Attorney - Director 

The Attorney Director is responsible for the overall operational management of the Protection and Advocacy of Individual Rights (PAIR) and Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security (PABSS) programs, as well as the supervision of the legal staff. The Director will oversee the coordination and administration of all aspects of the state-wide PAIR and PABSS programs, including strategic planning, organizing, staffing, leading program activities, and providing oversight on legal practice and strategy. This position reports to the Legal Director.

Essential Functions

The Director performs a wide range of duties, including the following:

• Oversees PAIR and PABSS Programs, including, program planning and facilitation, outreach, litigation development, and investigation and monitoring activities.
• Develops, implements, evaluates goals and objectives of the PAIR and PABSS programs.
• Supervises staff of the PAIR and PABSS programs, including training, planning and scheduling and evaluating staff.
• Develops and implements an annual operating plan for the PAIR and PABSS programs that is consistent with the vision of DRNY.
• Ensures a coordinated provision of state-wide PAIR and PABSS services.
• Provides status reports to the Legal Director of goals and objectives of the PAIR and PABSS programs.
• Assists DRNY with staff recruitment, orientation and evaluation in the PAIR and PABSS programs.
• Maintains a professional level of knowledge of issues affecting PAIR and PABSS clients.
• Develops and manages a strategic advocacy plan to address individual and systemic problems for the PAIR and PABSS program.
• Develops and manages an outreach plan which promotes community understanding and support of DRNY's objectives.
• Interprets PAIR and PABSS program services, policies and practices to the community.
• Develops new initiatives to support the strategic direction of the organization.
• Supports DRNY's policies, procedures and practices.
• Monitors program activities on a regular basis and conducts an annual evaluation according to the programs' evaluation framework.

Desirable Personal Profile

• A passion for working with mission-driven organizations.
• Strong administrative ability to translate goals into action in a cost-effective manner.
• An innovative and entrepreneurial self-starter who works well without daily supervision and who can grow and strengthen a mature program.
• A creative thinker who can develop, communicate, and implement a vision and a plan for the program's growth.
• An individual who is both a strategic and a tactical thinker, who can develop appropriate long-range plans for the Legal Director's approval and then execute the proposal.
• An excellent communicator who can present effectively the goals of the program.

Preferred

• Leadership and executive responsibilities within a public organization, nonprofit organization or law firm.
• Knowledge of and experience working with people with disabilities.
• Knowledge of and experience within the Protection and Advocacy System.
• Experience with law reform or other complex litigation highly desirable.

Qualifications

• Member in good standing of the New York State Bar.
• Minimum of 10 years' experience.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Ability to work efficiently, independently and collaboratively.
• Demonstrated interest and commitment to public interest law.
• State and Federal Court litigation experience.
• Management skills and experience overseeing and providing direction to professional staff.

Competencies

• Behave Ethically: Understand ethical behavior and business practices, and ensure that own behavior and the behavior of others is consistent with these standards and aligns with the values of the organization.
• Build Relationships: Establish and maintain positive working relationships with others, both internally and externally, to achieve the goals of the organization.
• Communicate Effectively: Communicate in a clear, thorough and timely manner using appropriate and effective communication tools and techniques.
• Creativity/Innovation: Develop ways to improve operations of the organization and to create new opportunities.
• Focus on Client Needs: Anticipate, understand, and respond to the needs of internal and external clients to meet or exceed their expectations within the organizational parameters.
• Foster Teamwork: Work cooperatively and effectively with others to set goals, resolve problems, and make decisions that enhance organizational effectiveness.
• Lead: Positively influence others to achieve results that are in the best interest of the organization.
• Make Decisions: Assess situations to determine the importance, urgency and risks, and make clear decisions which are timely and in the best interests of the organization.
• Organize: Set priorities, develop a work schedule, monitor progress towards goals, and track details, data, information and activities.
• Plan: Determine strategies to move the organization forward, set goals, create and implement actions plans, and evaluate the process and results.
• Solve Problems: Assess problem situations to identify causes, gather and process relevant information, generate possible solutions, and make recommendations and/or resolve the problem.

Working Conditions

Director usually performs work in an office environment but the mission of the organization may sometimes take them to non-standard workplace. The Director will be expected to travel within and outside the state as necessary.

Internal Scope

Schedule: 9am-5pm Reports to: Legal Director Travel: <10%