Legal Services Director jobs in Oklahoma

Description

Position Description:

YWCA Tulsa is seeking a full-time Director of Legal Services to oversee legal for immigrants and refugees. A key goal of this role will be to lead a team working to improve economic mobility for immigrants and refugees in the Tulsa community and increase civic engagement. The ideal candidate will be a passionate advocate of immigrants and refugees, with a strong background in immigration legal services.

To achieve these goals, the Director will be responsible for ensuring successful program implementation, grant implementation, data tracking, and program oversight. This role will directly oversee a growing team and will focus on successfully providing programs and services to meet the growing population of our immigrant and refugee communities, as well as the evolving needs of people arriving from different countries. 

Principal Responsibilities and Duties:

STAFF MANAGEMENT

•  Oversee the department of all legal staff, interns, and volunteers. Responsible for hiring and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; as well as problem resolution.
•  Provide direct supervision to the Managing Attorney, Supervising Attorney, and Administrative Supervisor
•  Conduct open and closed case file reviews every quarter. 
•  Maintain and develop policies and procedures to ensure Program compliance with funding sources and Department of Justice (DOJ) Recognition and Accreditation.
• Manage the reporting process for Performance and Quality Improvement.
• Regularly update the program operations manual to ensure COA and DOJ compliance.

PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION AND DEVELOPMENT

• Develop and implement program strategies to meet the needs of immigrant and refugee clients through legal services.
• Outline program development, looking at unique opportunities, to create actionable agendas that can be implemented by program staff.
• In collaboration with the Senior Director of Immigrant and Refugee Services, develop a strategy for fulfillment of the mission through improving economic mobility and representation for people who are immigrants and refugees.
•  Develop policies and procedures aligning service delivery with the requirements of government contracts, grants, foundations, or as otherwise required by the organization. Support legal team members through implementation. 
• Support program staff to ensure mission viability throughout all service provision. 
•  Strengthen community partner relationships to promote external resources and internal program development. 
•  Develop procedures for monitoring the quality and quantity of the services being delivered for adherence to outputs, outcomes, goals, and expected standards of care, and to meet grant deliverables. 
•  Manage program budget to ensure appropriate allocation of program funding. 
•  Provide and connect program staff to training opportunities and guidance that could strengthen overall services with a particular focus on trauma-informed, strengths-based case management, self-care, and cultural competency. 
• Review and approve grant invoicing and tracking. 
• Provide support for each department in grant reporting and tracking.

IMMIGRATION LEGAL ASSISTANCE

• Stay up to date with changes in immigration law and other immigration-related developments to ensure staff members. 
• understand these changes.
• Handle a small number of complex cases involving issues such as criminal history, immigration law violations, current or previous removal proceedings, appeals, etc.
• Research and analyze complex legal matters pertaining to own caseload and that of staff under the position’s supervision, assuming responsibility and risk for outcomes of the program’s client cases.
• Assume the caseload of any departing staff member.
• Maintain all case records and documentation mandated by YWCA Tulsa policies and procedures.
• Make appropriate referrals as necessary for immigration legal services beyond the scope of the program or one’s own competencies and for other social service needs.
• Provide technical reviews of the casework of attorneys and DOJ-accredited representatives as needed. 

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

• Actively participate or present relevant immigration information to the immigrant and nonimmigrant communities periodically as needed.
• Assist in public relations efforts that increase the visibility of YWCA Tulsa, publicize immigration issues faced by immigrants, and raise community awareness on immigration issues.
• Create and maintain partnerships with community organizations for capacity-building and funding opportunities.

BUDGET MANAGEMENT

• Responsible for monitoring funding sources and expenses.
• Responsible for program funding including fee generation and assisting with grant writing/execution.
• Responsible for supporting quarterly and year-end reports for all funding sources.
• Review and approve grant invoicing and tracking. 
• Provide support for each department in grant reporting and tracking.

Requirements

Required Qualifications:

• Must be an advocate for the mission, values, and goals of YWCA Tulsa. 
• Work effectively with all employees and members of all races, religions, sexes, national origins, ages, sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions; without regard to disability status, genetic information, marital status, status as a covered veteran, or any other legally protected status, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Work on skills that can help communicate his/her point to an audience belonging to a completely different identity and/or background. These differences can be identity-based, geographical, ethical, political, or historical.
• Openness to engaging in conflict positively and proactively with the goals of finding solutions, producing change, and bringing together opposing parties.
• Strong commitment to learning, growth, and continuous improvement. 
• Ability to manage, assign, delegate responsibilities, and accomplish the desired results both through individual work and through department staff.
• A strong track record as an implementer with excellent organization skills who thrives on managing a variety of key initiatives concurrently. 
• Managing funds and budgeting is critical, as well as the ability to analyze financial information.
• Ability to manage Federal and State grants.
• Effective oral and written communication skills, especially as required in preparing and making presentations, working with various committees, and interacting with diverse groups of internal and external contacts.
• Excellent interpersonal skills in working with personnel and stakeholders at all organizational levels.
• Must have a current Oklahoma driver’s license and insurance verification. 

Education/Experience:

• J. D. Law Degree and admission to a State Bar. 
• A minimum of two to three years of supervisory experience is required. 
• Proficiency in a second language is preferred.
• Basic to intermediate computer proficiency in Microsoft Office products and project management software. 
• A minimum of two- to three years of experience working directly with immigrants and refugee-diverse populations in social services, immigration, and refugee resettlement is required. 

Benefits and Perks:

• Flex work agreement
• Medical Benefits
• Commuter Benefit Plan
• Dental Benefit Plan 100% employee paid by employer
• Vision Care Benefits
• Short Term Disability 100% employee paid by employer
• Paid Time Off
• Paid Holidays
• Social Justice Days
• Cell phone reimbursement