The Foundation
The DC Bar Foundation is the leading funder of civil legal aid in the District of Columbia. We are committed to the vision that residents of the District have equal access to justice, regardless of income. Our mission is to fund, support, and improve the legal representation of people who are financially disenfranchised or who are otherwise underserved in the District of Columbia.
Our Beliefs
We believe that everyone should have access to justice regardless of wealth, knowledge, or power. We seek to be community-rooted, led by the voices of those most impacted by our decisions. We believe in working collaboratively and demonstrating mutual respect for each other’s capacities, contributions, and ideas. We believe that we must work within ourselves, our networks, and our institutions to challenge racism with each decision we make. Finally, we believe in Team. It’s not just about getting the work done; it’s about HOW you get it done.
Position Summary
DC residents who face life-altering situations and need help navigating legal aid far too often have a difficult time getting the assistance they need. The process of going through legal aid can be cumbersome and lengthy. It’s a complex system that makes finding legal help a daunting task. Issues many have experienced include ending up at an organization that can’t service their issue or finding out they are ineligible for services. With so many organizations, lack of clarity, different eligibility criteria, and having to reshare their stories too many times, many who need help never reach the door of a legal service provider.
The DC Bar Foundation is committed to creating a civil legal aid system in DC that is easily accessible with seamless processes. Our work is centered on ensuring that access to our civil justice system does not depend on wealth, knowledge, or power. With these ideals being the driving force of our work, we are creating a Coordinated Intake and Referral (CIR) System to streamline access to legal services for DC residents. The District of Columbia has more than 50 civil legal aid providers and this system will increase coordination among providers, which, in turn, will create an easier process for those seeking assistance.
Coordinated Intake and Referral Program Manager (“CIR Program Manager”) will provide leadership and management of the Coordinated Intake and Referral (CIR) system. The incumbent will be responsible for synchronizing the efforts of the many teams and stakeholder groups that will contribute to the CIR. This individual will handle key relationships with stakeholders and vendors in the building, testing, launching, and running of a streamlined process for DC residents to access legal aid through a single phone number or website. CIR does not replace existing intake structures; it supplements them.
The Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate for this position is self-motivated, proactive, and wants to see results. You’re a natural problem solver who meets adversity with tenacity. You’re familiar with DC civil legal services, community, foundation, and grantmaking and committed to racial equity and diversity. We’re looking for someone who is eager to tackle new projects and has the ability to prioritize, manage timelines, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
Primary Job Duties
Collaborate with leadership to identify and develop CIR program goals and objectives
Champion the CIR effort and develop support for the program
Consult with CIR personnel to determine program requirements, establish project plans, implement activities, evaluate progress, and make improvements
Embrace change and innovation while controlling the big picture to align with CIR strategy
Meet with key people and groups in the justice ecosystem to keep them apprised and engaged in CIR efforts
Oversee the work of the Program Coordinator and Navigators
Procure value-add services and advanced technologies
Collaborate with the evaluation partner on measuring the efficacy of the CIR program
Represent DCBF while participating in subject matter working groups
Provide CIR-related content to the communications team for testimony, monthly newsletter, periodic press releases, website, social media, and other communications
Make recommendations for improvements based on challenges, successes, and input from stakeholders
Collect, apply, and share learnings through professional networking
Serve as an internal thought leader on current trends and best practices in CIR
Establish, document, and standardize CIR-related policies and procedures
Balance personal creativity and drive with diplomacy and feedback to support multiple stakeholders’ perspectives
Lead collaborative efforts in order to build and maintain project momentum
Utilize project data and participant input to guide project development
Drive collaboration with relevant stakeholders on fundraising for the CIR program
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university; Advanced degree preferred
Four years of professional work experience handling duties comparable to those outlined above
Prior experience leading a team and supervising other staff
Knowledge of the DC civil legal services sector, community, foundation, and grantmaking
Excellent written and verbal communication skills demonstrated through a professional and fact-based communication style
Solid analytical and technical abilities with standards of excellence and high-quality work
Comfort in taking complete ownership of all strategic, tactical, and administrative duties of the position
Ability to think outside the box, take risks, overcome obstacles, and remain undaunted by failures
Commitment to creating and sustaining a positive workplace
Conscientious and thorough with the ability to anticipate and correct for errors before they happen
Compensation and Benefits
This is a new and developing position leading a unique program with the potential for national impact. If you believe you have the skills and experience to ensure success of this city-wide service but feel the title and/or salary are incompatible, we encourage you to apply so we can discuss your ideas. Both title and salary modifications will be considered for the right candidate.
We believe in paying fairly and competitively. To execute this, we utilize a strategic compensation review process to determine starting pay rates as well as annual adjustments. The hiring range for this position is $80,000 to $90,000, with some flexibility to move above the hiring range based on experience and qualifications. Decisions regarding each individual’s compensation are made using a holistic analysis of market rates, experience, competencies, education, performance, internal equity, annual budget, and economic state.
We also believe in supporting employees’ professional development, health and wellness, and work/life balance. Our benefits include health insurance, medical and dependent care FSAs, 401(k) retirement plan, commuter assistance, home office allowance, summer hours, professional development allowance, and generous paid time off.
Work Environment
The DC Bar Foundation is part of the WeWork community located at 200 Massachusetts Avenue in Northwest DC. You’ll be expected to work remotely and within the office space. The work involves frequent use of computers, phones, and virtual meeting platforms, such as MS Teams and Zoom. The role may require periodic work outside of regular business hours, as well as occasional local travel.
The physical demands are representative of those that must be met by an employee to safely and successfully perform the essential functions of this job, including meeting productivity standards. All employees must be vaccinated against COVID-19 unless a reasonable accommodation is made based on a protected status. Persons with mental and physical disabilities are eligible for this position as long as they can perform the essential functions of the job after reasonable accommodations are made to their known limitations. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible for this position.
The DC Bar Foundation provides equal employment opportunities to all individuals. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, sex, age, national origin, veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.
To Apply
Submit your resume and cover letter outlining how your qualifications align with the requirements for this position. Applications submitted without a cover letter will not be considered. No calls or emails please.
Comments