Program Director/Senior Supervising Attorney - QUEENS - Preserving Affordable Housing

Company Overview:

Since 1968, Brooklyn A has provided free legal services for low- and moderate-income individuals and families throughout New York City.  Our clients live in rapidly gentrifying neighborhoods where many residents and small business owners have been displaced or are facing displacement and harassment. For over half a century, Brooklyn A has provided high-quality, low-barrier neighborhood-based legal services to individuals, families, nonprofit community-based organizations, community development corporations, coalitions, and small business owners, interested in developing and sustaining vibrant, healthy communities.   Brooklyn A has three core departments —Preserving Affordable Housing (PAH), Consumer & Economic Advocacy (CEA), and Community & Economic Development (CED)—each of which has unique initiatives and plays a vital community role to ensure basic needs are met and fundamental rights affirmed.

Position Summary: 

The Program Director/Sr. Supervising Attorney is responsible is responsible for the overall management and supervision of Brooklyn A's new Queens - PAH Program and will represent the Queens PAH Program to the broader Brooklyn A, its funders, its community partners, the media, and the public.  Reporting to the Chief Legal Officer, they will work with, train, and supervise program staff to include deputy directors, staff attorneys, community organizers, paralegals, etc. to provide legal services and to ensure that our clients receive high-quality legal representation.  Managing the program growth to support NYC’s Right to Counsel Law, the Director will continue to identify systemic priorities and to develop the PAH Program's capacity to holistically and responsively address the needs of its clients and the communities we serve.  They will supervise data collection and management, general reporting, and compliance of funding contracts and provide information/assistance to the development team as necessary.

The legal services we provide to clients include:

Representing low-income tenant associations confronting landlords harassing low-income residents and seeking to vacate buildings; individuals and families facing eviction; low-income tenants in fair housing litigation; as well as community groups involved in struggles against pervasive housing discrimination, neighborhood segregation, and other issues critically affecting the future of their communities.

The litigation legal services we provide to clients include:

Non-payment, Holdover, HP, 7A, and harassment proceedings in Housing Court as well as Supreme Court, which involves frequent motion practice, discovery, and depositions, communication with clients, negotiations with opposing counsel and advocacy with outside agencies on behalf of clients.

To be successful in this role, you must have:

• Admission to the bar of the State of New York;
• Minimum 8 years’ experience working in New York civil and/or Federal, or other relevant public interest litigation; housing law preferable;
• Minimum 7 years’ experience working with clients in the nonprofit sector, low-income communities, community organizations and/or coalitions;
• Significant supervisory experience leading a team and meeting deliverables;  
• Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to effectively communicate with individuals from diverse backgrounds and local organizations;
• Demonstrated ability to interact with client/tenants of different races, ethnicities, ages, and sexual orientations in a multicultural environment and a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion;
• Excellent legal writing, transactional, advocacy skills in English, bilingual Spanish preferred;
• Ability to work independently with strong motivation, to manage a high caseload, track case data, meet deadlines, and to be flexible;
• Experience managing case management systems to ensure accurate data collection and statistical tracking;
• Computer proficiency sufficient to independently review and generate legal writings; and
• Experience with speaking and writing about affordable housing litigation and legal advocacy (i.e., communicating with stakeholders and allies, such as elected officials, networks, bar association committees, law students, and pro bono partners; published articles in law journals and trade-related publications, project narrative writing for grant proposals and funding reports).

Compensation & Benefits

Annual salary is $160,000. Great benefits package such as, employer paid health insurance; 27 days annual vacation, employer 4% contribution to 401(k); and paid parental leave.

To Apply

If you are interested in this position, you must submit your resume and a cover letter telling us why your experiences would make you a good fit for this role. This position is hybrid in-office/remote work position.

Brooklyn A is a diverse team that is committed to recruiting, supporting, retaining, and promoting talented staff with diverse backgrounds and experiences that share the organization's commitment to racial, economic and social justice. At Brooklyn A, diversity encompasses a variety of characteristics, lifestyles, and perspectives, including race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, education, disability, socio-economic status, and family status. We firmly believe that a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment is essential to both the quality of our client services and the personal satisfaction of our staff. 

We encourage applicants of diverse backgrounds to apply, including women, people of color, immigrants, people with disabilities, LGBTQ people, people from low-income backgrounds, and with lived experiences in the communities we serve.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, age, physical disability, or length of time spent unemployed.

If you are interested in this position, you must submit your resume and a cover letter telling us why your experiences would make you a good fit for this role. This is a hybrid in-office/remote work position based in Jamaica, Queens, NY.