Senior Counsel, Real Estate Development & Planning

Job ID: 17655 Business Unit: MTA Headquarters Location: New York, NY, United States Regular/Temporary: Regular Department: Real Estate Development Date Posted: Oct 15, 2026 Description JOB TITLE: Senior Counsel, Real Estate Development & Planning DEPT/DIV: Legal SUPERVISOR: Deputy General Counsel in Real Estate Transactions and Operations WORK LOCATION: 2 Broadway, New York, NY 10004 HOURS OF WORK: 9:00 am - 5:30 pm (7.5 hours/day, or as required) FULL/PART-TIME FULL SALARY RANGE: $160,138 - $186,770 DEADLINE: Until filled This position is eligible for telework, which is currently one day per week. New hires are eligible to apply 30 days after their effective date of hire. Opening: The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is North America's largest transportation network, serving a population of 15.3 million people across a 5,000-square-mile travel area surrounding New York City, Long Island, southeastern New York State, and Connecticut. The MTA network comprises the nation’s largest bus fleet and more subway and commuter rail cars than all other U.S. transit systems combined. MTA strives to provide a safe and reliable commute, excellent customer service, and rewarding opportunities. Job Summary : The Senior Counsel, Transactions position reports to a Deputy General Counsel or Assistant Deputy General Counsel in a Transactions Division in the consolidated MTA Legal Department. The current Transactions Divisions are the: 1) Condemnation Division, 2) Environmental Division, 3) Finance Division, 4) Procurement and Contracts Division, 5) Real Estate Development Division, 6) Real Estate Transactions and Operations Division, and 7) Special Projects Division. Depending on the needs of the Legal Department and the Division, the duties of the Senior Counsel include representing the MTA and its operating agencies in transactions (contracts, agreements, and associated documentation), client counseling, compliance, negotiations, dispute resolution, risk management, and (for Environmental & Condemnation Divisions) litigation matters which are of increasing complexity and involve increasing levels of responsibility and independence. The duties of the Senior Counsel also include providing legal counsel on statutory, regulatory, agency policy, and other matters that pertain to or impact the operations and functions of the MTA and its affiliates and subsidiaries. Senior Counsel – Levels I, II, and III There are three levels of Senior Counsel positions within the Legal Department, each with progressively greater responsibilities. Depending on the level, responsibilities include: Level I: Provide superior legal representation and counsel to the MTA on complex assigned Matters with light supervision from the Deputy General Counsel or direct supervisor. Provide representation in Matters that include the following: legal support for transactions, compliance, and other business activities, reviewing and drafting contracts and agreements, use of eminent domain power, environmental compliance matters, client counseling, due diligence and compliance, deal structuring, contract and agreement drafting and review, negotiations, dispute resolution, preparation of authorizing documentation, advocacy, and risk management. Handle fast-paced, moderately complex to complex negotiations and/or with multiple counterparties with skill and develop creative strategies to resolve barriers to deal closing while not sacrificing legal and business objectives. Review highly complex, high-value, or special risk transactional and compliance matters with a nuanced understanding and ability to foresee, troubleshoot, and escalate unintended impact on legal and business rights and obligations, and provide alternatives for mitigation. Draft moderately complex to complex contracts and deals with moderate to complex compliance matters in an organized and thorough fashion, with high legal technical drafting skills that effectively mitigate risks. Conduct thorough revi…

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