Location: Albany, NY Category: Administrative and Professional Posted On: Tue Dec 9 2025 Job Description:
FUNCTION AND SCOPE:
The Research Foundation for The State University of New York is seeking an attorney with 6+ years of relevant experience to focus on labor and employment law matters. The selected candidate will also work as a generalist as part of a collaborative team on the wide variety of legal matters arising out of the Foundation's sponsored programs, innovation and partnerships activity, and corporate status as a non-profit foundation. Functions include advice on employee and human relations issues, labor relations in a complex matrixed environment that involves close interrelationships among SUNY, the RF, and affiliated entities. Duties include advising management on employee relations issues, policy development and training; employment and commercial litigation, responding to administrative charges, employment and commercial litigation; contract drafting, review, and negotiation; workplace investigations, and dispute resolution; and negotiating labor contracts and managing labor relations issues. Reporting to the General Counsel and Secretary, selected candidate will work closely with RF executive management as well as campus academic and business leadership, managers of entities affiliated with the RF, and SUNY's counsel. Day-to-day responsibilities will involve a wide range of matters reflecting the complex, diverse and extremely interesting work of the Research Foundation.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Reporting to the General Counsel and Deputy General Counsel, lead the legal human relations and employee relations functions and advising corporate and operation location managers on labor and employment law issues, including but not limited to performance and disciplinary matters, accommodations and leave issues, separations, hiring, layoffs and reductions in force, visa and immigration matters, wage and hour issues
Develop and review policies, procedures and handbooks, monitor and communicate legal developments to corporate and operating locations, develop and present labor and employment related training to RF and SUNY campus leaders, managers and employees on issues such as sexual harassment prevention, discrimination, and retaliation prevention and legal updates and developments; labor campaigns, and other relevant topics
Represent the RF in all stages of employment litigation before federal and state courts and administrative agencies, including court appearances, research and prepare briefs, complaints, answers and replies, motions to dismiss, to compel and motions for summary judgment and supporting briefing; discovery, including e-discovery, draft and implement litigation holds, document collection and review for RF litigation and manage outside counsel as needed in litigation matters
Represent the RF in responding to/defending administrative charges, including drafting position statements, responding to information requests, witness preparation, and appearing and presenting evidence at administrative hearings
Represent the RF in arbitrations and mediations and engage in effective dispute resolution
Represent the RF in other litigation matters, including commercial litigation
Counsel RF and SUNY business and academic leadership on a broad range of complex and novel legal, business, and strategic issues, relating to RF work in support of SUNY sponsored activities
Prepare, negotiate, and manage contracts, leases, and other legal documents with contractors, vendors, research sponsors, and governmental entities
Respond to information requests and subpoenas
Conduct and/or assist with conducting internal investigations; work with SUNY counsel on corresponding investigations as needed
Supervise and work effectively with external counsel as appropriate
Promote and support company policies, procedures, mission, values, and standards of ethics and integrity; support the corporation's control environment by helping to identify, assess, and manage legal risks and liabilities, assist with the creation, implementation, and enhancement of corporate processes, polices, and procedures, and partner with business unit leaders to identify and facilitate business process improvement initiatives
Perform other legal and administrative functions to support the RF's strategic and operating plans
Job Requirements:
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE
JD from an accredited law school, membership in good standing or eligibility for membership in NY State bar
A minimum of 6 years of experience, including in-house counsel or related law firm practice
Legal experience focused on employment, litigation, and human resource matters, including knowledge of employment discrimination laws, including but not limited to Title VII, FMLA, ADA, ADEA/OWBPA, FLSA, New York State Human Rights Law, New York Labor Law, New York City Human Rights Law, and other federal, state and local employment laws
Experience with legal research, discovery, document collection, motion drafting, and other matters relating to litigation
Experience with investigations and compliance matters
Proficiency in Microsoft word; competency in PowerPoint and Excel
OTHER REQUIREMENTS:
Excellent judgment, business acumen, and common sense
Strong work ethic, superior organizational skills, and ability to handle multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment under time constraints and work well independently and as a collaborative team member
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including presentation and training capabilities and ability to relate and work well with people of many cultures, disciplines, and levels of experience
Willingness to travel to campuses in the SUNY system as needed
Experience and/or appreciation for issues in representing academic research organizations and/or faculty, researchers, and academic administrators
Confidence and leadership with humility; be self-assured but not self-important
Optimistic attitude that thrives in a dynamic and complex working environment
Ability to accept corrections with grace and a sense of humor
Commitment to the mission of the RF and our goals to benefit SUNY and the State of New York
Compensation for this position: The compensation for this role is between $135,000 - $150,000. The pay will depend on a variety of factors that may include but are not limited to experience, education, training, and certifications.
Application Instructions:
Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.
About The Research Foundation for The State University of New York ("RF"):
Founded in 1951, the RF exists to serve SUNY and to capitalize on the scope, scale and diversity of SUNY as an engine of New York state's innovation economy.
The RF supports nearly $1 billion in SUNY research activity annually, providing sponsored programs administration and commercialization support services to SUNY faculty performing research in life sciences and medicine; engineering and nanotechnology; physical sciences and energy; social sciences, and computer and information sciences.
The RF is not an agency or instrumentality of the State of New York. Employees of the RF are not state employees, do not participate in any state retirement system, and do not receive state fringe benefits. The RF operates under a contract with SUNY and receives no directly appropriated state funding.
The RF believes that promoting an inclusive working environment enhances productivity, creates personal and professional opportunities, unleashes each individual's full potential and fuels innovation.
The RF and its employees are committed to a culture of integrity and accountability, holding each other and the organization to the highest standards of ethical behavior.
Visit www.rfsuny.org and connect with the RF on Facebook. Learn about the Power of SUNY at www.suny.edu.
Additional Information:
As an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer, The Research Foundation for SUNY will not discriminate in its employment practices due to an applicant's race, color, creed, religion, sex, pregnancy-related conditions, reproductive health decisions, childbirth or related medical conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, transgender status, age, national origin or ancestry, marital status, familial status, citizenship, physical and mental disability, prior arrest or conviction record, genetic characteristics/genetic information, predisposition or carrier status, domestic violence victim status, military status or service, veteran status, or any other characteristics protected under federal, state or local law. The Company will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant.
The Company will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant.
Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.
The Research Foundation for the State University of New York is not an agency or instrumentality of the State of New York. Employees of the Research Foundation for the State University of New York are not state employees, do not participate in any state retirement system, and do not receive state fringe benefits. The Research Foundation for the State University of New York operates under a contract with The State University of New York and receives no directly appropriated state funding.
