Deputy Director of Grants and Contracts

Deputy Director of Grants and Contracts #25-128

New York, New York, United States

Deadline is 3:00 PM EST for Date Listed

Jul 14, 2025

Job Description

The Legal Aid Society’s Civil Practice is seeking a full-time Deputy Director of Grants and Contracts. This position serves as a key link between the Civil Practice Management Team, Grants and Contracts, Law Reform Unit and the Development Team on all proposals and Civil Practice narrative reporting. The Deputy Director will supervise a grant and program report writer and other Grants and Contract staff as needed.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

Grants & Contracts Management

• Supervise program report and grant writer in managing portfolio of general Civil Practice-specific funding (over $15M), including the writing and coordination of narrative reports
• Manage contracts and reporting targeted to Civil Law Reform Unit while staying updated on key policy initiatives, including development and implementation of grants and contracts administrative plans, compliance and reporting systems to facilitate coordination with the Civil Practice program leaders and Fiscal staff
• Oversee and coordinate development of new RFPs and renewals across multiple teams (Civil Practice leadership, Grants & Contracts team, Finance staff, and others) and design and manage program development workplans, ensuring complete, high-quality, and timely submissions
• Review new funding opportunities, conduct background research, prepare opportunity summaries, and support bid/no-bid analysis by Civil Practice leadership
• Draft testimony, advocacy letters, and other Civil writing projects
• Oversee site visits from funders for contracts in portfolio

Team Development and Supervision

• Schedule employee hours, assign work, approve time off and remote work schedule requests following the guidance of LAS policy and procedures
• Attend management meetings, participate in management trainings, and utilize current employment policies, practices and guidance as provided by management and Human Resources
• Conduct management and supervision practices that affirmatively support equity and inclusion in the workplace
• Supervise direct reports in setting performance standards, provide routine feedback as well as coaching/counseling, and issue disciplinary action as needed
• Identify and provide training and development opportunities and ensure mandatory trainings are completed

Professional Development and Other Duties as Assigned

• Participate in continuous professional development
• Continuously learn about forms of bias in the workplace and demonstrate affirmative behaviors that support an inclusive work environment
• Other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS

Required qualifications:

• MBA, MPA, or other Graduate degree, or a Bachelor’s degree with at least 3 years demonstrated work experience in program or grant management for a not‐for‐profit organization
• Must have grant writing experience

Preferred qualifications:

• Supervisory experience is preferred
• Contract management experience preferred

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Position Based Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of Civil practice areas preferred
• Demonstration or performance of project management
• Ability to successfully perform RFP process management and narrative reporting
• A passion for and commitment to the mission of The Legal Aid Society
• Excellent written communication skills, including excellent editing and proofreading skills and ability to synthesize complex information and craft messages for multiple audiences
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships both internally and externally
• Ability to exercise independent judgment and creative problem-solving techniques in a highly complex legal environment, including ability to handle sensitive or confidential information
• Exceptional project management skills, including the ability to manage multiple complex projects concurrently, often working under the pressure of deadlines
• Consensus builder and leader who utilizes excellent oral and written communication to establish rapport and persuade others

Supervision Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to schedule, assign, and manage work and resolve problems as needed
• Ability to manage the work including: assessment of work process and outcomes, gathering relevant information about the work, recommending alternatives, or elevating issues as needed
• Ability to clearly identify roles, responsibilities, delegate tasks and hold people accountable
• Ability to create and implement effective communication plans
• Ability to provide meaningful performance feedback for professional development including having difficult conversations and resolving sensitive employee issues
• Pursue continuous learning on forms of systemic oppression of marginalized identities and establish team norms and management practices using an equity mindset and informed by inclusive practices

Organizational Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Commitment to Legal Aid Society’s mission to secure equal justice before the law for all New Yorkers
• Interpersonal and communication skills that enable healthy and productive working relationships
• Ability to perform duties with the highest regard for confidentiality, integrity, and respect
• Commitment to Legal Aid Society’s mission and values

Physical, environment, travel, and other duties required:

• Mostly sedentary, significant time using a computer and monitor; communicating and meeting using video

SALARY AND BENEFITS

The salary range represents a good faith estimate of the range we expect to pay for this role. The actual salary offered may vary depending on many factors, including but not limited to job-related knowledge, skills, and experience, as well as collectively bargained salary steps for unionized roles.

Salary Range: $98,000 - $102,000

The Legal Aid Society offers a generous benefits package including health insurance, paid vacation, disability, and life insurance, and more. Click here to read more about benefits.

Higher Education and Loan Forgiveness

The Legal Aid Society is a qualified employer for the purposes of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness. This position allows an employee to take advantage of PSLF and other State and Federal loan forgiveness programs. Additionally, employees who are New York residents may be eligible for assistance from New York state to assist with loan repayments, depending on years of practice. To learn more, click the links below.

studentaid.gov

hesc.ny.gov/loan-forgiveness-programs

WORK AUTHORIZATION

All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer without sponsorship for a work visa or permit. We are currently unable to sponsor employment visas or permits. (However, for citizens of Canada and Mexico, LAS will provide a letter documenting employment status that is needed to obtain a TN visa.)

HOW TO APPLY

All applications must be completed online via the career portal. We do not accept emailed applications. Submit the following documents as a combined PDF:

• Cover Letter
• Resume
• Writing Sample

For technical difficulties or questions regarding this posting, please email jobpostquestions@legal-aid.org.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

As an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer, The Legal Aid Society prohibits discriminatory employment actions against and treatment of its employees and applicants for employment based on actual or perceived race or color, size (including bone structure, body size, height, shape, and weight), religion or creed, alienage or citizenship status, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity (one’s internal deeply-held sense of one’s gender which may be the same or different from one’s sex assigned at birth); gender expression (the representation of gender as expressed through, for example, one’s name, choice of pronouns, clothing, haircut, behavior, voice, or body characteristics; gender expression may not conform to traditional gender-based stereotypes assigned to specific gender identities), disability, marital status, relationship and family structure (including domestic partnerships, polyamorous families and individuals, chosen family, platonic co-parents, and multigenerational families), genetic information or predisposing genetic characteristics, military status, domestic violence victim status, arrest or pre-employment conviction record, credit history, unemployment status, caregiver status, salary history, or any other characteristic protected by law.

OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION

The Legal Aid Society is committed to a work culture of zealous advocacy, respect, diversity and inclusion, client-oriented defense, access to justice and excellent representation. We are dedicated to building a strong professional relationship with each of our clients (people), to understanding their diverse circumstances, and to meeting their needs. Our ability to achieve these goals depends on the efforts of all of us and our ability to build strong relationships with our colleagues. Every member of our community is expected to continuously learn about the dynamic, evolving, and emerging field of knowledge of identity, bias, and systemic forms of oppression and participate in productive efforts to dismantling bias in all forms.

Location

Manhattan - Civil Practice Lower Manhattan Neighborhood Office