Supervising Enforcement Counsel – Worker Protection

Salary: $136,500

Division/Work Unit: General Counsel

Job ID: 808231

Number of Positions: 1

Hours/Shift: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Job Description

**This position may be eligible for remote work for up to 2 days per week, pursuant to the Flexible Work Pilot Program. 

The NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) is seeking an experienced litigator to supervise worker protection litigation. The role will involve leading litigation to enforce groundbreaking laws that protect employees and independent contractors. These cutting-edge laws include sick and safe leave laws; scheduling laws that protect fast food and retail workers; and minimum pay rate and other protections for delivery drivers. Since 2014, we have recovered over $250 million for workers through enforcement – more than half of this amount in just the first year of the Mamdani Administration. We have raised pay by over $2 billion via the minimum pay rate we set for delivery workers classified as independent contractors. Most recently, the agency reached a $131 settlement with DoorDash to resolve alleged systematic pay violations. 

The ideal candidate is a self-motivated, experienced litigator with excellent writing and editing skills who enjoys creative legal work, a fast-paced environment, and collaborative leadership, and is committed to supporting and developing early-career attorneys.

About DCWP 

DCWP is the nation’s leading municipal enforcement agency charged with delivering economic justice. DCWP leverages its authority to bring New Yorkers real economic relief and protect them from predatory, deceptive, and unfair practices that violate their rights as consumers and workers. Through licensing more than 45,000 businesses in over 45 industries, DCWP ensures fair competition and a level playing field for responsible small businesses that are integral to New York City’s vibrant communities. DCWP also provides essential services such as free tax preparation and financial counseling to ensure New Yorkers keep more of what they earn and can plan for their futures. DCWP is committed to making sure New York City is a fairer, more affordable place to live. For more information about DCWP and our work, visit DCWP at nyc.gov/dcwp, sign up for the newsletter, or follow us on social media sites, X, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

About the Office of Labor Policy & Standards (“OLPS”) 

Founded in 2014, the Office of Labor Policy & Standards (“OLPS”) enforces the City’s worker protection laws, including the Protected Time Off Law, Fair Workweek scheduling laws that protect fast food and retail workers, the Freelance Isn’t Free Act that protects freelancers, and Delivery Worker Laws that protect delivery workers classified as independent contractors. OLPS settles and litigates dozens of large cases a year on behalf of classes of workers who have experienced violations of pay or scheduling rights. We have recovered over $250 million for workers through enforcement and raised pay by over $2 billion via the minimum pay rate for delivery workers classified as independent contractors. Under all laws we enforce, OLPS obtains monetary compensation for workers for violations and brings companies into compliance. Working closely with outside stakeholders, OLPS also advocates for new laws, performs research and data analysis to make policy recommendations, and conducts outreach and education to workers, employers, and the general public. Thanks to Mayor Mamdani’s historic investment in worker protection, the Office of Labor Policy & Standards is significantly expanding over the next two years. More information about our office is available at nyc.gov/workers. 

Minimum Qualification Requirements 

To be appointed to the Executive Agency Counsel title, an attorney must be admitted to the New York State Bar and have 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. 

PLEASE NOTE: New York City Residency is not required for this position. 

Preferred Skills 

What We’re Looking For

• At least 6 years of litigation experience – fact development, drafting pleadings, discovery, dispositive motion practice, and trials.

• Experience with employment litigation or class action litigation.

• Supervision and management experience. 

• Experience working with software engineers or data analytics professionals.

• Commitment to social justice and civil rights. 

• Interest in addressing the challenges faced by low-wage workers. 

• The ability to establish rapport and interact effectively and respectfully with multi-functional teams comprised of attorney and non-attorney staff. 

• The ability to problem-solve creatively. 

• Excellent verbal, written, interpersonal, and analytical skills. 

• The ability to effectively manage multiple priorities with competing deadlines. 

• Fluency in a language other than English.

To Apply 

To apply for this position, please submit your application through the Jobs NYC website. Only applications submitted via the Jobs NYC platform will be considered for review. The Job ID is located at the top of the page. 

A resume and cover letter are required as part of the application. 

Reasonable Accommodations

DCWP is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to ensure that individuals with disabilities have equal access to employment opportunities. If you need an accommodation to participate in the interview process, please contact us at ReasonableAccommodationRequests@dcwp.nyc.gov. 

Please note: 

• No phone calls, faxes, emails, or in-person inquiries will be accepted. 

• Only candidates selected for further consideration will be contacted. If you do not receive communication from us, please consider your application as not being selected for this position.

• Appointments are subject to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval. 

Additional Information 

In addition, DCWP offers competitive salaries and the following benefits: 

Paid Time Off and Holidays 

• Paid time off for vacation and personal leave 

• Paid time off for sick leave 

• A generous holiday package of up to 13 days 

Health Benefits 

• Medical insurance plans 

• Dental and vision insurance plans 

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) 

Financial and Savings Benefits 

• 529 College Savings Plan 

• Direct Deposit 

• Flexible Spending Account Programs 

• New York City Municipal Credit Union Savings Program 

• Transit Benefit Programs 

Retirement and Pension Plans 

• New York City Employee Retirement System (NYCERS) pension plan 

• New York City Deferred Compensation Plan (DCP) 401(k) and 457 plan 

Additional Benefits for Union Members 

• Disability Insurance 

• Health Club Reimbursements 

• Life Insurance 

• Supplemental Hospital Coverage 

• Tuition Reimbursement 

*Please note only employees represented by a labor union may qualify for additional benefits provided by the union welfare fund. 

Student Loan Forgiveness

• DCWP qualifies as a public service employer, which means our employees may be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. If you have federal student loans, you may be able to have your loans forgiven by working full-time in public service. To learn more about PSLF and its eligibility requirements, visit the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program website. 

Employee Discounts 

• Apple and Dell products 

• Cell phones and plans 

• Gym memberships 

• Special pricing on event tickets through Barclay Center, Plum Benefits and Working Advantage 

• And more! 

DCWP and the City of New York are an equal employment opportunity employer.