Assistant General Counsel, New York Region

Overview

About Suffolk

Suffolk is a national enterprise that builds, innovates, and invests. Suffolk is an end-to-end business that provides value throughout the entire project lifecycle by leveraging its core construction management services with vertical service lines that include real estate capital investment, design, self-perform construction services, technology start-up investment (Suffolk Technologies), and innovation research/development.

Suffolk Americas Contractor is a national company with more than $5.0 billion in annual revenue, 2,600 employees, and main offices in Boston (headquarters), New York City, Miami, West Palm Beach, Tampa, Estero, Dallas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego. Suffolk manages some of the most complex, sophisticated projects in the country, serving clients in every major industry sector, including healthcare, life sciences, education, gaming, transportation/aviation, government, mission critical and commercial. Suffolk is privately held and is led by founder, chairman and CEO John Fish. Suffolk is ranked #8 on ENRs list of Top CM-at-Risk Contractors. For more information, visit www.suffolk.com and follow Suffolk on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram.

The Role

Working between Suffolks NYC office and Project field office in Tarrytown, NY, the Assistant General Counsel for the New York Region serves as a legal contact for Suffolks NY area operations. The Assistant General Counsel reports to the NY regional General Counsel. This position works directly and daily with the NY regional General Counsel, the management team and operational staff. This position offers a unique opportunity to serve as Project counsel to a complex set of Projects in Tarrytown, NY and periodic travel to the Project site is required. In addition to serving as Project counsel, the Assistant General Counsel will support other legal matters affecting the New York region.

Responsibilities

• Provides advice to management on contracts, claims and other legal matters.
• Serves as a partner with management in the negotiation of business deals and assists with the negotiation of construction management agreements, subcontracts and other complex legal agreements.
• Proactively works with project teams to properly administer contracts, identify risk and implement risk mitigation plans while empowering the business to succeed.
• Monitors changes in applicable law and advises management regarding the implications of such changes.
• Handles legal inquiries from within the company and issues sound and comprehensive legal advice to all internal clients and stakeholders.
• Manages outside counsel, including budgets and strategy.
• Conducts training on legal and compliance related topics, including but not limited to complicated construction contracts.
• Drafts letters relating to contract administration and other issues for project teams to send to subcontractors, clients and other third parties.
• Works closely with management to resolve claims with third parties.
• Regularly visits project sites within the New York Region to collaborate with management and project teams and travels to other regional offices as appropriate.
• Performs other duties as assigned by management, the NY regional General Counsel and the Corporate Executive Vice President/General Counsel.

Qualifications

Approximately 3-6 years of extensive experience in the practice of complex construction law in a corporate legal department and/or a full-service law firm. Prior corporate legal department experience in the construction industry is highly preferable.

Licensing, certification, registrations:

• Requires bachelors degree from a 4-year college or university and a Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited law school
• Excellent academic credentials
• Bar Admission in the state in which the Assistant General Counsel is located

Necessary Attributes:

• Integrity to the core
• Leads by example
• Confident in complex and difficult situations/negotiations
• Strong work ethic and independent self-starter who is at all times a team player
• Able to work independently with minimum oversight
• Use independent judgment and exhibit leadership techniques
• Demonstrate close attention to detail with outstanding work product
• Able to work effectively as part of a team with a positive and collaborative attitude
• Reliable, self-motivated and well organized with the ability to juggle multiple priorities
• Independent and proactive
• Able to deal with ambiguity and still make appropriate judgment calls
• Able to anticipate managements needs and independently identify, initiate and implement necessary actions

New York City Pay Range: Our good faith estimate of the compensation range for this opportunity is a base salary of $150,000-175,000 if based in New York. Individual pay decisions will vary based upon the experience and qualifications of the applicant. This range is based upon NYC market rates and determined by considering many factors such as external market salary survey data, internal data for comparable roles, and the operational and budgetary objectives of the company. Suffolk also offers a comprehensive benefits package as part of its overall compensation strategy.

Working Conditions

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit for long periods of time; talk or hear; perform fine motor, hand and finger skills in the use of a keyboard, telephone, or writing. The employee is frequently required to stands; walk; and reach with arms and/or hands. Specific vision abilities include close vision, distance vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus. The employee will spend their time in an office environment with a quiet to moderate noise level. Job site walking.

EEO Statement

Suffolk provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy or maternity, national origin, citizenship, genetic information, disability, protected veteran, gender identity, age or any other status protected by law. This policy applies to recruiting, hiring, transfers, promotions, terminations, compensation, benefits, and all other terms and conditions of employment. Suffolk will not tolerate any unlawful discrimination toward, or harassment of, applicants or employees by anyone at Suffolk, or anyone working on behalf of Suffolk.