Program Director/Sr. Supervising Attorney, Community & Economic Development

Company Overview:

Since 1968, Brooklyn A has provided free legal services for low- and moderate-income individuals and families throughout New York City.  Our clients live in rapidly gentrifying neighborhoods where many residents and small business owners have been displaced or are facing displacement and harassment. For over half a century, Brooklyn A has provided high-quality, low-barrier neighborhood-based legal services to individuals, families, nonprofit community-based organizations, community development corporations, coalitions, and small business owners, interested in developing and sustaining vibrant, healthy communities.   Brooklyn A has three core departments —Preserving Affordable Housing (PAH), Consumer & Economic Advocacy (CEA), and Community & Economic Development (CED)—each of which has unique initiatives and plays a vital community role to ensure basic needs are met and fundamental rights affirmed.

Position Summary:

The Program Director/Sr. Supervising Attorney is responsible for the overall management and supervision of the CED Program and will represent the CED Program to the broader Brooklyn A, its funders, community partners, the media, and the general public. Reporting to the Chief Legal Officer, they will work with, train, and supervise program staff (attorneys/non-attorneys) in addition to providing legal services and to ensure that our clients receive high-quality legal representation.  The Director will identify program priorities and develop the team's ability to address the needs of clients and the communities holistically and responsively. They will supervise the general reporting and compliance of funding contracts, supervise the management of data collection and coordinate with and provide information/assistance to the development team, as necessary.

The Community & Economic Development Program provides transactional legal counsel to nonprofits and small businesses that sustain and empower low-income communities. We assist these organizations with an array of development and operational projects to sustain affordable housing developments, community health centers, and schools. We help small businesses on commercial lease matters.

The Director will primarily be responsible for:

• Coaching and supervising program attorneys and paralegals to monitor legal work, including development of legal strategies, caseload management and case management practices, to ensure clients receive high level services;
• Managing the execution of the Small Business Services (SBS) Commercial Lease Assistance (CLA) program, learning, navigating and effectively communicating SBS procedures to the team;
• Supervising program’s community legal education efforts, and similar activities that promote and expand program access to the communities we serve;
• Ensuring that program’s services are reaching those who need it and are as client-friendly and accessible as possible, including call-ins, clinics, walk-ins, and other intake opportunities;
• Creating and managing program budget and regularly review incoming revenue streams against expenses in coordination the Executive Director and CFO;
• Drafting and coordinating the preparation of CED Program narrative materials when requested by development staff (i.e., grant reporting and proposals, website content, annual impact report, social media and constant contact highlights);
• Ensuring projects comply with grant requirements and new grants are carefully vetted and coordinated with Development, Finance and Executive Director;
• Representing the organization at various meetings with funders, elected officials and government agencies and other stakeholders;
• Developing and managing pro bono partnerships with other legal firms and manage externship program;
• Develop and implement staff trainings and materials related legal topics for CLEs in partnership with the CLO and collaborate closely with the CLO to design and execute comprehensive training programs and practice materials for continuing legal education and staff development; and
• Other related duties as assigned.

A successful candidate will have:

• Admission to the bar of the State of New York or eligible for admission;
• Minimum 8 years' experience in applicable transactional law practice and in representing nonprofit CBOs, CDCs, small businesses and community coalitions and/or working with clients in the nonprofit sector, low-income communities, community organizations, and/or coalitions;
• Significant supervisory experience leading a team and meeting deliverables and complying with public and private contracts and grants;
• Experience with speaking and writing about CED legal advocacy (i.e., communicating with stakeholders and allies, such as elected officials, networks, bar association committees, law students, and pro bono partners; published articles in law journals and trade-related publications, project narrative writing for grant proposals and funding reports).

• Demonstrated ability to interact with client/tenants of different races, ethnicities, ages, and sexual orientations in a multicultural environment and a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion;
• Excellent legal writing, transactional, advocacy skills in English, second language preferred;
• Proficiency with MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint and other standard data management systems required, related certifications a plus;
• Strong reporting and recordkeeping skills, including the ability to synthesize lots of quantifiable and qualitative data into clear, plain language and readable charts and checklists;
• Ability to work independently with strong motivation, to manage a high caseload, track case data, meet deadlines, and to be flexible;
• Dependability, good time management and organizational skills and be attentive to detail;
• Thorough commitment to Brooklyn A’s mission.

Compensation & Benefits

Annual salary is $160,000. Great benefits package such as, employer paid health insurance; 27 days annual vacation, employer 4% contribution to 401(k); and paid parental leave. This is a hybrid in-office/remote work position. 

To Apply

If you are interested in this position, you must submit your resume and a cover letter telling us why your experiences would make you a good fit for this role. This position is hybrid in-office/remote work position.

Brooklyn A is a diverse team that is committed to recruiting, supporting, retaining, and promoting talented staff with diverse backgrounds and experiences that share the organization's commitment to racial, economic and social justice. At Brooklyn A, diversity encompasses a variety of characteristics, lifestyles, and perspectives, including race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, education, disability, socio-economic status, and family status. We firmly believe that a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment is essential to both the quality of our client services and the personal satisfaction of our staff. 

We encourage applicants of diverse backgrounds to apply, including women, people of color, immigrants, people with disabilities, LGBTQ people, people from low-income backgrounds, and with lived experiences in the communities we serve.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, age, physical disability, or length of time spent unemployed.