Director, Housing Rights

Background:

Founded in 1978, SeniorLAW Center is a dynamic nonprofit public interest legal services organization whose mission is to seek justice for older people by using the power of the law, educating the community and advocating on local, state and national levels. We are the only non-profit agency in Pennsylvania wholly dedicated to providing legal assistance to older persons and protecting their legal rights, and one of few in the nation. SeniorLAW Center prioritizes services to older people who are low-income, cultural and racial minorities, the disabled, victims of crime and family violence, and those facing other vulnerabilities and challenges. We fight senior poverty, fraud and homelessness, provide protection from elder abuse and financial exploitation, enable grandparents to raise grandchildren, and improve access to justice. Founded in 1978, SeniorLAW Center is a dynamic nonprofit public interest legal services organization whose mission is to seek justice for older people by using the power of the law, educating the community and advocating on local, state and national levels. We are the only non-profit agency in Pennsylvania wholly dedicated to providing legal assistance to older persons and protecting their legal rights, and one of few in the nation. SeniorLAW Center prioritizes services to older people who are low-income, cultural and racial minorities, the disabled, victims of crime and family violence, and those facing other vulnerabilities and challenges. We fight senior poverty, fraud and homelessness, provide protection from elder abuse and financial exploitation, enable grandparents to raise grandchildren, and improve access to justice.

Position Summary

The Director, Housing Rights leads both the Homeownership and Tenant Rights projects, supervises staff, oversees all aspects of client services, actively models and participates in SeniorLAW Center’s culture of philanthropy, and coordinates initiatives under the direction of the Director, Legal Services, and the Executive Director.

Duties and Responsibilities

Supervision of Project Services:

• Conduct monthly one-on-one meetings with project staff.
• Monitor staff assignments and performance, providing reports to the Director of Legal Services and Executive Director.
• Ensure compliance with case management and deliverables.
• Oversee project-related report preparation and staff evaluations.
• Lead the hiring process and ongoing training related to funding compliance and case management.
• Facilitate and maintain a resources library for project materials and staff mentoring.
• Accompany staff to court as needed and initiate special projects collaboratively with leadership.
• Participate in scheduled project-related meetings.
• Participate in staff and Legal team meetings.
• Provide support to other colleagues agency wide as needed.
• Assist with onboarding staff as needed.
• Become knowledgeable of and follow all SeniorLAW Center’s personnel and legal policies and procedures.
• Demonstrate and model commitment to SeniorLAW Center’s mission and values.
• Participate in SeniorLAW Center’s culture of philanthropy and events.
• Assist with quality control and case management for data collection and reporting, as necessary.
• Other responsibilities to further the mission of the project and organization as assigned by the Executive Director and Director, Legal Services.

Supervision of Project’s Direct Legal and Client-Centered Services:

Oversees, monitors, and maintains consistent delivery of high-quality direct legal services, assisting the project as needed with all client services, including intake, court appearances and other case handling duties.

Supervision of Project’s Community Outreach and Education:

• • Oversees, monitors, and maintains consistent delivery of high-quality community outreach and education, including: Representing SeniorLAW Center at professional committees/coalitions related to housing issues to advocate for better services and access to justice for older adults.
  • Developing and presenting legal education workshops to older adults in project areas, including, but not limited to, homeownership and tenant issues.
  • Overseeing the development of educational materials and resources and “best practices” resources for professionals.
  • Overseeing, supporting, and monitoring the planning, organizing, and attending community outreach and table events.
  • Assisting with community clinics focused on older adults.
  • Coordinating with Leadership team to update websites, E-News, and other communication tools with project related information.

Supervision of Project’s Systemic Advocacy Efforts:

• Identify systemic problems affecting older adults facing homelessness and other housing issues and work with our local, statewide, and national partners to develop creative solutions.

Required Education and Experience

• Juris Doctor
• Active member of the Pennsylvania Bar in good standing
• At least six (6) years of experience in legal services program of law office
• Experience in landlord-tenant or homeownership rights issues
• Previous experience supervising others.

Preferred Education and Experience

• Second language proficiency is preferred.
• Experience in landlord-tenant and homeownership rights issues
• Courtroom experience

Required Knowledge, Skills, Abilities & Behaviors

• Must be a motivated self-starter and be able to inspire other staff members to facilitate their career development.
• Must possess high quality advocacy and negotiating
• Highly professional, organized, energetic, flexible, and culturally
• Excellent writing, organizational, interpersonal and presentation skills
• Interest and ability to work with older people and people of all

Work Conditions

• This job operates in a professional office
• This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, and photocopiers.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job with or without accommodation. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to sit; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; talk or hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move objects up to ten pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

SeniorLAW Center is an equal opportunity employer, which values and seeks diversity and inclusion in all aspects of its work. People from diverse backgrounds and orientations are encouraged to apply. SeniorLAW Center prohibits discrimination based on age, race, national origin, color, religion, sexual orientation, disability, sex, gender, gender identity, or familial status.