Deputy Director

Deputy Director

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Deputy Director is a senior leadership position that works closely with the PLA Executive Team to help set organizational strategy and ensure operational excellence across the organization. The Deputy Director oversees PLA’s legal programs, evaluates program effectiveness, supervises Managing Attorneys, and shares responsibility with the Executive Director and Executive Team for resource development, external relations, and strengthening PLA’s internal capacity and infrastructure.

This role serves as a key organizational leader, helping to align staff, programs, and systems in support of PLA’s mission and strategic goals.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

Organizational Leadership & Governance

• • Represent PLA at state and national meetings, in coordination with or in place of the Executive Director.
  • Attend Board of Directors meetings and provide reports, analysis, and recommendations as needed.
  • Work with the Executive Director to identify, recruit, and cultivate new Board members and maintain strong Board relationships.
  • Act on behalf of the Executive Director in their absence.

Program Oversight & Strategic Planning

• • Supervise Managing Attorneys and support effective program leadership and accountability.
  • Evaluate program performance and effectiveness and recommend improvements.
  • Lead strategic planning within and across units, with an emphasis on strengthening cross-unit communication and collaboration.
  • Develop an LSC-compliant systems advocacy plan in partnership with Managing and Supervising Attorneys.
  • Partner with Managing Attorneys to establish and periodically revise caseload ranges for all client-facing roles.

Training & Professional Development

• • Work with Managing Attorneys and other staff to identify organization-wide training needs.
  • Develop and implement a comprehensive orientation program for new hires.
  • Plan and coordinate internal trainings and approve external training opportunities in collaboration with Managing Attorneys.

Labor Relations & Human Resources

• • Serve as management’s lead negotiator in collective bargaining agreement negotiations.
  • Supervise Managing Attorneys’ participation in the grievance process to ensure compliance with collective bargaining agreements.
  • Represent management on union-management committees as needed.
  • Partner with the HR Director to maintain up-to-date organizational policies and procedures, including personnel policies, the employee handbook, and document-management practices.

Communications, External Relations & Resource Development

• • Lead the development and implementation of PLA’s strategic communications plan.
  • Strengthen PLA’s social media presence and respond to communications requests in collaboration with the Director of Grants and Communications.
  • Meet with key stakeholders, including government agencies, community leaders, nonprofit partners, business leaders, and legal services committees.
  • Partner with unit heads to identify, cultivate, and support new and existing funding opportunities.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor Degree from accredited law school required, admitted to practice law in PA preferred.
• Minimum of ten (10) years of experience in public interest law/legal services or nonprofit organizations.
• Demonstrated commitment to social justice.
• Experience in nonprofit capacity-building, program development, and program evaluation.
• Experience with fundraising, including individual donor solicitation and grant writing for government and private funding sources.
• Proven ability to build relationships and communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to supervise and manage senior-level staff.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to analyze and interpret financial and operational data.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a collaborative leadership team.
• Availability to work on-site preferred, with ability to work from home on occasional basis.

Health insurance premiums paid in full for employee and family, cash incentives for health insurance opt out, vacation, personal, and sick leave, thirteen (13) paid holidays, 403(b) retirement plan with employer contribution based on years of service, paid parental leave, life insurance and short and long- term disability benefits.