Director, Legal Services Fund

Job Code125Department NameLegal Fund AdminReports ToExecutive DirectorFLSA StatusExemptUnion CodeN/AManagementYesAbout Us:Building Services 32BJ Benefit Funds ("the Funds") is the umbrella organization responsible for administering Health, Pension, Retirement Savings, Training, and Legal Services benefits to over 185,000 SEIU 32BJ members. Our mission is to make significant contributions to the lives of our members by providing high quality benefits and services. Through our commitment, we embody five core values: Flexibility, Initiative, Respect, Sustainability, and Teamwork (FIRST). By following our core values, employees are open to different and new ways of doing things, take active steps to improve the organization, create an environment of trust and respect, approach their work with the intent of a positive outcome, and work collaboratively with colleagues.The Funds oversees and manages $11 billion of dollars in assets, which are made up of many, varied and complex funds. The dollars come from a number of sources, including the property owners who pay into the funds on behalf of their employees, and as such, requires those who oversee and manage the money to be highly skilled financial management people.32BJ Benefit Funds will continue to drive innovation, equity, and technology insights to further help the lives of our hard-working members and their families. We use cutting edge technology such as: M365, Dynamics 365 CRM, Dynamics 365 F&O, Azure, AWS, SQL, Snowflake, QlikView, and more.Please take a moment to watch our video to learn more about our culture and contributions to our members: youtu.be/hYNdMGLn19AJob Summary:The Building Service 32BJ Legal Services Fund supports a large, and geographically diverse membership base of approximately 100,000 active members annually. While not all eligible members access legal services each year, the Fund is responsible for ensuring access, coverage, and compliance for this population across multiple jurisdictions and areas of law. The Fund provides coverage across a broad range of legal matters, with Immigration matters representing the largest share of cases, followed by Matrimonial and Family Law matters. These legal services are provided by Staff Attorneys, who are directly employed by the Fund and primarily handle matters arising in New York City, and Cooperating Attorneys (CA), who are external counsel retained and paid by the Fund to handle cases outside New York City, matters involving conflict of interest, or cases requiring geographic reach beyond the Fund's in-house capacity. The Legal Services Fund is supported by a team of 58 professionals, consisting of 16 staff attorneys, 10 paralegals, 10 intake specialists, 4 legal assistants, 7 operations staff, and 11 management staff members.Reporting directly to the Executive Director, the Director, Legal Services Fund is responsible for the administration of the Building Service 32BJ Legal Services Fund, ensuring that the Fund provides high-quality legal services that meet the changing needs of the members while making the most efficient use of the funds available through bargaining. This role has enterprise-wide oversight responsibility for all Legal Fund activities, leadership, governance, legal policy, budgetary control, and escalation management for complex, novel legal matters. The Director, Legal Services Fund works across member-facing and operational departments to ensure appropriate utilization and effective delivery of Legal Fund benefits, and also serves as a strategic advocate for systemic improvements in the courts and legal oversight bodies - advancing reforms that enhance justice, streamline legal processes, and expand protections for Fund members.Essential Duties and Responsibilities:Strategic Leadership & GovernanceWorks with the Executive Director to develop the goals, mission and strategic direction of the FundReports to the Board of Trustees and the Executive Committee of the Board and implements the decisions of the BoardIdentifies opportunities for program expansion, pilot initiatives, or service redesign aligned with Fund resourcesWorks with Executive and Senior Staff of the Funds to promote the goals of the Benefit Funds as an organizationRepresents the Fund externally with unions, policymakers, community partners, and professional organizations as appropriateDrives modernization initiatives including technology upgrades, data and reporting enhancements, and improved data governance practicesDevelops and updates legal policies, operational guidelines, and compliance framework across internal and external service channels.Legal Oversight & Legal Standards ManagementEnsures that the quality of legal services meets industry standards and is in compliance with the rules of the Appellate Division as well as the Code of Professional ConductServes as attorney-of-record accountability point for the Appellate Division, including oversight of staff attorney licensing requirements and direct supervision of IOLA accounts and member escrow fundsProvides legal guidance and mentorship to supervisors, staff attorneys, and paralegals on substantive law, procedure, and state statutesEstablishes and maintains a Quality Assurance program to ensure that the Fund is operated efficiently and consistently to meet the needs of the members and to keep up with changes in the lawPersonally handle all complex Criminal matters and oversee Cooperating Attorney case processingMaintain expertise in all cases handled by FundAccountable for all Legal Fund matters across jurisdictions, ensure quality, consistency, compliance, and alignment with Fund policies and governing lawServe as escalation authority for complex, novel legal criminal casesOperational Systems, Technology & Service DeliveryDirects the day to day operations of the Legal Fund, directly and through delegated authorityProvides strategic leadership over legal technology, case management systems, data governance, and operational modernization initiativesUses data and outcome measures to assess service impact and continuously improve member experienceResponsible for recruitment of Cooperating Attorneys and monitoring of programLeads governance of the Cooperating Attorney network, including onboarding, performance monitoring, rate-setting, and invoice review.Manage multi-jurisdictional service delivery models and adapts services to evolving member geographic patterns, including retirees.Establishes, monitors and maintains the Department's budget and the short and long-term fiscal health of the FundOversee expenditures and billing structures to ensure fiscal stewardship and cost controlStaff Leadership, Member Education & AdvocacyLeads the recruitment, training, professional development, performance management, and succession planning of Fund staff, including attorneys, paralegals, and administrative personnelAdvocates for systemic improvements within the courts and legal oversight bodies to strengthen the protection, recognition, and administration of the Legal Fund benefits for membersEngages in policy and systems-level advocacy with courts, judicial administrators, and legal regulatory entities to address structural barriers and improve member access to justiceCollaborates with Member Engagement, Communications, Training Fund, and other internal partners to ensure coordinated service delivery.Designs and collaborates on member education programs to promote understanding and appropriate utilization of legal benefits.Develop and oversee outreach and training program to educated members on legal rights and benefitsPerforms other functions as necessary or as assignedQualifications (Competencies):Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school required; Master of Laws (LLM) or equivalent advanced legal degree a plusAdmission to the New York State Bar and active membership in good standing requiredSignificant experience in relevant legal practice and/or senior-level management within a legal services, nonprofit, governmental, or comparable organization requiredRelevant legal experience in any of the following areas is desirable: Immigration, Matrimonial, Family, Estate, Civil, Real Property and Criminal Trial and Appellate workExposure engaging in systemic advocacy or legal reform efforts aimed at improving court systems, legal processes, or access to justiceKnowledge of legal developments and practice trends in areas aligned with the Fund's services and member needsWell organized and able to manage major projects with competing priorities and deadlinesAbility to apply technological tools, such as spreadsheet and database, to identify trends and solve administrative problems and support data-driven decision-makingSoft Skills (Interpersonal Skills):Excellent written and verbal skills required to communicate the organization's goals and missionDemonstrated sound judgement, discretion, and decision making skillsStrong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to anticipate challenges and evaluate optionsAbility to adapt to evolving priorities, changing legal landscapes, and emerging organizational needsSkilled in diplomacy and relationship-buildingCapacity to serve as a though leader on court modernization, legal system reform, and access-to-justice issues, influencing broader legal discourse.Ability to lead and inspire the department as a whole and to advance strategic goals and priorities of the FundAbility to work successfully and collaboratively with internal and external constituencies, including the Executive Director, the Board of Trustees and the Executive Committee, senior staff of the Benefit Funds, union and industry leaders, Fund co-counsel, consultants and othersEducation:Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school required; Master of Laws (LLM) or equivalent advanced legal degree a plusReasoning Ability:HighCertificates, Licenses, Registrations:Admission to the New York State Bar and active membership in good standing requiredAdmission to the Federal Bar (e.g., SDNY/EDNY) or another US District Court required, admission in New Jersey is a plusPhysical Demands:The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals to perform the essential functions.The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals to perform the essential functions.Under 1/3 of the time: Standing, Walking, Climbing or Balancing, Stooping, Kneeling, Crouching, or CrawlingOver 2/3 of the time: Talking or Hearing100% of the time: Using HandsWork Environment:The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.1/3 to 2/3 of the time: Work near moving or mechanical parts, exposure to radiation, moderate noise.