General Counsel, Senior Vice President

Queens Public Library is a national and international leader in the delivery of public library service.  We transform lives by cultivating personal and intellectual growth and by building strong communities. Queens Public Library welcomes innovators and leaders to contribute to a long history and dynamic future of offering pioneering programs and services to the most diverse county in the United States.  Queens Public Library is a private, non-profit corporation with 1,700 employees serving 65 locations.

The General Counsel, Senior Vice President is an Executive level position reporting directly to the President and Chief Executive Officer and serves as the Chief Legal Advisor to the Library on all legal issues.  Researches, advises and makes recommendations to the President and CEO, Board of Trustees and Executive staff on all legal matters.  Provides legal direction and advises on matters of legal strategy. Engages in a wide variety of complex legal work having significant financial or policy consequences relating to Library procurement, the administration of contracts, conflicts of interest issues, litigation, EEO matters, technology, intellectual property and real property matters. Oversees and manages the workflow of legal matters, including responding to FOIL requests and appeals. Manages relationships and coordinates matters referred to outside counsel as needed.

Legal Counsel

• Provides analysis and legal consultation to meet organizational goals and objectives. Reviews and interprets laws, statutes and court rulings to ensure Library compliance; reviews and researches proposed legislation and local ordinances to determine potential impact on the organization. Ensures compliance with laws thereby limiting the Library’s exposure to liability.
• Responsible for managing response to all litigation. Litigates cases initiated by and brought against the Library in city, state courts and federal courts, and administrative forums.  Manages outside counsel, when appropriate, and evaluates cost and usage by the Library, including budget planning and assessments. Completes, reviews and approves all legal pleadings and opinions.
• Provides counsel to the President and Chief Executive Officer on general matters and all legal issues impacting employees, business transactions and customers. Provides sound recommendations and guidance to meet the administrative needs of the organization.
• Handles administrative duties and projects as assigned by the President and CEO, including confidential and sensitive internal investigations as well as ensures the Library’s compliance with the Non-Profit Revitalization Act.
• Develops departmental and unit strategies and work plans to support the Library’s organizational strategic directions, goals and objectives.
• Handles the prosecution and enforcement of all intellectual property by filing trademark and copyright applications, and reviews all license agreements to properly enforce all trademarks and copyrights held by the Library.
• Provides counsel and advice to Board of Trustees on legal and governance issues and documents, including the Board policies and by-laws.
• Coordinates all activities relating to policies and procedures to ensure they are current and developed with Board approval as required.

Contracts and Negotiation

• Responsible for all legal agreements affecting the corporation.
• Manages the process to develop, draft and/or review all contracts, leases and other legal agreements binding the Library.
• Manages the process to negotiate contracts for goods and services in the best interest of the Library.
• Updates, reviews and submits VENDEX applications, as necessary.
• Coordinates with Library’s Capital and Facilities Management Department to ensure that all environmental control board violations are cured.
• Reviews bid specifications, Terms and Condition statements and Requests for Proposals/Invitations to Bid. Collaborates with the Director of Procurement  to develop and maintain standard templates for the procurement process.
• Examines title searches, leases, deeds, contracts to determine ownership of land and buildings, and drafts and/or reviews appropriate documents for the sale, purchase and lease of real estate. Actively negotiates lease agreements for all leased facilities and/or swing spaces within the Library’s portfolio to provide favorable terms and conditions.
• Limits the Library’s liability and protects the Library’s legal interests by entering into enforceable agreements.
• Monitors and manages funding that has been allocated to the department and effectively makes cost/benefit recommendations and decisions to maximize the use of available funding and resources.

Procurement

• Responsible for overseeing the procurement and purchasing unit of the Queens Public Library.

Staff Management

• Ensures all staff within the Department receives performance reviews that are accurate and timely in accordance with the Library’s Performance Management System for non-union staff. 
• Ensures that performance documentation is maintained, up-to-date and accurate.    

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Admission to the New York State Bar; and a minimum of ten years’ experience in the capacity of General or Associate Counsel.
• Experience in the supervision of other attorneys, in an administrative, managerial or executive capacity, and in 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. 
• Must have the ability to work collaboratively and intensively with a small team of highly-motivated executives in a challenging environment.
• Have an entrepreneurial and creative approach to the solution of legal issues. 
• Possess “big picture” views of project goals while capable of performing detailed analysis tasks.
• An ability to communicate at all levels. Excellent management, leadership and organizational skills required.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience with both non-profit operations and public sector operations preferred.
• Knowledge of enterprise management systems (i.e. SAP) and online contract and other legal software solutions preferred.