Job Description
Legal Services NYC (LSNYC) fights poverty and seeks racial, social and economic justice for low-income New Yorkers. For over 50 years, we have challenged systemic injustices that trap people in poverty and provided legal services that help our clients meet basic needs for housing, income and economic security, family and immigration stability, education, and health care. LSNYC is the largest civil legal services provider in the country; our staff of more than 600 people in neighborhood-based offices and outreach sites across all five boroughs helps hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers annually. We partner with scores of community-based and client-run organizations, elected officials, public agencies, pro bono lawyers, and the courts to maximize our effectiveness. Our work fights discrimination and helps to achieve equity for all low-income New Yorkers.
LSNYC employees have numerous opportunities for growth and professional development, including access to our internal Justice Learning Center, which provides opportunities to earn free CLEs and gain experience as a trainer.
Immediate Job Opening
Deputy Project Director
Bronx Legal Services
Bronx Legal Services seeks a Deputy Project Director to join the dynamic leadership team in a community-based legal advocacy organization in the South Bronx.
The Deputy Project Director reports directly to the Project Director and is a key member of the organization’s senior management team, working collaboratively with the Director of Litigation and the Director of Administration in all aspects of the operation and management of the organization.
Our Organization: Bronx Legal Services is part of Legal Services NYC, the largest provider of free civil legal services for low-income people in the country. Bronx Legal Services has worked tirelessly for nearly six decades to provide high-quality innovative representation to address the pressing needs of the Bronx’s diverse low-income population, in the areas of housing, homeowner protection, public benefits, access to healthcare, disability rights, family law, immigration law, consumer law, access to education, and employment rights. Our mission is to fight poverty and seek racial, social and economic justice. We provide a generous benefits package, including
Salary and Compensation: The salary range for this position is competitive and commensurate with experience– $160,000-$200,000
LSNYC’s Expansive Benefits Package includes: exceptional healthcare with low copays (for which employees pay only 1% of their salaries per year), comprehensive dental insurance, a vision plan, generous vacation days (21 days the first year; 28 days/year thereafter) that people routinely use, plus 14 paid holidays and 18 sick days/year. We provide industry-leading parental leave (on average six months) as well as coverage for fertility treatment. Employees with student loan debt also have access to our internal Loan Repayment Assistance Program and may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.
The position is hybrid permitting up to 50% remote work, job duties permitting.
Key Functions of the Role:
• Functions as the Project Director when the Project Director is not available
• Represents the program and its mission for the purpose of cultivating and maintaining strong relationships with clients, local government officials, community-based organizations, and others to heighten the organization’s visibility and awareness of the impact of Bronx Legal Services; ·
• Supports the Project Director to advance relationships with government, funders and private donors and develop a fundraising plan
• Expands Pro Bono initiatives and collaborations
• Supports the Project Director to maintain an active development process for recruiting new members of the Board of Directors that reflect the values of Bronx Legal Services, participates in Board Meetings and works in partnership with the Board to fundraise; ·
• Develops leadership within the team of managers and supervisors to foster a collaborative team environment focused on achieving goals and providing the highest quality of legal services to our clients; ·
• Responsible for shared supervision of Unit Directors
• Supports the Project Director in oversight of program budget performance and the program’s compliance with grantor/funder requirements and deliverables; ·
• Works in collaboration with the management team to maintain a climate that attracts and motivates a diverse and highly qualified staff and is supportive of the growth and professional development of all staff ·
• Supports initiatives to increase the organization’s community outreach and engagement
• Completes special projects as needed or as assigned by the Project Director.
Qualifications: The Deputy Project Director will be thoroughly committed to the mission of Bronx Legal Services. All candidates should have a proven track record of experience and success in managing staff in the not-for-profit direct legal services sector.
Specific requirements include:
• Juris Doctorate (JD) degree and admission to the New York Bar;
• At least eight years of work experience in legal services or similar settings, including at least five years of experience in supervising advocates, including mentoring case handling lawyers and supervisors;
• Strong understanding of the Bronx communities we serve and a demonstrated passion for holistic legal services and fighting for justice;
• Proven track record of fundraising
• Successful management of large grants and creating metrics to meet deliverables
• Demonstrated engagement with Bronx elected officials and local CBO’s
• Successful engagement with pro bono resources
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; a persuasive and passionate communicator with excellent interpersonal skills;
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to prioritize and handle multiple complex tasks;
• Ability to work well in teams and foster collaborations
• Advocacy experience in at least one area of law relevant to Bronx Legal Services’ practice groups, including tenant and homeowner rights, immigration, family law, public benefits, LGBTQ/HIV advocacy, education, disability, employment, tax, health advocacy, community economic development, and economic justice.
Our offices currently work on a hybrid model of in-person and remote work. Staff are expected to be in the office a minimum of five days during a bi-weekly pay period.
Studies have shown that women and people of color are more hesitant than others to apply for jobs where they fear they may not fully meet every single qualification listed. While the above list represents the qualities we seek in applicants, we are committed to finding the best candidate for the job. If you are interested in this position and have substantial relevant experience, we encourage you to apply even if you do not fully meet each of the criteria above.
How to Apply: Interested individuals should submit: a cover letter, resume, two writing samples, and contact information for three references.
Only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted. Please, no phone calls.
Dependent on work history and experience.
Salary Range
$160,000—$200,000 USD
All employees are strongly encouraged to continue to receive and maintain up-to-date COVID vaccinations unless they are unable to for medical or religious reasons.
Legal Services NYC is an equal opportunity employer. People of color, women, people with disabilities, people over 40, and gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people are strongly encouraged to apply.
