About The State University of New York and SUNY Upstate Medical University:

The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive system of higher education in the United States, and more than 95 percent of all New Yorkers live within 30 miles of any one of SUNY's 64 colleges and universities.

SUNY Upstate Medical University, located in Syracuse NY, is 1 of approximately 150 academic medical centers in the United States. Upstate University operates 4 colleges, including a College of Medicine, 2 hospital campuses with approximately 700 total licensed beds, a Cancer Center and Children’s Hospital, as well as many other satellite patient care facilities throughout CNY. Upstate operates the only Level 1 trauma center and burn center in the Central New York region. Upstate is also the largest employer in CNY, employing over 10,000 people.

About the Office of General Counsel:

Under the leadership of the Senior Vice Chancellor for Legal Affairs and General Counsel, the SUNY Office of General Counsel is responsible for providing legal services to the System and the 29 State-operated campuses. The OGC consists of more than 45 experienced higher education attorneys, paralegals and support staff located in Albany at the System Administration headquarters and in campus-based offices at the four University Centers, Health Science Centers, and various SUNY colleges.

The legal practice of the OGC involves a substantial array of topics, including public procurement, governance and ethics, legislation, healthcare operations, capital construction, public finance, employment, labor grievances and arbitration, litigation oversight (the State's Attorney General defends litigation brought against the University), student affairs, and the use of real property, among others. The OGC represents the State University in interactions with State officials who may regulate the affairs of the State University, including the Attorney General, State Comptroller, the Governor and staff, and members of the State Legislature and staff as well as other state and local agencies and entities.

This position reports directly to the Chief Campus Counsel of SUNY Upstate OGC and indirectly to the SUNY Vice Chancellor of Legal Affairs and General Counsel in Albany, N.Y. In addition, the Associate Campus Counsel interfaces with other OGC colleagues across the SUNY System to coordinate the delivery of excellent legal services, including participation in OGC staff meetings with the SUNY GC and trainings.

Job Description:

SUNY Upstate invites applications for the position of Associate Campus Counsel – Labor & Employment (“Campus Counsel”). SUNY Upstate is seeking a mid-level attorney who can handle labor law matters in a broad range of areas including, but not limited to:

· Provide legal advice and counsel on matters that impact unionized workforce, including issues arising under the Taylor Law, New York Civil Service Law, applicable labor agreements, and all other state and federal laws;

· Represent SUNY Upstate in grievance and arbitration proceedings;

· Provide legal advice to senior leadership, human resources and employee/labor relations in the development, enforcement, and interpretation of labor and employee relations policies and practices, making legal recommendations for the adoption, revision and interpretation of workplace policies, including best practices;

· Provide legal advice and representation on labor relations and related issues in the context of mergers, acquisitions, due diligence, affiliations, including integration of bargaining units post-transaction;

· Serve as liaison to Attorney General’s office, including preparation, review and filing of petitions and supporting papers, in proceedings brought pursuant to CPLR Article 75;

· Handling hearings under New York State Civil Service Law Sections 71, 72, 73;

· Perform legal research, prepare legal memoranda, and draft and offer revisions to legal documents, correspondence, and policies;

· Stay apprised of and provide legal guidance to management on wide array of matters relating to labor and employment;

· Work collaboratively with SUNY Upstate’s other Campus Counsel to provide collaborative cross-coverage in labor and employment and other proceedings;

· Provide advice to leadership on labor and employment-related legal issues affecting SUNY Upstate; and

· Undertake such other duties as may be assigned or requested by SUNY and/or SUNY Upstate leadership.

This mid-level attorney will be expected to deliver consistent, high quality, timely and efficient legal services to SUNY Upstate leadership, consistent with the standards of professional conduct. The attorney will also be expected to stay apprised of updates in laws and regulations having an impact on the areas for which the attorney is responsible. The successful candidate will be based at the Syracuse OGC regional office at SUNY Upstate.

Minimum Qualifications:

· Juris Doctor from an accredited ABA law school (or foreign equivalent degree);

· Admission in good standing with the New York State Bar or admission within 6 months of start date;

· At least 5 years practicing as an attorney, with some litigation experience during that time, and, at least 2-3 years of specific experience practicing and providing legal guidance in the areas of employee and/or labor relations or other related areas of labor and employment law;

· Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively in a team environment; and

· Excellent legal analysis, legal writing and editing, and oral advocacy skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

· Experience handling labor litigation and arbitrations;

· Experience advising clients regarding wide array of employee/labor relations matters and NY Civil Service Law;

· Experience representing clients before PERB and/or other administrative agencies or state or federal courts on matters involving employee/labor relations; and

· Prior experience working in a health care setting.

Work Days:

Monday-Friday, days

Message to Applicants:

Additional Information:

· This position is located in Syracuse, New York. Limited telecommuting may be available. Some travel may be required depending on the needs of clients.

· Management/Confidential appointments work under the leadership and discretion of the appointing authority and are not represented by a union.

· Offer of employment is contingent upon successful completion of a pre-employment background check and verification of degree(s) and credentials.

Salary is dependent on a variety of factors, including but not limited to, experience, education, training, and certifications.

Excellent Benefit Package which includes: NYS health insurance, free dental and vision coverage, competitive retirement options, and tuition assistance, parental leave at full pay, and generous vacation, sick, and holiday time.

Recruitment Office: Human Resources

Executive Order:

Pursuant to Executive Order 161, no State entity, as defined by the Executive Order, is permitted to ask, or mandate, in any form, that an applicant for employment provide his or her current compensation, or any prior compensation history, until such time as the applicant is extended a conditional offer of employment with compensation. If such information has been requested from you before such time, please contact the Governor's Office of Employee Relations at (518) 474-6988 or via email at info@goer.ny.gov.