The Legal Aid Society, the nation's largest and oldest public defense, and civil legal service provider, exists for one simple yet powerful reason: to ensure that no one is denied the right to equal justice because of poverty. For 150 years, we have protected, defended, and advocated for those who have struggled in silence for far too long - working on the front lines and behind the scenes to offer the people we serve the exceptional legal services they deserve. Through our Civil, Criminal Defense, and Juvenile Rights Practices, we offer an unmatched depth and breadth of legal expertise to vulnerable New Yorkers.

The 2,400+ active and inactive staff who directly represent the communities and people we serve, advocate, and litigate for systemic reform, and provide the administrative infrastructure for our organization are key to our success and ability to meet our mission. To ensure that we continuously provide a diverse, inclusive, and affirming workplace for our staff and to extend the same to our volunteers and clients, we are seeking a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Senior Program Manager.

Directly reporting to the Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer (CDO) the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Senior Program Manager will bring a deep understanding of DEI practices and principles and experience in program development and implementation. The candidate will be an exceptional communicator and a facilitator who can execute the road map for achieving our DEI vision. The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Senior Program Manager will work in close partnership with The Legal Aid Society's management and staff members across the entire organization, to promote and advance DEI at every level.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategizing and Policy Development:

Working alongside the CDO to manage the strategic priorities of DEI and collaborate with staff and leadership on the implementation and impact of various programs, initiative, and activations
Crafting and implementing DEI strategies and policies aligned with organizational goals
Collaborating with leadership to integrate DEI principles into all aspects of the organization
Provide support for the implementation and rollout of diversity and inclusion policies and related programs or initiatives across offices and departments

Training and Education:

Developing and delivering workshops or trainings on DEI topics
Increasing awareness and understanding of unconscious bias, equity, and inclusive communication
Collaborate with unions, HR teams, and other stakeholders to integrate DEI principles into hiring, retention, and professional development workstreams

Program Implementation:

Leading initiatives including workshops and forums
Facilitating organization wide heritage month recognition, activation, and special events
Working in collaboration with the larger DEI team on ideation and annual planning
Monitoring the progress and outcomes of DEI programs and adjusting strategies as needed

Data Analysis and Reporting:

Assessing data related to diversity metrics, employee feedback, and impact of various DEI initiatives
Reporting progress and challenges to stakeholders, highlighting areas for improvement and working with stakeholders to implement recommendations
In collaboration with the HR data team, analyze DEI-related metrics, and provide reports on progress, challenges, and opportunities.

Operations

Facilitate project reviews, and feedback analysis in coordination with other DEI program managers and stakeholders
Serving as a resource for recommended programming, activations, and project planning

Advocacy and Leadership:

Acting as a point of contact and champion for DEI initiatives
Building partnerships with community organizations to enhance diversity outreach

QUALIFICATIONS

Required qualifications:

Bachelor's degree and at least five years of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of post-secondary education and relevant work experience

Preferred qualifications:

Experience with building learning and development systems and initiatives that support and advance DEI values and principles
Experience working in a unionized workplace is preferred
Nonprofit experience and experience working across departments at a large, complex organization

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Position Based Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Demonstrated commitment and passion for diversity, equity, and inclusion issues through research, activism, or project development
Highly collaborative and team-oriented, with the ability to build relationships with all levels of leadership, technical and business resources
Solid presentation, verbal, and written communication skills
Problem-solving skills with the ability to identify, quantify, interpret, and report statistical data for presentations to make recommendations that support DEI strategy
Proactive, innovative, organized, and able to yield outcomes quickly
Strong program, project, and change management experience/skills
Ability to handle confidential materials
A track record of extensive leadership in advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion, including race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and disability
Knowledge of core diversity concepts including power and privilege, emotional intelligence, and implicit bias
Significant knowledge about current trends, issues, and policies about equity, diversity, and inclusion
Advanced communication skills to communicate information clearly and effectively to diverse internal and external audiences, client groups and all levels of management
Comprehensive understanding of oppression in the United States and the ways in which systemic discrimination has marginalized certain populations
Willingness and comfort to engage with staff at all levels to help build an inclusive, equitable culture
Excellent interpersonal, communications, critical thinking, and organizational skills
The ability to build trusting, productive relationships with a wide range of stakeholders

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

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: $100,000 - $120,000

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.

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The Legal Aid Society

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Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Senior Program Manager