Assistant, Associate, or Senior Counsel - Contracts

Location: Albany, NY Category: Professional Positions Job Type: Full-time Posted On: Thu Nov 5 2026 Job Description: About The Office Of General Counsel The Office of General Counsel (OGC) provides legal services and support to the Board of Trustees, the Chancellor and senior officers for the State University of New York (SUNY) at SUNY System Administration in Albany, New York, as well as to the presidents and administrators of the campuses within the System. Under the leadership of the Senior Vice Chancellor for Legal Affairs and the General Counsel, the SUNY Office of General Counsel is responsible for providing legal services to the System and the 29 state operated campuses. The OGC consists of more than 70 experienced higher education attorneys, paralegals and support staff located in Albany at the System Administration headquarters and in campus-based offices at the four University Centers, Health Science Centers, and various SUNY colleges.

The legal practice of the OGC involves a substantial array of topics, including public procurement, governance and ethics, legislation, health care, capital construction, public finance, labor grievances and arbitration, litigation oversight (the State’s Attorney General defends litigation brought against the University), student affairs, and the use of real property, among others. The OGC represents the State University in interactions with State officials who may regulate the affairs of the State University, including the Attorney General, State Comptroller, the Governor and staff, and members of the State Legislature as well as other state and local agencies and entities.

Duties And Responsibilities The State University of New York System Administration, located in Albany, New York invites applications for a real estate and contracts counsel position within the Contracts Practice Group (“Contracts Counsel”) in OGC. The position will be filled as an Assistant, Associate, or Senior Counsel depending on the applicant’s relevant experience.

As a staff member of the Office of the General Counsel, the Contracts Counsel will assume responsibilities to provide comprehensive legal services and guidance to the State University and its State-operated campuses on issues related to real estate, procurement, contracts, and business transactions.

Responsibilities Responsibilities for this role will focus on reviewing, negotiating, drafting, finalizing and assisting with obtaining regulatory approval for contracts for the organization, in particular:

• Real estate matters, including but not limited to leases (as both landlord and tenant), acquisition (through purchase or gift) , subordination, attornment, estoppels, lease surrender, lease renewals, lease amendments, early termination agreements; and short-term licensing agreements for use of SUNY Campus space; and
• Procurement and contract matters, including but not limited to, advising on solicitation document compliance, contract negotiations, responses to regulator audit questions; debriefings; bid protests and bid protest appeals; and handling emergency procurements.

Additional responsibilities include drafting and/or reviewing data use agreements; affiliation and partnership agreements; interagency Memoranda of Understanding (“MOU”), outside counsel contracts and related regulatory approvals; researching legal issues, statutory and regulatory interpretation; answering legal inquiries from SUNY System and campus clients; as well as handling University-wide matters, and other duties as assigned.

Job Requirements Required Qualifications:

• Juris Doctor degree from an accredited ABA law school, or foreign equivalent.
• Admission to the New York State Bar, or eligibility for admission within six months.
• The applicant must have a minimum of 2-3 years of legal practice or relevant legal experience prior to beginning the position to be considered for the Assistant Counsel title; a minimum of 3-5 years of legal practice or relevant experience to be considered for the Associate Counsel title; and a minimum of 5+ years of legal practice or relevant experience to be considered for the Senior Counsel title.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience advising clients with complex contracts and real property issues, especially with governmental entities.
• Experience in complex case management.
• Superior written and oral communication and interpersonal skills…