Closing Date: 11th October, 2025
Description:
Duties Description
The New York State Office of
Mental Health (OMH) is recruiting to fill the exempt position of Deputy
Counsel, NS, in its Office of Counsel to serve as Bureau Head for
Policy, Legislation, and Regulation. The incumbent manages and directs
the activities of the Bureau and supervises the attorneys and
legislative coordinators assigned to the Bureau of Policy, Legislation,
and Regulation, which oversees the preparation of the agency's
legislative agenda, regulations, and the OMH Official Policy Manual, and
is responsible for filing all new OMH regulations in accordance with
the requirements of the State Administrative Procedure Act. The Bureau
also supervises agency compliance with agency confidentiality and health
privacy rules and handles guardianships, family court hearings,
children's programming, and any issue having to do with minors and their
rights, including retention, treatment, custody, and abuse and neglect.
Specific duties to be performed may include, but are not limited to,
the following:
- Assists in managing and overseeing the Agency's legislative and regulatory work, including the supervision of staff attorneys in these areas.
- Provides expert legal advice to the Children's Division specifically involving children's rights. Recommends changes in agency rules or policy statements that consider new legislation and court decisions. Provides and supervises effective representation in Family Court matters.
- Provides legal advice on issues related to Assisted Outpatient Treatment. Participates in training seminars for county officials, attorneys, and program coordinators.
- Advises policy makers, program administrators, and OMH facility directors concerning the legality of their actions or determinations and suggests changes to conform to legal requirements.
- Reviews Agency programs and considers proposals for change in Agency policy from a legal viewpoint and work collaboratively with senior leadership to assist in the constructive development of Agency policy in conformance with the requirements of law.
- Plans, assigns, and supervises the work activities of subordinate line attorneys in the Bureau.
Minimum Qualifications
This
position is in the exempt jurisdictional class; therefore, there are no
minimum qualifications. However, in order to be successful, candidates
must possess the following: a law degree from an accredited law school;
admission to, and member in good standing of, the New York State Bar;
and seven years of relevant post-bar experience. Preferred candidates
will have legal experience in policy implementation, legislation and
regulations. Experience in mental health, health care, or disability law
and HIPAA and other State and Federal health care confidentiality rules
is preferred.
This is an exempt position; appointees serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority.
Please Note: New York State residency is required at the time of appointment.
Additional Comments:
Telecommuting
availability for this position will be discussed during the interview
process. Please note, employees are required to apply and obtain
approval through management to telecommute according to operational
needs and Agency Telecommuting Program Guidelines.
The Mission of the New York State Office of Mental Health is to promote the mental health of all New Yorkers, with a focus on providing hope and supporting recovery for adults with serious mental illness and children with serious emotional disturbances. Applicants with lived mental health experience are encouraged to apply. OMH is deeply committed to supporting underserved individuals, organizations, and communities. To this end, OMH is focused on implementing activities and initiatives to reduce disparities in access, quality, and treatment outcomes for underserved populations. A critical component of these efforts is ensuring OMH is a diverse and inclusive workplace where all employees' unique attributes and skills are valued and utilized to support the mission of the Agency. OMH is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.
Some positions may require additional credentials or a background check to verify your identity.
