Director of Practice Operations and Administration

Director of Practice Operations and Administration #25-109

New York, New York, United States

Deadline is 3:00 PM EST for Date Listed

Jun 02, 2025

Job Description

The Legal Aid Society's Civil Practice is looking for an exceptional, dynamic leader to join our team as the Director of Practice Operations and Administration. The Director of Practice Operations and Administration will be a strategic thinker who understands how operations and finances support the broader mission of the organization. The Director of Practice Operations and Administration in the Civil Practice will be responsible for overseeing the daily work of Operations and Administration within the Practice, including partnering with central administrative teams (HR, Facilities, IT, and Finance) and the Deputy Director of Practice Operations and Administration, and work directly with Civil Practice Borough Administrators to ensure all needs of the Practice are met.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

Leadership and Management

• Implement high standards and success metrics for team of Deputy Director of Practice Operations and Administration, Deputy Director of Program Systems (IT Liaison for Civil Practice), and Practice Coordinators
• Provides oversight and support to all Borough Administrators and with Borough Administrators develop and implement practice wide standards
• Manage cross-departmental collaboration and strengthen internal communications with staff throughout the organization, delegated broad authority to make decisions and manage operations across the Practice
• Report directly to the Chief Attorney of the Civil Practice, serve as a key member of the Civil Practice’s leadership team
• Partner with Directors of Practice Operations and Administration in Criminal Practice and Juvenile Rights Practice

Practice Management 

• Work directly with Human Resources on HR-related matters including recruitment, job descriptions/job postings, salary offers, onboarding/off boarding, employee engagement, professional development, performance management, employee safety, payroll, benefits, and compliance 
• Primary escalation for labor-related issues across the Practice, including managing implementation of collective bargaining agreements and other labor policy, managing grievances, and providing insight and recommendations to Administration on labor-related topics. Identify opportunities for operational improvement and implement strategies to improve outcomes and increase efficiency of daily operations across the Practice
• With team and together with Borough Administrators, work with IT and Facilities on issues affecting the Practice. Liaise directly with central administrative teams to resolve issues on behalf of the Practice 
• Manage general Practice budget as it relates to purchasing and general OTPS expenses, including management of employee reimbursements and purchasing. Work closely with Civil’s Grants & Contracts Management team as needed on grant and contract budgetary compliance

Team Development and Supervision

• Assign work, approve time off and remote work schedule requests following the guidance of LAS policy and procedures  
• 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  
• Identify, delegate, and document work responsibilities, roles, and procedures to meet the mission of the department 
• Identify and implement department/unit management and accountability practices to improve performance 

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:

• Bachelor’s degree and minimum of 6 years of relevant experience OR a combination of 10+ years of post-secondary education and/or relevant work experience
• Experience in fields related to program management and/or operations
• Depth of experience in managing teams, supporting cross-functional collaboration, developing staff, and setting and implementing clear goals/strategic priorities
• Proven ability to effectively prioritize, lead, coordinate, and implement projects involving multiple demands, many details, and frequent changes 

Preferred qualifications:  

• Master’s degree in public administration, business administration, or related field preferred
• At least 2 years of management experience is strongly preferred

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Position Based Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 

• Strong leadership, project management, and time management skills
• Ability to work effectively with a unionized work force 
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills 
• Excellent analytical, interpersonal, negotiating, and decision-making skills 
• Excellent computer skills with preference given to those with advanced technology skills 
• Ability to work collaboratively and build strong relationships 
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and attention to detail

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, and recommending and implementing alternatives
• 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

Organizational Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Commitment to The 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 The 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 
• Will require travel within NYC, across the five-borough region  

For positions noted as essential, this will require either remote or in-person work during times of closure or otherwise non-typical business hours which may include evenings and weekends and during unforeseen events such as inclement weather or poor air quality conditions. 

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: $151,000 - $161,000

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

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