Records Access Officer

Job description

The Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) is the largest Fire Department in the United States and universally is recognized as the world's busiest and most highly skilled emergency response agency. The Department's main goal is to provide fire protection, emergency medical care, and other critical public safety services to residents and visitors in the five boroughs. FDNY members are sworn to serve and protect life and property and the Department works to continually educate the public in fire, life safety and disaster preparedness, along with enforcing public safety codes. Since its inception in 1865, FDNY has helped lead efforts to make New York the safest big city in the nation. This accomplishment requires a steadfast and daily commitment to maintaining the Department's core values. The Fire Department, City of New York (FDNY), seeks a full-time Records Access Officer in the Bureau of Legal Affairs. Reporting directly to the Director of Legal Administration and Litigation Support, the successful candidate will: under the direction of the Director, supervise the Department’s legal activity of the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) Unit and ensure the Departments mandatory compliance with: NYCRR Article 21 Part 1401 governing public access to agency records; Public Officer’s Law 87 and 89 (FOIL); N.Y. CPLR governing discovery (Art. 3120) and preservation holds (Art. 3102 (c)), and N.Y.C. Admin. Code 23-1201 governing Individual Identifying Information. The Records Access Officer’s responsibilities include, without limitation, the following: Supervise the daily operation of the Unit with the assistance of a FOIL attorney and administrative staff; Make recommendations and provide legal advice concerning access to the Department’s records based on privacy laws and FOIL exemptions; Liaise with the NYC Law Department to assist with record collection and case history in response to Article 78 FOIL litigation; Perform in depth legal reviews and analysis of FOIL requests and the Department’s responses thereto, including issuing denials and applying redactions, determining responsiveness and accuracy, to ensure compliance with Federal, State and City privacy rules and regulations; Work closely with other FDNY Bureau of Legal Affairs units in response to subpoenas, discovery, and preservation requests to comply with Court Orders and Law Department requests. Work with outside city agencies such as OTI and DORIS for ediscovery requests and OpenRecords database updates. Coordinate journalists’ FOIL requests with FDNY’s Office of Public Information;Utilize the OpenRecords database and other management tools to monitor compliance and timeliness of responses. AGENCY ATTORNEY - 30087 1. Admission to the New York State Bar; and either "2" or "3" below. 2. One year of satisfactory United States legal experience subsequent to admission to any state bar; or 3. Six months of satisfactory service as an Agency Attorney Interne (30086). Incumbents must remain Members of the New York State Bar in good standing for the duration of this employment. In addition to meeting the minimum Qualification Requirements: To be assigned to Assignment Level (AL) II, candidates must have one year of experience at Assignment Level I or two years of comparable legal experience subsequent to admission to the bar, in the areas of law related to the assignment. To be assigned to AL III candidates must have two years of experience in Assignment Levels I and/or II or three years of comparable legal experience subsequent to admission to the bar, in the areas of law related to the assignment. 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.