerns.
- Develop and ensure the implementation of streamlined, current and new processes to ensure efficiency and accountability in the performance of required functions by the program areas; identify policy or process modifications needed to address identified and or potential problems and determine the steps needed to avoid negative consequences for the agency.
Hours/Schedule: 9am - 5pm
EXECUTIVE AGENCY COUNSEL - 95005
Admission to the New York State Bar; and four 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.
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