Job Description

The New York City Department of Investigation (DOI) is one of the oldest law enforcement agencies in the country with a mission of combating municipal corruption. It serves the people of New York City by acting as an independent and nonpartisan watchdog for New York City government, City agencies, and City employees, vendors with City contracts, individuals and entities that receive City funds.

DOI is seeking to hire a Special Counsel to serve in a managerial capacity within the Protest Policing Monitoring Unit. The City recently reached a litigation settlement related to the New York City Police Department’s (NYPD) response to demonstrations that occurred in 2020 after the police killing of George Floyd. The City and plaintiffs agreed to establish a Collaborative Review Committee, chaired by the DOI Commissioner, to monitor NYPD’s implementation of the settlement’s terms. The settlement terms include NYPD’s commitment to embrace policing approaches that assure the rights of protesters and comply with the law; to develop policies, training, and procedures concerning policing of protests; and to act in accordance with requirements regarding deployments, tactics, arrests, uses of force, and documentation. DOI is responsible for, among other things, conducting reviews of selected demonstrations, determining NYPD’s compliance with settlement terms, reporting findings, and issuing recommendations.

The Special Counsel will report to the Inspector General for the Protest Policing Monitoring Unit and assist in supervision of the unit’s staff, reviews of NYPD policing of demonstrations, and analysis of NYPD’s compliance with settlement terms and department policies. The Special Counsel will be responsible for, among other things, managing and conducting reviews of the NYPD response to demonstrations; drafting document and information requests; analyzing relevant records, video, and information; conducting interviews of NYPD officials and members of the public; coordinating with staff on their review and field activities; interacting with senior NYPD officials; assisting the Inspector General in reporting to the DOI Commissioner and the Committee; and drafting and editing reports.

If selected, the candidate will be fingerprinted and undergo a background investigation, during which the candidate's consumer credit history will be reviewed, as otherwise permitted by NYC Administrative Code 8-107(24)(b)(2)(A).

This position is funded for the duration of the settlement’s monitoring period, which is a period of three years and three months.

Preferred Skills

1. A minimum of six years of experience leading complex investigations as an attorney, prosecutor, or investigator.

2. Police oversight experience or equivalent transferable experience is preferred.

3. Excellent legal writing, research, and analysis skills, with extensive experience drafting reports, memoranda, briefs, pleadings and correspondence with limited supervision.

4. Substantial project management experience with demonstrated ability to identify necessary inquiries and tasks; to plan investigative steps and deadlines; to manage teams in carrying out plans; and to create and complete reports and work product.

5. Strong interpersonal skills, with an ability to communicate effectively with DOI personnel and to represent DOI before other agencies.

6. Experience with NYC operations, policies, and practices, as well as City agencies, is a plus.

7. Highest professional and ethical standards, and proven ability to handle confidential and sensitive information.

To Apply

All applicants, including current city employees may apply by going to https://cityjobs.nyc.gov and search specific Job ID #644094

Please do not email, mail, or fax your resume to DOI directly. Submissions of resumes do not guarantee an interview. Due to the high volume of resumes DOI receives for positions, only selected candidates will be contacted.

Appointments are subject to Office of Management & Budget approval for budgeted headcount.

Qualifications

Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an ABA-accredited law school; Active bar membership from any of the 50 states, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, or the US Virgin Islands; a minimum of three years of recent full-time relevant legal experience subsequent to admission to any bar.

Additional Information

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.