| Job Title | Legal Program Director |
| Type of Position | Permanent Full Time Director position 38 hours per week |
| Salary & Benefits | $24.00/hour + annual seniority increases according to Labour and Compensation policy 3 weeks vacation in the first year, 4 in subsequent years 20 paid health days Group health insurance plan, after 3 months of employment |
| Location | Candidates must be able to work in-person at the Head & Hands office (3465 Benny Ave.) |
Mission
Head & Hands envisions a society where all youth are participants and are inspired by the endless possibilities available to them. Our mission is to work with youth to promote their physical and mental well being. Our approach is preventative, non-judgmental, and holistic with a fundamental commitment to providing an environment that welcomes youth without discrimination. We facilitate social change and the empowerment of youth based on their current needs within our community and society at large.
About Head & Hands
Head & Hands currently operates in a flattened hierarchy model, with Program Directors operating as the main decision-making body, with strong encouragement to consult and collaborate with all staff within programs and within the organization.
As an organization that works to facilitate social change and the empowerment of diverse communities of youth, Head & Hands recognizes that experiencing marginalization and oppression presents challenges, but also informs valuable skills and perspectives.
We strongly encourage BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Colour), people with disabilities, women, Two-Spirit and queer people, trans people, and other candidates who experience marginalization to apply to this position and to self-identify when you apply. We are committed to creating a workplace as diverse as the communities we serve, and to supporting our staff with ongoing career development opportunities.
Transparency Statement
To all prospective applicants, we want to be transparent and recognize that our work environment is directly impacted by all forms of oppression and that we as an employer replicate inequities in our workplace, which have shown up as misogynoir and other types of harm in the course of the organization’s past and present.
We are committed to fostering an inclusive and equitable work environment for all our employees. While we are working to address these issues on a structural and cultural level, there is still progress to be made. We value transparency and are open to constructive discussions with candidates about our ongoing efforts and the actions we are taking to improve working conditions in a meaningful and sustainable way.
About the Legal Program Director position
The legal clinic has been a core part of Head & Hands’ services since the 1970’s. The Legal Program Director is responsible for ensuring the comprehensive delivery of all legal services, including a weekly legal clinic, monthly educational workshops, and ongoing community partnerships. We are looking for someone with strong leadership skills, an evolving understanding of power and privilege, and a keen interest in community-based legal initiatives.
The Legal Program Director will be expected to supervise 1-2 legal program staff and oversee a team of 10 volunteer lawyers. The position is co-supervised by the Executive Director and by a collective of other program directors. They are also required to have an external supervisor (paid for by Head & Heads).
Job Responsibilities
General Legal Program
- Lead the development of the overall vision and direction for the program
- Oversee all legal services and ensure programming is in line with Head & Hands’ values and strategic plan
- Improve on and create internal protocols and systems with a particular focus on equitable service delivery, data privacy, and continuous program improvement.
Administrative & Collective Work
- Develop and oversee the yearly legal program budget. Responsible for keeping track of program spending and expenses (in collaboration with the Director of Finance)
- Assist with program grant applications and reporting (in collaboration with the Director of Funding Development)
- Lead the hiring, onboarding, and offboarding of legal program staff and volunteers (in collaboration with the Human Resources Director)
- Supervise and provide ongoing support to legal program staff. This includes conducting monthly supervision meetings, overseeing staff workload and wellbeing, and supporting supervisees in meeting their professional development goals
- Attend weekly all-staff meetings and monthly all-Director meetings
Client Work
- Ensure the successful operations of the weekly legal clinic (in collaboration with the legal program staff)
- Provide resources and support for the handling of exceptional client cases while ensuring proper escalation and problem-solving of any client issues or complaints
- Collaborate with other program directors to facilitate internal client referrals
- Assist with the processing of applications and administering of funding for the Discretionary Legal Fund for Youth
Community Initiatives
- Assist with scheduling and co-facilitating legal workshops
- Oversee the ongoing development of workshop content and ensure new staff and volunteers are well trained to co-facilitate workshops
- Manage media and public-speaking requests
- Assist with compiling information for program newsletters and social media content
- Develop and strengthen partnerships with other community organizations, grassroots groups, and legal professionals
The Ideal Candidate
Requirements
- Ability to provide services in both English and French
- A demonstrated commitment to harm reduction and anti-oppression principles
- Experience working with youth, and knowledge of the legal issues impacting them
- Experience leading and supervising a team
- Experience and interest in any of the following: community-based legal services, transformative and/or restorative justice practices, movement lawyering, community organizing. We welcome any combination of lived, professional, educational, and community experience.
- Strong communication and project management skills
Assets
- Experience in working in a community organization and/or non-profit
- Experience working in a collective structure
- Workshop facilitation skills
- Connections to NDG and surrounding communities
Application Process
Please apply by submitting your CV and cover letter to the attention of the Legal Program Director at legaloutreach@headandhands.ca. Please include “Legal Program Director” in the subject line. Applications can also be submitted in person at 3465 Benny ave. Guidelines for preparing your CV and cover letter are available on our website. The application can be in English or French.
Applications are due on November 5th, 2023 at 11:59PM . All candidates will be sent a confirmation that their application was received, but only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted further. We are aiming to hold interviews for this position during the week of November 13th with an anticipated start date of November 27th.
For any questions or requests for accommodation throughout the application process, please email legaloutreach@headandhands.ca or call/text 514-237-8445.