JOB DESCRIPTION

The DSS Accountability Office (DSS AO) is responsible for protecting the integrity of social services programs administered by the New York City Department of Social Services (DSS). Within DSS AO, the Office of Liens & Trusts (OLT) is responsible for protecting against fraud and recovering Cash Assistance and Medicaid pursuant to SSL 104, 104-b, 369, and 42 USC 1396p(2)(b)(ii)(d)(4). The Office has streamlined and modernized our recovery and monitoring efforts, which has led to a dependable revenue flow that supports the continuation of robust safety net programs. One such program is the Supplemental Needs Trust (SNT) Program, which is responsible for the oversight of exception trusts that allow a disabled person with excess resources to shelter their assets and qualify for Medicaid.

SNT is recruiting for one (1) Executive Agency Counsel M-II to function as Director of the SNT Program will:

• Serve as a legal advisor on complex and significant issues/cases and recommends on questions of law, fact, and administrative policy. Assist the Executive Director of the Office of Liens & Trusts in drafting important and difficult legislation and policy statements.
• Oversee the overall staff of the SNT program. Review the productivity of the Auditors through weekly reports and spot reviews of completed cases.
• Establish and maintain professional relationships between the SNT Program and outside agencies, organizations, committees, judges and attorneys.
• Develop and implement policy changes that make the program run more efficiently and improve the Agency’s collection abilities.
• Use online legal research applications to conduct complex legal research and drafts clear and concise legal documents.
• Liaise with DSS AO and ITS staff to update relevant systems to reflect new information and/or develop functions that will be useful to a wide variety of users.
• Oversee OLT’s robust legal internship program, consisting of legal interns from law schools from all over the country and world in the summer and a limited number of interns in the Fall and Spring.

Work Location: 4 World Trade Center
Work Schedule: Monday to Friday: 9 - 5.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Admission to the New York State Bar; and four years of recent full-time responsible, relevant, satisfactory legal experience subsequent to admission to any bar, eighteen months of which must have been in the supervision of other attorneys, in an administrative, managerial or executive capacity, or 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.

PREFERRED SKILLS

• Knowledge of Medicaid. - Supplemental Needs Trust knowledge a plus. - Strong strategic and creative management skills embrace new approaches & pioneer innovative solutions to intricate issues. - Excellent written and oral communication and a highly professional demeanor, including excellent presentation and public speaking ability. - Ability to work with all staff levels and maintain good working relationships to attain department and Agency goals. - Ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously. - Good negotiating skills. - Working knowledge of HRA/IREA systems such as WMS, HRA One Viewer, LexisNexis, DARB, IRIS. - Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Please refer the Job description for details