Story Project Coordinator (Part-Time, Temporary 11/2027 - 10/2028)

Health & Welfare Programs 

Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, Inc. (LSEM), a nonprofit law firm providing free legal assistance to people living with low income and groups serving disadvantaged communities, seeks a part-time, temporary Story Project Coordinator to work 20 hours per week on a one-year project from November 2027 through October 2028.

LSEM will launch a new project documenting the impact of HR1, also called the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. HR1 makes many changes to safety net programs like Medicaid and SNAP, which we expect to result in increased food insecurity and reduced health insurance coverage for our community. The Story Project Coordinator will work across all of the programs within Health & Welfare.

The Project’s goal is to document and amplify the impacts of HR1 through data collection and personal testimonies. This information will be gathered via multiple modalities, including: a public-facing survey on the LSEM website, the experiences of LSEM’s current clients, service providers in our network who are seeing the on-the-ground impact, and community events like resource fairs.

Responsibilities 

· Plan and manage the story collection project including survey design and distribution;

· Organize the data into categories including demographics, geographic location, benefits impacted, etc.

· Engage in qualitative coding of data so it can be used for meaningful narrative;

· Decide which partner organizations, events, and outreach channels to prioritize;

· Reach out to individuals interested in sharing their experiences, listen and help put their stories into words for the HR1 impact project;

· Design a system for reviewing LSEM’s internal clients for potential follow-up;

· Build and maintain relationships with partner organizations and Cover Missouri Coalition members;

· Assist in community education, information fairs, and outreach clinics;

· Work collaboratively with community partners and other legal aid organizations to publicize the story collection project and identify individuals interested in sharing their experiences; 

· Perform other related duties as required.

· Experience with qualitative data research, either through employment, education (bachelor’s degree in anthropology, sociology, social work, or similar), or a combination; 

· Knowledge of different methodologies of qualitative coding preferred;

· One to two years of experience conducting interviews or listening-based intake with people in difficult circumstances, such as casework, social work, community health work, or oral history preferred;

· Demonstrated commitment to public interest work or to legal services for the poor strongly preferred;

· Self-starter who can set priorities, plan, and meet deadlines with minimal supervision;

· Fluency in written and spoken Spanish strongly preferred;

· Ability to relate well and work with low-income clients and collaborate with diverse community stakeholders;

· Understanding of Medicare, Medicaid, and SNAP, or the ability to learn the basic HR1 changes quickly and explain them accurately;

· Strong communication skills, work ethic, flexibility, and teamwork;

· Strong writing ability;

· Strong organizational skills and attention to detail;

· Knowledgeable in Microsoft Office;

· Familiarity with case management software preferred;

· Ability to travel locally to events and partner sites, including occasional evenings and weekends;

· Open to creative and innovative ways of fulfilling the legal aid mission.

What we do
LSEM advances justice through legal representation, education, and supportive services. We partner with the community to improve lives, promote fairness, and create opportunities for those in need. Since 1956, LSEM has provided high-quality civil legal assistance and equal access to justice for low-income people in 21 counties in Missouri. We accomplish our mission through systemic advocacy/impact litigation and individual case work in a wide range of substantive civil areas which are in our priorities, e.g., family law for victims of domestic violence, prevention of homelessness/housing, health, public benefits, consumer, education, disability, community economic development, and immigration. As part of our community education/outreach efforts, LSEM works with over 150 agencies and participates in over 35 task forces/coalitions and has a vibrant Volunteer Lawyers Program.

Who we are

At Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, we embrace a culture that celebrates and promotes the many backgrounds, heritages, and perspectives of our colleagues and clients. We seek to hire individuals from a variety of backgrounds, who are professional, collaborative, and creative thinkers with a passion for our mission, and create an environment where everyone can thrive. We strongly encourage applications from all qualified individuals and will make employment decisions based on merit.

How to Apply

Upload your resume and cover letter through our online application. Applications without a cover letter will not be considered.

Salary & Benefits Information

The pay range for this position is $24.28 - $36.39 per hour. The specific pay rate offered to a candidate will be determined by years of relevant experience. This temporary position is not eligible for benefits.

Submission Deadline 

Applications will be considered until the position is filled.

Equal access to Legal Services of Eastern Missouri’s office is available. Those applicants requiring accommodation to the interview/application process should contact Human Resources at the e-mail HR@lsem.org. Legal Services of Eastern Missouri is an equal opportunity employer.

Notice of AI Use in Job Application Review

As part of our commitment in creating a fair, efficient, and consistent hiring process we may use artificial intelligence (AI) to help our recruiting teams organize, summarize, and analyze information provided by candidates, including resumes, application responses, and other materials submitted during the application process.AI may be used to identify patterns, highlight relevant skills, and experience, and assist in comparing a candidate’s qualifications with the requirement of a specific role. These tools are to improve efficiency and consistency while supporting more informed hiring decisions, which will ultimately be made by the hiring team.