Assistant Counsel, Box OEP

Position: Assistant Counsel, Box OEP-129/00182
Location: City of Albany

Assistant Counsel – Office of School Personnel Review & Accountability

The Office of School Personnel Review & Accountability (OSPRA) seeks an Assistant Counsel to provide legal support for cases against teachers and school administrators lacking moral character, to prepare Board of Regents items, and to assist with audits, litigation, and federal and state compliance.

Responsibilities

• Supervise the OSPRA legal unit and provide supervisory support, including review of attorney work product.
• Provide legal support to OSPRA staff regarding policy, regulations, and programmatic decisions.
• Provide legal support to OSPRA attorneys on case investigations, evidentiary issues, and administrative hearings and appeals.
• Provide legal support to OSPRA investigators on investigations and evidentiary issues.
• Liaise with Office of Counsel on preparation of Board of Regents items.
• Participate in the management of office operations including policy, personnel decisions, staffing, supervision, customer service, correspondence, IT issues, planning, and decision‑making.
• Assist the director with special projects, including appeals, vendor contracts, requests from internal and external customers and ensuring OSPRA’s compliance with federal and state laws and regulations.
• Assist the Director and Investigative Specialist 4 with preparing for and responding to audits by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Division of Criminal Justice Services, and others.
• Assist the Director with reviewing, preparing, and responding to litigation and various requests for information and records from customers including 3020‑a, Freedom of Information Law, civil and grand jury subpoenas, and the National Clearinghouse.

Minimum Qualifications

• Admitted to the New York State Bar.
• Six years of relevant, post‑graduate experience, including significant trial work or administrative hearing experience, demonstrating progressively responsible experience.
• Significant supervisory experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Significant trial work experience handling criminal prosecutions and grand jury investigations.
• Significant experience handling adversarial administrative hearings involving employment or licensure.
• Significant experience working on criminal or administrative investigations in a supervisory capacity.

Employment Conditions p>This is a temporary appointment in an exempt class. The incumbent will serve at the discretion of the Commissioner of Education. Salary is commensurate with education and experience. Telecommuting is available up to 30% of the time; the position requires up to 2% in‑state/statewide travel. Fingerprinting through the FBI and the Division of Criminal Justice Services is required.

The maximum salary is $145,682.

Application Instructions

Qualified candidates should send a resume and letter of interest by January 12, 2026 to oepjobs. Include the Box number (OEP-129/00182) in the subject line. Links to application materials will not be accepted.

Equal Opportunity

New York State Education Department (NYSED) is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. NYS Human Rights Law prohibits discrimination based on age, race, creed, color, national origin, sexual orientation, military status, sex, disability, predisposing genetic characteristics, marital status, domestic violence victim status, gender identity, prior conviction records, prior arrests, youthful offender adjudications, or sealed records.

Benefits Summary

• Holiday and paid time off: 13 paid holidays, 13 days of paid vacation in year one, increasing with service; 5 days of paid personal leave; 13 days of paid sick leave.
• Health care benefits, including family dental and vision.
• Retirement:
  New York State pension and optional defined contribution plan.
• Paid parental leave and paid family leave.
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF).
• Telecommuting opportunities.
• Life insurance options.

#J-18808-Ljbffr