Deputy Director, Legal Services Fund

Building Services 32BJ Benefit Funds (“the Funds”) is the umbrella organization responsible for administering Health, Pension, Retirement Savings, Training, and Legal Services benefits to over 185,000 SEIU 32BJ members. Our mission is to make significant contributions to the lives of our members by providing high quality benefits and services. Through our commitment, we embody five core values: Flexibility, Initiative, Respect, Sustainability, and Teamwork (FIRST). By following our core values, employees are open to different and new ways of doing things, take active steps to improve the organization, create an environment of trust and respect, approach their work with the intent of a positive outcome, and work collaboratively with colleagues.

The Funds oversees and manages $9 billion of dollars in assets, which are made up of many, varied and complex funds. The dollars come from a number of sources, including the property owners who pay into the funds on behalf of their employees, and as such, requires those who oversee and manage the money to be highly skilled financial management people.

32BJ Benefit Funds will continue to drive innovation, equity, and technology insights to further help the lives of our hard-working members and their families. We use cutting edge technology such as: M365, Dynamics 365 CRM, Dynamics 365 F&O, Azure, AWS, SQL, Snowflake, QlikView, and more.

Please take a moment to watch our video to learn more about our culture and contributions to our members: youtu.be/hYNdMGLn19A

The Building Service 32BJ Legal Services Fund provides legal representation to over 185,000 Local 32BJ members and their dependents and to covered retirees and their spouses. The Legal Fund also administers the 32BJ North Legal Services Fund covering members working in the Bronx and the service trades. We seek an attorney with proven leadership skills to take on the pivotal role of Deputy Director. In this position, you will help spearhead all aspects of our legal services and programs, managing operations, strategizing with leadership, and guiding our committed team of advocates.

1. Ensure legal services meet high professional standards of quality, ethics, and accessibility.

1. Assist the Director in day-to-day operations and management of the Fund across covered states.

1. Collaborate closely with the Director on strategic planning for the Fund, helping set short-term and long-term goals, identifying emerging legal needs, and developing new access to justice initiatives.

1. Directly oversee operations, immigration, criminal intake and civil teams, guiding strategy and operations. Provide backup supervision to other departments.

1. Monitor and approve expenses for department programming and make any necessary budget adjustments; work with assigned staff to facilitate prompt and accurate tracking, invoicing, claims, forecasting and budgeting; maintenance of the firm's IOLA account(s) according to state bar association guidelines; ensure compliance with all rules and reporting requirements.

1. Lead strategic planning meetings with the legal management team to align on objectives, surface challenges, and measure progress.

1. Provide direct supervision, mentoring, and professional development support to Supervising Attorneys and direct reports; ensure they have resources and guidance needed to effectively manage their teams.

1. Proactively identify opportunities for improvement through management reportioning analysis; implement process changes to increase efficiency.

1. Oversee hiring process and provide mentoring to staff; promote an inclusive and collaborative work culture.

1. Utilize regular one-on-ones and team meetings to provide clarity around priorities, give developmental feedback, and boost staff engagement.

1. Leverage expertise in legal practice areas to elevate our services.

1. Research and address complex and novel legal issues facing our members; prepare and review appeal letters, including research of complex legal issues.

1. Manage and expand our network of participating attorneys.

1. Travel to states where members live and/or work to attend meetings on behalf of the Legal Fund and to meet with participating attorneys or other vendors.

1. Help safeguard and maximize the Fund's annual budget and promote fiscal responsibility.

1. Develop relationships with community partners, legal organizations, Board, and Union leadership to align on objectives.

1. Monitor performance metrics and identify opportunities to improve efficiency and service delivery.

1. Manage and oversee projects of all sizes and scopes for the Legal Services Fund. Provide leadership and direction to ensure effective planning, coordination, and on-time delivery of project outcomes.

1. Research and stay up-to-date on laws, regulations, and issues related to the focus areas of the Legal Services Fund; develop seminar materials such as slide decks, handouts, activities, and evaluations; promote seminars to target audiences through marketing materials and outreach; facilitate seminars by delivering presentations, lea ding discussions, and answering questions from attendees.

1. Partner with Fund's communication department to increase the volume and effectiveness of our external communications such as social media.

1. The work schedule is Monday-Friday, 9:00AM - 5:00PM onsite with occasional evening and weekend work.

Juris Doctor from an accredited law school.

Proficiency in languages other than English is desirable but not required.

Licensed to practice law in New York and in good standing.

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. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals to perform the essential functions.

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 individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.