What are the responsibilities and job description for the Supervising Investigations Counsel - Worker Protection position at New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection?
**This position may be eligible for remote work for up to 2 days per week pursuant to the Flexible Work Pilot Program. **
The NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) is the nation’s leading municipal enforcement agency charged with delivering economic justice. DCWP leverages its authority to bring New Yorkers real economic relief and protect them from predatory, deceptive, and unfair practices that violate their rights as consumers and workers. This includes pioneering cutting-edge protections, such as the City’s Consumer Protection Law, Protected Time Off Law, Fair Workweek Law, and Delivery Worker Laws, including the Minimum Pay Rate for delivery workers. Through licensing more than 45,000 businesses in over 45 industries, DCWP ensures fair competition and a level playing field for responsible small businesses that are integral to New York City’s vibrant communities. DCWP also provides essential services such as free tax preparation and financial counseling to ensure New Yorkers keep more of what they earn and can plan for their futures. DCWP is committed to making sure New York City is a fairer, more affordable place to live. For more information about DCWP and its work, call 311 or visit DCWP at nyc.gov/dcwp, sign up for its newsletter, or follow on its social media sites, X, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Founded in 2014, the Office of Labor Policy & Standards (“OLPS”) enforces the City’s worker protection laws, including the Protected Time Off Law, Fair Workweek scheduling laws that protect fast food and retail workers, and Delivery Worker Laws that protect delivery workers classified as independent contractors. OLPS settles and litigates dozens of large cases a year on behalf of classes of workers who have experienced violations of pay or scheduling rights. We have recovered over $120 million for workers through enforcement and raised pay by over $1 billion via the minimum pay rate for delivery workers classified as independent contractors. We also administer the Freelance Isn’t Free Act (FIFA) program, which assists freelance workers who have experienced wage theft and other violations, and we bring pattern and practice litigation on behalf of freelancers against repeat violators. In July 2026, we will begin enforcing Local Law 52 of 2026, which protects Uber and Lyft drivers from wrongful deactivation. Under all laws we enforce, OLPS obtains monetary compensation for workers for violations and brings companies into compliance. Working closely with outside stakeholders, OLPS also advocates for new laws, performs research and data analysis to make policy recommendations, and conducts outreach and education to workers, employers, and the general public. In the Mamdani Administration, DCWP’s worker protection enforcement staff is rapidly expanding from a staff of 45 to 75 in 2026, with further expansion planned in future years.
Responsibilities
DCWP is seeking an experienced attorney to play a key leadership role in the enforcement of workers’ rights laws. The attorney will report to the Director of Investigations and contribute to the management of the OLPS Investigation Team. Responsibilities include:
EXECUTIVE AGENCY COUNSEL - 95005
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
As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education’s website at https://studentaid.gov/pslf/.
Residency Requirement
New York City Residency is not required for this position
Additional Information
The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.
The NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) is the nation’s leading municipal enforcement agency charged with delivering economic justice. DCWP leverages its authority to bring New Yorkers real economic relief and protect them from predatory, deceptive, and unfair practices that violate their rights as consumers and workers. This includes pioneering cutting-edge protections, such as the City’s Consumer Protection Law, Protected Time Off Law, Fair Workweek Law, and Delivery Worker Laws, including the Minimum Pay Rate for delivery workers. Through licensing more than 45,000 businesses in over 45 industries, DCWP ensures fair competition and a level playing field for responsible small businesses that are integral to New York City’s vibrant communities. DCWP also provides essential services such as free tax preparation and financial counseling to ensure New Yorkers keep more of what they earn and can plan for their futures. DCWP is committed to making sure New York City is a fairer, more affordable place to live. For more information about DCWP and its work, call 311 or visit DCWP at nyc.gov/dcwp, sign up for its newsletter, or follow on its social media sites, X, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Founded in 2014, the Office of Labor Policy & Standards (“OLPS”) enforces the City’s worker protection laws, including the Protected Time Off Law, Fair Workweek scheduling laws that protect fast food and retail workers, and Delivery Worker Laws that protect delivery workers classified as independent contractors. OLPS settles and litigates dozens of large cases a year on behalf of classes of workers who have experienced violations of pay or scheduling rights. We have recovered over $120 million for workers through enforcement and raised pay by over $1 billion via the minimum pay rate for delivery workers classified as independent contractors. We also administer the Freelance Isn’t Free Act (FIFA) program, which assists freelance workers who have experienced wage theft and other violations, and we bring pattern and practice litigation on behalf of freelancers against repeat violators. In July 2026, we will begin enforcing Local Law 52 of 2026, which protects Uber and Lyft drivers from wrongful deactivation. Under all laws we enforce, OLPS obtains monetary compensation for workers for violations and brings companies into compliance. Working closely with outside stakeholders, OLPS also advocates for new laws, performs research and data analysis to make policy recommendations, and conducts outreach and education to workers, employers, and the general public. In the Mamdani Administration, DCWP’s worker protection enforcement staff is rapidly expanding from a staff of 45 to 75 in 2026, with further expansion planned in future years.
Responsibilities
DCWP is seeking an experienced attorney to play a key leadership role in the enforcement of workers’ rights laws. The attorney will report to the Director of Investigations and contribute to the management of the OLPS Investigation Team. Responsibilities include:
- Supervise 3-4 Supervising Investigators, attorneys or other enforcement staff.
- Along with Investigations Manager, oversee Investigations Team workflows and case assignments.
- Identify and implement improvements to OLPS investigations and case-handling processes.
- Manage Investigations Team manuals and draft new procedures. Communicate protocol updates to Investigations Team staff.
- Lead complex investigations and mediations.
- Ensure that Supervising Investigators and Investigators follow procedures and coordinate with Investigations Manager to ensure that case decision-making is consistent across the Investigation Team.
- Make decisions on case issues that Supervising Investigators elevate for advice or guidance and consult with Director of Investigations about unique issues or cases.
- Manage systems for monitoring compliance with the terms of OLPS Consent Orders, including overseeing processes for incoming employer payments and ongoing worker payments.
- Lead implementation of enforcement of new laws under OLPS’s jurisdiction. Draft internal guidance, propose legal interpretations, and develop enforcement systems.
- Collaborate with Division of Data Science to develop and refine enforcement analyses.
- Draft and update template correspondence, reports, and other tools.
- Provide legal opinions on novel legal questions.
- Provide advice and counsel to Director of Investigations regarding the strategic and organizational planning of OLPS’s expansion.
- Handle recruitment, training, professional development, and annual evaluations of Investigations Team staff.
- Enforce DCWP policies, including the DCWP code of conduct and the time and leave manual.
- Stay up-to-date with various federal, state, and city laws and regulations.
- Coordinate with community organizations, worker advocacy groups, and other local, state, and federal labor law enforcement agencies as needed in order to advance shared goals. and template materials. systems, development interpretations, and guidance for new laws
EXECUTIVE AGENCY COUNSEL - 95005
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
- At least 5 years of legal experience, including experience with government law enforcement work. - Experience with employment litigation. - Experience with public policy implementation. - Supervision and management experience. - Experience working with data scientists. - Commitment to social justice and interest in addressing the challenges faced by low-wage workers. - The ability to establish rapport and interact effectively and respectfully with multi-functional teams comprised of attorney and non-attorney staff. - The ability to problem-solve creatively. - Excellent verbal, written, interpersonal, and analytical skills. - The ability to effectively manage multiple priorities with competing deadlines. - Fluency in a language other than English.
As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education’s website at https://studentaid.gov/pslf/.
Residency Requirement
New York City Residency is not required for this position
Additional Information
The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.
Salary : $94,050 - $136,500