This position works primarily in Skokie, Illinois.

The Legal Advocacy Services Manager is part of the domestic violence department leadership team and plays a key role in developing programs, operational systems, and processes that support innovative and effective legal advocacy services for survivors of domestic violence and their children. The position is responsible for developing and implementing program strategies that align with department goals, management of daily activities, and solicits and offers input on and contributes recommendations for agency policies, and department priorities, and procedures. The manager is a motivated self-starter who embraces the opportunity to build innovative, best-practice programming, acts as a catalyst for change, and influences others to translate vision into action. The Manager contributes to the comprehensive array of supports provided by YWCA Evanston/North Shore with a deep commitment to creating a warm, welcoming, and trauma-informed space for all. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Service Management & Delivery (45%)

• In collaboration with program leadership and input from direct reports, develops long-term and annual plans that identify growth goals and outcomes that ensure continuous quality improvement in legal advocacy services and client experience.
• Assists in the review and updating of program and client policies and procedures and related documentation.
• Represents and advocates for YWCA Evanston/North Shore at the Municipal District #2 Courthouse and maintains productive relationships with key courthouse personnel.
• Oversees and coordinates the delivery of residential-based legal advocacy services and information groups and maintains regular communication with relevant staff to address issues of concern.
• Assists survivors of domestic violence with obtaining orders of protection and accompanies them to the court. Speaks with respondents or those who cause harm in court, when necessary, to advocate on behalf of client.
• Maintains a roster of legal service partners and actively cultivates relationships with providers to assist clients in accessing additional legal services.
• Provides safety planning and information and referrals to clients for legal and other relevant services.
• Provides follow-up services to clients of the legal advocacy program on a consistent basis.
• Advocates with law enforcement officials on behalf of clients in the program
• Works as an integral member of the domestic violence services team, including regular attendance at weekly case review meetings representing the needs and interests of the legal advocacy program.
• Oversees timely and accurate input of intakes and service deliveries into Salesforce for all clients.

Supervision (25%)

• Develops, motivates, and maintains a highly functioning team that demonstrates positive morale and adheres to high standards of service delivery.
• Hires a diverse staff in accordance with agency policies and procedures and submits timely, accurate, and completed hiring paperwork.
• Ensures new hires are on-boarded in accordance with agency policies and procedures including, but not limited to, developing, reviewing, and submitting new-hire work plans for those working 20 hours or more per week, and training on agency operations, policies, procedures, and job responsibilities.
• Oversees the workflow and productivity of staff including, but not limited to, maintaining accurate work schedules, reviewing, and approving timesheets and activity reports in a timely manner, setting and regularly reviewing professional goals, expectations, and accomplishments.
• Develops staff capacity and morale by providing regular supervision and effective coaching including but not limited to meeting individually with staff working 20 hours or more a week at least twice a month and providing consistent and timely feedback to those working less than 20 hours a week as determined by performance needs, recognizing, and recording staff accomplishments and disciplinary issues.
• Ensures all staff who are regularly scheduled to work 20 or more hours a week receive a timely annual appraisal within 2 months of their anniversary date.
• Maintains current knowledge of best practices in the field and oversees ongoing professional development and required certification of all staff ensuring a commitment to high quality, innovative service delivery. Schedules trainings and maintains attendance and completion documentation.
• Stays current with agency technology and its proper usage including, but not limited to, taking the initiative to seek out personal training opportunities, training direct reports on proper usage, and ensuring staff maximize their efficiency with the use of available technology.
• Ensures timely, thorough, and effective organizational communication so staff feel informed and aware of organizational policies, practices, and procedures, and growth. Effectively advocates for staff by regularly soliciting staff input and representing staff needs and interests to the department director.
• Ensures all staff understand and adhere to all policies in the Employee Handbook

Continuous Quality Improvement (15%)

• Assists in the development and manages the implementation of a comprehensive program evaluation process soliciting client feedback and regularly reporting data to staff for review and program improvement discussions; attends quality improvement meetings to report on planning and outcomes of legal advocacy services program. 
• Manages the timely completion and submission of all reporting and record keeping and implements an ongoing online file audit process to ensure compliance with internal quality assurance and funder guidelines.

Outreach & Education (10%)

• Represents and speaks about the services of the organization to community organizations.
• Participates in a variety of coalitions and committees to form collaborative responses to domestic violence.
• Assists in developing a targeted outreach plan to enhance familiarity with YWCA domestic violence services to increase usage of services.
• Assists in updating legal advocacy services public materials.
• Strengthens and maintains the legal advocacy program volunteer force; establishes a volunteer recruitment plan specific to the program in collaboration with the program director and volunteer coordinator.
• Participates as a trainer in delivering domestic violence training including but not limited to the state required 40-hour domestic violence training program and other community-based training on domestic violence.

ADDITIONAL DUTIES (5%)

•  Assist in developing department budget.
•  Contributes to grant writing and reporting as requested.
•  Attends staff trainings and participates in agency committees.
•  Pursues professional development.
•  Understands and adheres to all YWCA Evanston/North Shore procedures and policies as well as YWCA Employee Handbook.
•  Performs other duties as assigned by management.

An individual in this position must be able to successfully perform the essential duties and responsibilities listed above. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

The above list reflects the general details necessary to describe the principle and essential functions of the position and shall not be construed as the only duties that may be assigned for the position.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: High School Diploma or equivalent

Experience and/or Training:

•  Minimum of five years’ experience delivering trauma-informed legal advocacy services to domestic violence survivors in a courthouse setting.

Licenses/Certificates:

•  Illinois 40-Hour Domestic Violence Training Certificate
•  Acquisition of the Certified Domestic Violence Professional credential within 12 months of employment
•  First Aid/CPR within 6 months of employment

Technology/Equipment:

•  Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Bachelor’s degree in sociology, counseling, criminal justice, or related field.

Experience and/or Training:

•  Minimum of two years of supervisory experience.
•  Experience delivering services in alignment with trauma-informed care principles and competencies.
•  Experience providing training on legal advocacy and domestic violence to individuals and institutional audiences.
•  Experience developing and implementing a program evaluation process that assesses growth and improvement areas.
•  Experience representing an organization while building and maintaining community partnerships.

Licenses/Certificates:

•  Illinois Certified Domestic Violence Professional license.
•  Valid driver’s license and proof of auto insurance

Language: Fluency in Spanish

Technology/Equipment:

•  Intermediate proficiency with virtual services technology.
•  Intermediate proficiency with online case management systems.
•  Intermediate proficiency in navigating court system databases.
•  Access to reliable, personal auto for business use.

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DEMANDS

Intermittent (less than 15%), Occasional (15-45%), Frequent (50-75%), and Continuous (over 75%).

•  Frequent travel between agency sites is expected.
•  Intermittent nights and/or weekends required for events or meetings.
•  Occasional local and intermittent statewide travel required.
•  Tolerance of prolonged and continuous stationary periods at a desk/computer
•  Occasionally required to stand, walk, climb stairs, reach with hands and arms, and reach above shoulders.
•  Occasionally required to push, pull, lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.
•  Must be able to move about the facility.
•  Must be able to operate controls for computers and other equipment.

The mental and physical requirements described here represent those that must be met by an individual to successfully perform the essential functions of this position.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT

•  This position works primarily at the District #2 Skokie Courthouse in both office and courtroom environments.
•  Employee may be required to share office space.
•  Employee may be required to work from home.
•  Employee will frequently have meetings or work in other buildings.

The work environment characteristics described here represent those an individual encounters while performing the essential functions of this position.

 *Note: YWCA is committed to pay range transparency. Candidates are offered compensation based on how their qualifications meet those of the position.

PM22