Director of Legal Services
YWCA Tulsa Director of Legal Services
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.
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.
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.