Review Vacancy
TitleGeneral Counsel (ORES) - Vacancy ID #124866
Bargaining UnitM/C - Management / Confidential (Unrepresented)
Salary RangeFrom $129566 to $163695 Annually
Minimum Qualifications Candidates must have a law degree from an accredited law school; admission to, and member in good standing of, the New York State Bar; and eight years of post-bar experience.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
• Experience with siting and permitting of major transmission or generation facilities.
• Experience with energy, environmental, land use, and administrative law.
• Experience with administrative hearings or litigation, analyzing legal issues, and researching and interpreting complex areas of law.
• Experience with supervising legal staff for at least 5 years.
• Experience with multi-agency project management and development.
• Dedicated work ethic and resolute integrity.
• Ability to handle highly sensitive matters with absolute integrity and discretion.
• Ability to handle stressful situations with measured calmness and decisiveness.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
Duties Description The General Counsel acts as the chief legal advisor to the Office of Renewable Energy Siting (ORES). The General Counsel oversees the day-to-day functions of the General Counsel Office, which includes reviewing siting permit applications, determining whether siting permit applications are complete in conformity with ORES regulations, developing and issuing draft siting permits or statements of intent to deny, participating in public adjudicatory and non-adjudicatory hearings, and drafting written summaries of public comments and assessing comments received on applications. In this role with a new State agency, the General Counsel will be engaged in activities with high complexities in a highly technical and emerging field. The General Counsel will also be exposed to a wide range of issues, State policy initiatives, and regulatory processes in a high stakes environment.
Specific duties include:
• Representing the Office staff in all proceedings pursuant to New York State Executive Law § 94-c and implementing regulations at 19 NYCRR part 900.
• Providing legal advice and guidance to the Office on legal matters including, but not limited to, contracts, ethics, Freedom of Information Law, preparation of agreements, administrative proceedings, and compliance with statutes and regulations affecting the Office.
• Defending ORES before the courts of New York and, upon request, bringing judicial actions before the courts of New York.
• Drafting regulations and orders to carry out all recommendations submitted to and directives promulgated by ORES.
• Overseeing the drafting of legislative proposals and their submission to Governor’s Counsel and answering inquiries from the Executive Chamber and legislative staff on proposed legislation.
• Reviewing all proposed and existing federal, State, and local legislation affecting ORES, and making recommendations for appropriate action.
• Reviewing ORES’s application of law and related policies and regulations and rendering formal opinions to various parties.
• Acting as a liaison with the Executive Chamber, Executive branch agencies, and public authorities in connection with significant legal, legislative, and regulatory matters of mutual interest.
• Working with the Attorney General's Office to develop responses to matters in litigation and providing legal counsel to the Executive Director on specific issues subject to litigation.
• Presenting testimony in court and other adjudicatory settings.
• Advising the Executive Director on laws, rules, and regulations governing the operations of ORES.
• Directing the drafting of agreements to ensure they contain appropriate protections and safeguards.
• Conducting special studies or participating in special assignments as directed by the Executive Director.
• Representing ORES at meetings and events of professional associations and civic groups.
• Performing other responsibilities on a variety of compliance matters, audits, and reviews, and undertaking required action items as directed by the Executive Director.
• Supervising and mentoring staff through training and evaluation.
Additional Comments This position will be located in Albany or White Plains. Salary will be commensurate with education and experience. This position may require additional credentials or a background check to verify your identity. As this position is in the exempt Jurisdictional Class the incumbent of this position would serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority.
The Office of Renewable Energy Siting is the first-of-its-kind state agency dedicated solely to environmentally responsible and cost-effective siting of renewable energy facilities. Established by the Accelerated Renewable Energy Growth and Community Benefit Act in April 2020, the Office consolidates the environmental review and permitting of major renewable energy facilities to ensure that siting decisions are predictable, responsible, and done in a timely manner with input from local governments and host communities. On March 3, 2021, the Office adopted comprehensive regulations including a set of uniform standards and conditions to implement the Act. The Office is designed to enable New York to obtain 70 percent of the State's electricity from renewable sources by 2030, as required under New York's nation-leading climate plan, enshrined into law through the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. For more information on ORES, please visit www.ores.ny.gov.
The Office of Renewable Energy Siting is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We encourage women, people of color, LGBTQ individuals, people with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, foreign-born residents, and veterans to apply. We celebrate diversity and do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, age, veteran status, disability status, arrest record or criminal conviction history, or any other category protected by law.
We are happy to provide reasonable and religious accommodations during the hiring process for those in need. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please send a request to HRM.Recruitment@dos.ny.gov.
Some positions may require additional credentials or a background check to verify your identity.