ABOUT THE DIRECTOR OF LEGAL SERVICES POSITION:

The Director of Legal Services plans, directs, and leads the YWCA's Legal Services Program, which provides protection order and family law assistance to survivors of intimate partner violence, through legal advocacy and representation. This position ensures that program obligations are carried out in accordance with all required laws and contracts, and within best-practice parameters. Responsible for short and long-term planning and strategy, staff development department budget development, quality assurance, solicitation of program funding, and outcome and statistical reporting. The Director of Legal Services functions as part of the senior leadership team for the agency.

SCHEDULE/COMPENSATION:

• This is a full-time (40 hours per week), exempt, regular position. The schedule is Monday through Friday, with the majority of the work occurring during standard business hours


• This position has an annual salary of $92,330 and includes a full benefit package of paid time off (starting at 160 hours annually), sick leave (60 hours annually), eleven paid holidays, medical/dental/vison insurance (including options for 100% employer paid premium), access to our Employee Assistance Program, and after two years of employment, we start putting the equivalent of 10.5% of your wages into the YWCA Retirement Fund.

STATEMENT REGARDING COVID-19 VACCINATIONS:

As of January 1, 2022, all employees at YWCA Pierce County are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Being fully vaccinated means that an individual is at least two weeks past their final dose of an authorized COVID-19 vaccine regimen.

APPLICATION PROCESS:

Submit a cover letter and resume detailing how your qualifications meet those needed for this position via our career portal (https://ywcapiercecounty.applytojob.com/apply)

CLOSING DATE:

This position is open until filled.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Functions as a YWCA leader by actively promoting the YWCA’s mission, inspiring a shared vision, modeling YWCA’s ethics and values, encouraging others to be their best, embracing innovation, and looking forward toward the future of the YWCA.


• Sets and models standard for and monitors conduct of supervised programs to ensure that position competencies and YWCA policy, ethics, and values are fully implemented.


• Develops work plans and assigns priorities for staff in alignment with agency strategic plan.


• Actively participates in Directors’ Team, Leadership Team, staff meetings, and scheduled internal training.


• Ensures compliance with continuing education requirements for self and staff.


• Works with Human Resources and Program Manager to recruit, interview, hire, train, coach, support, discipline and evaluate program staff.


• Works with other Directors to measure and track strategic plan accomplishment and to forward the overall mission of the YWCA.


• Works with Operations staff to address facility issues in this department and department spaces.


• Supervises and supports Legal Services Program Manager, Attorney(s), and Paralegal(s). Provides Program Manager support in supervising Legal Advocates. Supports Program Manager and/or other staff in supervising volunteers or interns assigned to the department.


• Partners with supervised staff to address critical program issues, client conflicts or situations of a critical nature within the department.


• Oversees all operations, policies, and procedures of the YWCA Legal Services Program


• Oversees the planning, development, and implementation of all aspects of the Legal Services Program including advocacy program for survivors of domestic violence, direct representation of clients, facilitation of public events and educational programs


• Ensures that all Legal Services staff members follow legal and organizational procedures and applicable laws, give accurate information, and protect the confidentiality and well-being of clients


• Ensures that all Legal Services advocacy adheres to the principles of Advocacy Based Counseling (ABC) and Trauma-Informed Care according to agency standards


• Conducts continuous quality assurance and quality improvement efforts to ensure best practices


• Respectfully resolves client grievances and addresses client concerns


• Prepares department budget in conjunction with the Finance Director. Ensures that department revenue and expenses are aligned with annual operating budget; accurately tracks expenditures and authorizes expenditure requests for department within signing authority limits.


• Partners with YWCA Board of Directors as needed.


• Participates in strategic planning to determine goals and scope of YWCA Legal Services Program.


• Sustains and improves the reputation, accomplishments, and quality of services provided by program staff


• Collaborates with the CEO and other members of the Directors Team in furthering the overall goals and operations of the YWCA


• Works with department management to develop, update and implement department training for new staff and ongoing training needs according to WAC regulations.


• Provides general leadership in the community and with community partners when representing the YWCA. Works with community collaborations, coalitions, and/or other community groups and organizations to extend the programs and functions of the YWCA, and to increase awareness of the YWCA and its mission.


• Provides legal advocacy training to YWCA staff, community agencies, makes presentations at conferences, and/or participates in community legal clinics


• Supports the Program Manager in ensuring back-up for staffing shortfalls and needed services.

This is a general description of the responsibilities of this position, and it is not inclusive of all job duties; other associate duties may be assigned. Work situations are varied and require organization and prioritization. Position requires the ability to work independently. Internal contacts include all levels of staff and management. External contacts may include federal, state, and local public agencies and community organizations.

OTHER KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Models the YWCA mission of empowerment and social justice to staff and clients


• Ability to demonstrate leadership, vision, and a value for diversity


• Ability to build and maintain relationships with clients, staff, volunteers, and community members and partners


• Strong communication skills with the ability to listen actively and respond in a timely, competent manner


• Strong ability to problem-solve and adapt to change needs and growth


• Ability to create short- and long-term vision for program


• Ability to make sound, ethical decisions


• Ability to work independently, take initiative, and willingly accept responsibility


• Ability to apply reasonable standards of safety and recognize and correct unsafe situations


• Commitment to work effectively with diverse people


• Commitment and ability to work with survivors of trauma, domestic violence, sexual assault, and demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the impacts of trauma


• Ability to provide excellent customer service


• Ability to explain complex concepts in a simple and straightforward way


• Detail oriented with a high level of accuracy


• Ability to write plans, reports, and letters


• Proficiency in Microsoft Office


• Ability to prioritize tasks and manage time


• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret complex documents


• Ability to respond effectively to sensitive inquiries or complaints


• Ability to make effective and persuasive speeches and presentations on controversial or complex topics to top management, public groups, and/or Boards of Directors


• Ability to work with mathematical concepts found in financial statements and budgets, computer-based client/case tracking programs, and fundamentals of outcome-based evaluation (OBE) tracking and reporting

REPORTS TO:

CEO

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Director of Legal Services supervises the Legal Services Program Manager, paralegal(s) and attorney(s) in the program and provides the manager support in supervising Legal Advocates. As a supervisor, this position is responsible for carrying out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s policies and applicable laws. These responsibilities include staff development, training, supervision, consultation, and performance evaluation. This position designs and develops the roles of the supervised staff and directs and redirects their work as needed. This position resolves staff conflicts and/or challenges as they arise.

REQUIRED EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree in law, public administration, or related field; preferred Masters’ degree or Juris Doctorate.


• Three to five years management-level experience in related non-profit, human services, or family law setting, including program development and staff supervision.


• Experience living or working in diverse communities.


• Expertise in Washington State Family Law preferred; OR


• Any comparable combination of education and experience.

OTHER QUALIFICATIONS:

• Must have ability to transport self within Pierce County. If that includes driving your own vehicle, then must possess current and valid Washington State Driver’s license and insurance.


• Acceptable criminal history record


• A minimum of fifty hours of training on domestic violence issues and advocacy within three years prior to taking position


• Fully vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus pursuant to position requirements and applicable law


• Completion of 30-hour Domestic Violence Victim Services training within first year of employment

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable people with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The work environment is typical of an office setting. The physical demands of the position are typical of an office position: computer work, phone calls, meetings, occasional presentations, and occasional travel.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or hear. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, and ability to adjust focus.

The noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate.

Some duties of this position may take place at the Pierce County Courthouse, located at 930 Tacoma Ave S, Tacoma WA. The courthouse is accessible in accordance with ADA requirements.

ABOUT YWCA PIERCE COUNTY:

In alignment with YWCA USA’s mission, YWCA Pierce County is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. YWCA Pierce County seeks to transform lives through safety, healing, and empowerment.

As an inclusionary nonprofit organization, YWCA Pierce County provides assistance to survivors of domestic violence and their children. All survivors are welcome regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity or expression, religion, or sexual orientation. Bilingual staff and interpretation services eliminate language barriers and ease transitions for all of our clients. In the last three years, YWCA has served an average of over 9,000 adults and children annually, who are seeking help due to domestic violence.

YWCA Pierce County is committed to eliminating racism by creating a community of social justice, which means we work for inclusion and equality for all people, regardless of race. We do that within our organization by educating staff, implementing inclusive policies and practices, and practicing nondiscrimination in our services. We do this in the community by promoting and supporting inclusion, equity, and social justice, and by partnering with other organizations who share those values and activities.

COMMITMENT TO EQUITY:

YWCA Pierce County is committed to enacting anti-racist policies, practices, and organizational structures aimed at dismantling white supremacy in all of its manifestations. We understand that racial inequities sit at the foundation of all forms of oppression and strive to build an intersectional, trauma-informed organizational culture and apply these lenses in the ways we interact with one another and deliver services to our clients and communities. We recognize that anti-racism is not an endpoint, but, rather, a continuous and iterative practice that requires individual, collective, and organizational learning, accountability, and action.

YWCA Pierce County is an equal opportunity employer that honors and values diversity and does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity or expression, religion, sexual orientation, or (dis)ability. We strongly encourage applications from Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, immigrants, refugees, people with (dis) abilities, gender queer and members of LGBTQI+ communities, as well as survivors and individuals from other underrepresented and historically marginalized communities

If you require alternative methods of application or other accommodations, please call (253) 272-4181 x226.