NYC Administration for Children's Services · 4 hours ago
General Counsel
Manhattan, NY
Full-time
Onsite
Lead/Staff, Director/Executive
$260K/yr - $278K/yr
4+ years expThe NYC Administration for Children's Services (ACS) is dedicated to protecting and promoting the safety and well-being of children and families in New York City. They are seeking a General Counsel to provide legal representation and advice, lead legal strategy, and ensure compliance with various legal mandates while overseeing high-stakes litigation and legal risk management.
Government Administration
Responsibilities
Serve as ACS’s chief legal officer and advisor to the Commissioner and executive leadership on all questions of law impacting ACS operations, policy, and program delivery, and agency governance
Establish and lead ACS’s legal risk management approach, including escalation protocols, decision frameworks, and standards for legal review across the agency
In consultation with the Commissioner and NYC Law Department, develop and coordinate ACS’s strategic approach to litigation to minimize legal challenges to agency programs and initiatives
Oversee high-stakes litigation with significant legal, policy, operational, and reputational consequences, including class actions and complex matters involving agency-wide practices
Direct the agency’s legal response to subpoenas, court orders, discovery obligations, and emergency legal matters requiring time-sensitive action
Provide executive oversight of legal strategy supporting crisis response, incident review, and other mission-critical events that implicate child safety, confidentiality, or due process
Provide senior legal guidance on laws, regulations, and mandates governing child protection, foster care, preventive services, juvenile justice, and related ACS operations
Advise leadership on how legal requirements and case law affect program practice, operational decision-making, and policy implementation in a family court-involved environment
Oversee legal review and drafting of agency policies, directives, forms and procedures to ensure legal sufficiency, operational clarity, and defensibility
Translate complex statutory and regulatory requirements into practical guidance that supports frontline and administrative implementation while reducing legal exposure
Support leadership in strengthening institutional practice by identifying recurring legal issues and recommending systemic corrective actions
Lead and coordinate agencywide compliance strategy related to court orders, consent decrees, settlement obligations, and other legally binding mandates
Provide senior legal counsel on matters involving external oversight agencies, audits, investigations, and regulatory compliance requirements affecting ACS operations
Establish processes to ensure timely, accurate, and legally sound responses to oversight requests, including preservation/production obligations and required reporting
Identify and address legal vulnerabilities through corrective action planning, policy revisions, operational changes, and executive-level risk mitigation strategies
Advise on privacy/confidentiality requirements and legal standards governing sensitive child welfare records and protected information
Maintain relationship with NYC Law Department and other governmental and legislative entities; represent ACS in high-level interagency and external matters involving legal risk or policy impact
Coordinate with entities including the Department of Investigation, and other oversight bodies on compliance, integrity, and risk-related matters
Engage, where appropriate, with external stakeholders (including advocates and community partners) to facilitate dispute resolution, reduce legal exposure, and promote defensible agency action
Serve as a senior representative of ACS in sensitive matters that require diplomacy, sound judgment, and clear executive communication
Lead a large, multi-unit organization through direct supervision of senior OGC leaders and oversight of attorneys, labor relations staff, procurement professionals, records/privacy staff, and administrative staff
Sets performance standards and expectations across unity, ensuring responsiveness, quality, consistency, and accountability
Oversee budgeting and resource planning for the Office of General Counsel, ensuring appropriate allocation of staff and operational resources across high-demand functions
Strengthen internal service delivery by implementing measurable service standards, quality controls, and continuous improvement practices
Qualification
Required
Admission to the New York State Bar
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
Exceptional judgment, integrity, discretion, and decision-making under pressure
Strong executive communication skills, including the ability to advise leadership clearly on risk, options, and defensible paths forward
Strong people leadership, organizational management, and the ability to set standards across diverse professional functions
Ability to manage confidential information and sensitive matters involving children, families, staff, and agency operations
Preferred
5 – 10 years of Senior legal leadership experience in government or public-sector environments
Experience in child welfare, family services, juvenile justice, or similarly court-involved human services systems
Experience leading compliance efforts connected to court mandates, consent decrees, institutional reform, or intensive external oversight
Proven ability to advise operational leadership and drive implementation of policies and procedures that are legally defensible, operationally workable, and aligned with agency mission
Benefits
Public Service Loan Forgiveness
Company
NYC Administration for Children's Services
New York City Administration for Children’s Services (“ACS”) works with families and communities, in their neighborhoods, to help protect and support children and youth through child welfare, juvenile justice, and early care services.
5001-10000 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageLeadership Team
Elizabeth Gillroy
Chief Operating Officer, Division of Child and Family Well-Being
Frank Cresciullo
Chief Operating Officer - Division of Child Protection
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