Deputy Director

Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid; Minneapolis, Saint Cloud (MN, MN); Hybrid; USD 89,000 - 126,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work arrangement

Half-day Friday

Training and mentorship

Growth opportunities

Job summary

Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid’s Minnesota Disability Law Center (MDLC) seeks a full-time Deputy Director to lead and coordinate MDLC, reporting to the Executive Director. This role provides executive direction, strategic planning, and oversight of federal and state funding, governance, and partnerships to advance disability rights in Minnesota.

The Deputy Director will supervise 20–25 attorneys and advocates, engage with boards and committees, manage budgets, and ensure compliance with federal

Qualifications

• Must be licensed to practice law in Minnesota or eligible for admission by reciprocity.
• Experience working with individuals with disabilities or disability rights and advocacy.
• Five or more years of managerial experience.
• Eight or more years of legal experience.
• Three or more years of litigation experience.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proven record of effective case handling and outcomes.
• Previous grant management experience, especially federal grants.
• Ability to obtain a Level V moderate risk public trust clearance.
• Access to reliable transportation; statewide travel is required.
• Experience with class action litigation is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership in advancing MDLC goals, including diversity, inclusion, and equity.
• Engage with community and legal partnerships to deliver high-quality community-based legal services.
• Oversee MDLC grant budgets, staffing allocations, and work planning for multiple grants.
• Collaborate with Grants Manager to explore and apply for new grants.
• Lead federal audits with Grants Manager and Director of Operations.
• Oversee the Mental Health Advisory Council and ensure compliance with federal requirements.
• Lead MDLC priority-setting and five-year strategic plans with board and committees.
• Participate in MDLA Board meetings to report on MDLC work.
• Supervise the MDLC Legal Director and 20–25 attorneys/advocates.
• Oversee ethics compliance and staff hiring/onboarding.

Skills

Leadership

Management

Litigation

Grant management

Policy advocacy

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Bar admission in Minnesota

Job description

Job Details: Job Location: Minneapolis, MN 55403, Position Type: Regular Full-Time Exempt, Salary Range: $88,817.00 - $126,041.00 Salary/year, Location: Metro Location (Office in Minneapolis), Minnesota Disability Law Center – Deputy Director

Introduction:

Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid’s Minnesota Disability Law Center (MDLC) serves as the protection and advocacy system for people with disabilities in Minnesota. MDLC is seeking a full-time Deputy Director to lead and coordinate the work of MDLC. This Deputy Director position provides primary leadership and direction for the MDLC and its statewide impact, and represents MDLC within the disability rights community and to the public at large. This position will be a member of the senior leadership team, reporting to the Executive Director. This position will work in collaboration with the MDLC Legal Director to ensure that MMLA/MDLC civil legal services at the Minnesota Disability Law Center are efficiently managed, strategically engaged, and culturally competent. This position ensures MDLC services are professionally and equitably provided to MMLA/MDLC’s low-income, vulnerable, and underrepresented client communities. This position will be hybrid with an office at the Minneapolis office.

What’s in it for you?

• We believe in work-life harmony. This role offers the flexibility to blend remote work with in-office collaboration.
• On Fridays, the office closes at noon and employees enjoy a half-day of paid flex time.
• MMLA provides on-the-job training and mentorship, with opportunities for growth within the organization.

Why MMLA?

• We’re not just ticking boxes. We’re genuinely committed to diversity. Bring your unique identity, experiences, and perspectives—we want them all!
• Our mission? Equal justice for all. In your cover letter, tell us how your background can amplify this cause. Let’s change our lives together.
• Discrimination and harassment have no place here. We’re building a respectful, supportive workplace where everyone thrives.

Responsibilities:

• Provide leadership in advancing organizational goals and objectives at MDLC, including MMLA’s racial justice values, commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equity, and ensuring MMLA/MDLC’s work is rooted in the communities it serves
• Engage and coordinate with community and legal professional partnerships and collaborations in service area to provide high quality community-based legal services
• Management of MDLC grant budgets, staffing allocations, and work planning for nine federal grants, state funding, and other non-federal grants in consultation with the grants manager and fiscal/administrative staff
• Work with Grants Manager to explore, vet, and apply for new grant opportunities
• Lead federal audits in collaboration with Grants Manager and Director of Operations
• Oversight of a federally mandated Mental Health Advisory Council for work on behalf of people with mental health disabilities, ensuring Council remains in compliance with federal law requirements
• Leading MMLA Board- MDLC Oversight Committee, ensuring Committee’s membership and oversight meets federal requirements
• Lead annual MDLC priority-setting process and five-year strategic plans, including shepherding it through Advisory Council, Oversight Committee, and MMLA Board approvals
• Engagement with MMLA Board, including attendance at quarterly MMLA Board meetings to report on MDLC’s work
• Serving on MMLA’s Management committee as the Deputy Director of the MDLC unit
• Relationship-building with federal and state bench through participation on professional associations, committees, working groups, and boards
• Oversee legislative policy work
• Relationship-building with disability rights stakeholders
• Building and maintaining relationships throughout the National Disability Rights Network, a network of disability rights advocates throughout the federal government
• Sit on the Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities as the MDLC representative
• Supervise the MDLC Legal Director and the direct reports as assigned within MDLC
• Manage a team of 20-25 attorneys and advocates
• Oversee and manage law clerk program during summer session
• Lead unit meetings through the year to provide training, collaboration, and discuss priority setting
• Handling of client grievances pursuant to MMLA’s policies in partnership with supervisors
• Oversee ethics compliance
• Lead the hiring, onboarding, and orientation of MDLC staff
• Performs other responsibilities as assigned

Qualifications:

• Must be licensed to practice law in Minnesota or eligible for admission by reciprocity
• Experience working with individuals with disabilities or with disability rights and advocacy
• Five or more years of managerial experience
• Eight or more years of legal experience
• Three or more years of litigation experience
• Demonstrated legal skills, including:
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Effective litigation outcomes
• Proven record of effective case handling and outcomes
• Previous grant management experience, especially federal grants
• Interest and ability to build and advance partnerships with advocacy groups, client communities, schools, service providers, agencies, and regulatory authorities
• Experience with legislative, policy, and other systemic advocacy
• Ability to obtain a Level V moderate risk public trust government clearance by the United States Government Office of Personnel Management is required for the position
• Access to reliable transportation, as statewide travel is required
• Experience with class action litigation is a plus

Preferred Qualifications:

• Lived experience with a disability or experience as a family member of a person with a disability
• Second language ability, particularly Spanish, ASL, Hmong, or Somali
• Diverse economic, social, and cultural experiences

Compensation Information:

• $88,817 to $122,447 (yrs 1-18) per year, depending on experience. This position includes benefits.
• Benefits include family medical and dental insurance, short- and long-term disability, life insurance, 403(b) with employer match, FSA, employee assistance programs, and generous paid time off.

Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid is an Equal Opportunity employer. This position is subject to collective bargaining agreements.