Director of Center for Social Justice

Job Location: Springfield, MA

Position Type: Full Time Staff

Education Level: JD

Salary Range: $120000.00 - $122000.00 Salary

Description

PURPOSE OF THIS POSITION:

To oversee and direct the Law School's Center for Social Justice (the Center), which provides a cohesive hub for the Law School's justice-related teaching, scholarship, and service to others. The Director will broaden social justice academic offerings through helping the law school administration to staff a seminar on social justice, develop and administer in-person and virtual experiential learning pro bono opportunities for students, aid students aspiring to be social justice lawyers, imbue a culture of pro bono volunteerism, manage a variety of in-house pro bono projects, and work closely with community organizations and partners to identify and address unmet needs that require a multi-dimensional response cutting across law and other fields. In addition, the Director shall ensure the continued pursuit of a preeminent Center for Social Justice-locally, regionally, and nationally-that works to understand and address the root causes of social injustice and develop innovative, human-centered solutions for change.

The Director will elevate and expand the Center's work by drawing on the commitment and talent of participating School of Law faculty and administrators, as well as collaborating with others at Western New England University, community organizations, and external partners. The Director oversees the pursuit of
social justice in all that the Center does through advancing equitable economic, political and social rights and opportunities, while focusing on historically underserved communities and centering human dignity and experience. Recognizing the intersected nature of many social justice issues, the Director embraces a holistic approach to the substantive focus areas of the Center's client-centered and community work, which include: Access to Justice and Technology; Racial and Restorative Justice; Diversity, Equity & Inclusion; LGBTQ+ Rights; Economic Justice and Empowerment; and Immigrant, Civil and Human Rights.

The Director is responsible for working with the University and Law School Dean to Increase and diversify funding through management of Center fundraising and development efforts.

The Center is primarily grant-funded. An essential aspect of the Director's position is to work with the University and Law School Dean to Increase and diversify funding through management of the Center's fundraising and development efforts, thereby ensuring the Center's stability.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:

The Director will manage the Center's activities, including developing, implementing, and monitoring Center programs and/or services across the five Center pillars of research, advocacy, education, innovation, and public engagement. The Director will collaborate regularly with stakeholders internal and external to the University to advance this work.

Specifically, the Director will oversee the Center's operations with respect to:

• Research: identify, study, and unveil root causes of systemic social injustice and design actionable, client-centered solutions.
• Education: leverage the nationally recognized scholarship of our faculty to enrich educational and practical training opportunities.
• Advocacy: identify and address unmet legal needs in our community and develop multidimensional, holistic approaches to local, national, and global social justice issues.
• Innovation: commit to innovation and work toward creative solutions in areas such as consumer rights and the intersection of law and technology; and
• Public Engagement: facilitate critical discourse in academic and community circles and provide Know Your Right information to the public.

The Director will also support the School of Law's efforts to diversify the legal profession through supporting the practical skills training of law students involved in pro bono services and fellowships offered by the Center.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

• Provide leadership and be responsible for the Center's operations.
• Supervise the Center's Staff Attorney(s), Administrative Paralegal, other employees, and student externs, interns, fellows, and volunteers.
• Assist the law school administration to staff a seminar on social justice (e.g. Access to Justice).
• Develop and provide experiential learning opportunities for law students, including part-time students enrolled in the law school's J.D. Online program.
• Work with Advancement and consultants to Increase and diversify funding through management of Center's fundraising and development efforts.
• Comply with all grant reporting obligations and data tracking to support same.
• Collaborate with diverse stakeholders, including faculty and administrators from the School of Law and Western New England University, as well as community organizations and other partners to identify and address unmet legal needs and engage in interdisciplinary projects related to social justice.
• Develop and execute the Center's strategic plan to determine how best to drive the Center's mission and goals forward.
• Establish priorities for the Center each year, including programming, student involvement, faculty support, and community engagement.
• Serve as the Center's primary ambassador, representing the Center in the Western New England University and School of Law communities, as well as in local and national communities, while strengthening School of Law partnerships and alliances.
• Ensure that the resources of the Center are managed effectively and be responsible for the fiscal health of the Center. Collaborate with the Dean of the School of Law on developing and refining the Center's annual budget. Monitor revenues and expenses, supervise financial controls, and ensure compliance with all grant requirements.
• Track Center progress and measure success.
• Manage the Center's communications activities, including development of an annual report, website, and newsletters.
• Stay current with legal, social, and legislative issues relevant to the Center and participate in activities related to same.
• Create and work closely with an advisory board comprised of at least one faculty, student, and community member, as well as other diverse stakeholders who will support the Center's work.
• Other relevant duties, as assigned.

Qualifications

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITIES:

• A demonstrated commitment to social justice and ability to work with individuals and groups of diverse backgrounds.
• Understanding of basic financial accounting, budgeting, and grants/fundraising/development.
• Experience building networks and coalitions; ability to collaborate with others.
• A demonstrated ability to meet goals and make deadlines.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (written and oral).
• Ability to work independently and organize time.
• Knowledge of basic word processing, email, and data management systems; familiarity with computers.
• Experience developing and implementing strategic plans.

QUALIFICATION STANDARDS:

• Experience in nonprofit or higher educational program management.
• A J.D. from an A.B.A. accredited law school.
• Admission to at least one state bar is highly preferred. Admission in MA a plus.
• At least 5 years' experience practicing law with experience as a supervisor preferred.
• Grant writing and development experience.

Excellent benefits including healthcare, paid time off, tuition remission for employee, spouse, and dependent children.

Western New England University (WNE) is a private, nationally ranked, comprehensive institution with a focus on preparing work-ready and world-ready graduates. Founded in 1919 in Springfield, Massachusetts as a division of Northeastern College, WNE's 215-acre suburban campus serves more than 3,700 students, including over 2,500 full-time undergraduates. More than 47,000 alumni have earned degrees through its 90+ undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs at Colleges of Arts and Sciences, Business, Engineering, and Pharmacy and Health Sciences, and School of Law. Students come from 39 U.S. states and territories and 23 countries. Of 45,104 living alumni, 30% remain within the region, residing in the four Western Massachusetts counties and northern Connecticut.

WNE is classified among nationally ranked universities in US News and World Report, and among the Top 100 Undergraduate Engineering programs, and in the Doctoral/Professional Universities category in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.

Western New England University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We welcome candidates whose background may contribute to the further diversification of our community.

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