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Senior Counsel, Transactions - Procurement & Contracts

Metropolitan Transportation Authority

New York, NY

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JOB DETAILS
SALARY
$145,231–$181,539 Per Year
SKILLS
Attorney, Communication Skills, Computer Maintenance, Contract Creation, Contract Negotiation, Contract Review, Customer Support/Service, Diversity, Documentation, Due Diligence, Fast Food, Federal Laws and Regulations, Finance, Financial Disclosure, Financial Policies, Financial Statements, Government, Industrial Relations, Information Technology & Information Systems, Interpersonal Skills, Knowledge Base, Leadership, Legal, Legal Documents, Legal Research, Litigation, Lobbying, MTA, Mentoring, Negotiation Skills, Operations Planning, Procurement Strategy, Public Works, Purchasing/Procurement, Real Estate, Real Estate Development, Regulations, Risk Management, Shaft/Tunnel Construction, State Laws and Regulations, Statutory Laws, Strategic Planning, Transportation, Vehicle Fleets, Willing to Travel, Writing Skills
LOCATION
New York, NY
POSTED
1 day ago
Job ID: 15255

Business Unit: MTA Headquarters

Location: Jamaica, NY, United States

Regular/Temporary: Regular

Department: Procurement and Contracts

Date Posted: May 26, 2026

Description

JOB TITLE:

Senior Counsel, Transactions - Procurement & Contracts

SALARY RANGE:

$145,231 - $181,539

DEPT/DIV:

Legal

SUPERVISOR:

Deputy General Counsel, Procurement & Contracts

LOCATION:

2 Broadway

HOURS OF WORK:

9:00 AM - 5:30 PM

This position is eligible for telework. New hires are eligible to apply 30 days after their effective date of hire.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is North America's largest transportation network, serving a population of 15.3 million people across a 5,000-square-mile travel area surrounding New York City, Long Island, southeastern New York State, and Connecticut. The MTA network comprises the nation's largest bus fleet and more subway and commuter rail cars than all other U.S. transit systems combined. MTA strives to provide a safe and reliable commute, excellent customer service, and rewarding opportunities.

Overview of Division and Position:

The MTA Legal Department's Procurement & Contracts Division is seeking a Senior Counsel I, II, or III to join the team, depending on their experience level as described below.

The Procurement & Contracts Division provides legal, transactional and strategic advice to the MTA, its subsidiaries and affiliates, on a broad range of matters critical to the MTA's planning and operations, including enterprise-wide contract negotiations for goods, services and public works.

A Senior Counsel in the Procurement & Contracts Division is a senior-level position with primary responsibility for protecting and preserving the MTA's legal interests on a wide array of procurement, sourcing, contracting and commercial matters. Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Drafting solicitations and negotiating terms and conditions for a variety of MTA procurement and interagency agreements, including the purchase of goods, services, hardware, software, infrastructure and equipment contracts.
  • Analyzing and/or drafting agency rules, policies and procedures,
  • Analyzing proposed or enacted legislation, as well as any municipal, state or federal rule or regulation involving or affecting the agencies.
  • Collaborating with, and/or supervising, outside counsel and MTA junior attorneys, and
  • Advising mid-level and senior management on issues of risk mitigation, contractor responsibility, and contract disputes, as required.
A Senior Counsel - Transactions may, depending on the matter assigned, be asked to work collaboratively with:
  • MTA Legal Department Deputy General Counsels and all MTA Legal Department professional and administrative staff.
  • MTA Departments and Units/Offices, including Accessibility, Audit, Communications, Compliance/Ethics, Diversity and Civil Rights, Finance, Information Technology, Labor Relations, People, Procurement, Strategic Initiatives, and System Safety.
  • Presidents, Senior Vice Presidents and senior staff at New York City Transit, Metro-North Railroad, Long Island Rail Road, Bridges and Tunnels, and Construction and Development.
  • Federal, State or local administrative agencies.
  • Office of the MTA Inspector General.
  • MTA's labor partners.
The ideal candidate will have public sector legal experience in New York City and/or New York State.

Description, Responsibilities & Requirements of a Senior Counsel - Transactions (by Level I, II or II)

The Senior Counsel, Transactions position reports a Deputy General Counsel or Assistant Deputy General Counsel in a Transactions Division in the consolidated MTA Legal Department. The current Transactions Divisions are the: 1) Condemnation Division, 2) Environmental Division, 3) Finance Division, 4) Procurement and Contracts Division, 5) Real Estate Development Division, 6) Real Estate Transactions and Operations Division, and 7) Special Projects Division.

Depending on the needs of the Legal Department and the Division, the duties of the Senior Counsel include representing the MTA and its operating agencies in transactions (contracts, agreements and associated documentation), client counseling, compliance, negotiations, dispute resolution, risk management, and (for Environmental & Condemnation Divisions) litigation matters which are of increasing complexity and involve increasing levels of responsibility and independence. The duties of the Senior Counsel also include providing legal counsel on statutory, regulatory, agency policy, and other matters that pertain to or impact the operations and functions of the MTA and its affiliates and subsidiaries.

Senior Counsel - Levels I, II, and III

There are three levels of Senior Counsel positions within the Legal Department, each with progressively greater responsibilities. Depending on the level, responsibilities include:
  • Level I: Provides legal representation on complex transactional and compliance matters with limited supervision. Responsibilities include drafting and reviewing moderately complex agreements and contracts, conducting due diligence, advising on regulatory and policy issues, and managing risk. Handles moderately complex negotiations and dispute resolution, prepares authorizing documentation, and presents legal advice to mid-level and senior management. Occasionally supervises junior attorneys, interacts with outside counsel, and comments on legislative and regulatory proposals. For specialized divisions, they may assist with moderate litigation tasks such as discovery and appellate arguments.
  • Level II: Manages highly complex and sensitive matters with minimal supervision, including transactions with significant financial or policy exposure. Leads fast-paced negotiations, drafts and reviews multifaceted agreements, and oversees due diligence for complex deals. Handles disputes involving multiple parties, supervises junior attorneys and outside counsel, and, in specialized divisions, coordinates with outside counsel on litigation with major implications. Takes leadership in drafting agency rules, procedures, and proposed legislation, and drives complex settlement discussions. In specialized divisions, independently manages complex litigation tasks, including witness examinations at trial.
  • Level III: Operates with substantial independence on high-stakes, highly complex matters, providing strategic legal counsel and shaping overall transactions and dispute resolution strategies. Leads and closes voluminous negotiations, structures deals to meet business and legal objectives and innovates solutions for intricate conflicts and risks. Reviews and drafts contracts with significant programmatic impact, finalizes board-level documentation, and negotiates directly with regulators. In specialized divisions, directs the most complex or novel litigation matters through trial and appeal, often coordinating with outside counsel. Serves as a key advisor on policy, governance, and regulatory issues at the highest level.
Education and Experience:

Levels I-III

Required Education and Experience
  • JD from an accredited law school and licensed to practice law in New York.
  • A minimum of five (5) years of relevant law firm , public sector legal or in-house experience.
Preferred Experience
  • Public sector legal experience, particularly in New York City or New York State.
  • Transportation sector experience.
  • History of successfully supervising or mentoring junior attorneys.
  • A record of communicating with and advising and organization's senior management.
Required Competencies
  • Strong legal research and writing ability.
  • Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to interface effectively with people at all levels of the organization and external parties.
  • Demonstrated knowledge base and practice skills relating to the various practice areas and responsibilities of this position.
  • Demonstrated leadership skills.

Other Information

May need to work outside of normal work hours (i.e., evenings and weekends)

Travel may be required to other MTA locations or other external sites.

According to the New York State Public Officers Law & the MTA Code of Ethics, all employees who hold a policymaking position must file an Annual Statement of Financial Disclosure (FDS) with the NYS Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government (the "Commission").

Equal Employment Opportunity

MTA and its subsidiary and affiliated agencies are Equal Opportunity Employers, including those concerning veteran status and individuals with disabilities.

The MTA encourages qualified applicants from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and abilities, including military service members, to apply.

About the Company

M

Metropolitan Transportation Authority

Metro is unique among the nation’s transportation agencies. We serve as transportation planner and coordinator, designer, builder, and operator for the country’s largest, most populous county. More than 10 million people – nearly one-fourth of California’s residents – live, work and play within our 1,433-square-mile service area.

COMPANY SIZE
1,500 to 1,999 employees
INDUSTRY
Travel, Transportation and Tourism
WEBSITE
https://jobs.metro.net/Home.aspx

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