The mission of the Department of Procurement Ethics and Vendor Responsibility (“PEVR”) is to ensure that NYCHA awards contracts only to responsible vendors and that procurement processes are conducted with the highest levels of integrity and transparency, promoting fairness and competition while mitigating risks of corruption and unethical behavior.

Under direction of the Vice President, the Deputy Director serves as legal counsel, has supervisory responsibilities, and engages in policy work in concert with NYCHA’s legal, managerial, and executive staff. PEVR is recruiting for an Executive Agency Counsel to function as a Deputy Director, who will:

- Provide legal counsel on matters pursuant to federal rules and requirements, vendor responsibility policy interpretation, and implementation of vendor responsibility policies and procedures and related areas including but not limited to vendor performance evaluations and prequalification lists;
- Meet with NYCHA’s Law Department and high level NYCHA managerial and executive staff and outside experts to confer on the legal aspects of essential and multifaceted agency policies related to vendor responsibility and performance evaluations and responding to new regulations and legislation;
- In collaboration with NYCHA’s Compliance Department, Law Department, and other stakeholders, draft and revise standard procedure policy manuals related to vendor responsibility, vendor performance evaluations, protests, suspensions, disqualifications, and related procurement integrity functions to facilitate PEVR’s mission and ensure that NYCHA works with responsible vendors;
- Review waiver requests of policies and ensure the waiver or modification is permitted within current policy and legally permitted by governing rules and regulations;
- Draft decision memoranda; other program documentation; and pursuant to review by NYCHA’s Legal Department, official agency letters to vendors related to non-responsibility, disqualification, and/or suspension ensuring that such determinations meet policy and legal requirements and if protested, will be reviewed judicially in Article 78 proceedings;
- Draft guidance documents based on information contained in the OIG’s referral memos related to vendor responsibility and Vendor Name Check Memos, as well as other sources, to ensure that in compliance with federal procurement rules and NYCHA policies, including that NYCHA only legally contracts with responsible vendors;
- Assist in developing legal guidance, training materials, and educational resources related to adhering to the rules and policies governing vendor responsibility, procurement ethics, and vendor performance evaluations;
- Oversee the legal and procedural administration of NYCHA’s vendor performance evaluation process, including monitoring implementation, ensuring compliance with applicable laws and agency policies, analyzing performance trends, and recommending policy or process improvements;
- Provide legal guidance regarding the administration of NYCHA’s vendor prequalification list, including interpreting applicable requirements, resolving complex eligibility issues, reviewing exceptions, and recommending process improvements to promote consistent and legally compliant determinations;
- Develop, monitor, and analyze operational and program performance metrics related to vendor responsibility, vendor performance, and related procurement integrity functions; and
- Participate in special projects related to rules and policies governing procurement integrity, vendor responsibility, vendor performance, process improvements, and implementation of new initiatives.

Additional Information
1. NYCHA employees applying for promotional, title or level change opportunities must have served a period of one year at current location and in current title and level (if applicable).
2. NYCHA residents are encouraged to apply.

NYCHA provides benefits that include a choice of medical coverage plans, deferred compensation plans and a defined pension benefit plan as a member of the New York City Employees’ Retirement System (NYCERS).

Please read this posting carefully to make certain you meet the minimum qualification requirements before applying to this position.

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.

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