Outreach/Program Coordinator – Regional Immigration Assistance Center

Buffalo, Inc.; Buffalo (NY); On-site; USD 54,000 - 58,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

Paid time off

401(k) retirement plan

Parking reimbursement

Transit plan

Flexible spending account

Paid parental leave

Job summary

The Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo, Inc. seeks an Outreach/Program Coordinator to support RIAC operations through communications, outreach, and administrative duties.

The role requires travel within the 7th and 8th judicial districts and on-site work at 290 Main St, Buffalo, NY. You will collaborate with attorneys to meet program needs, manage content and calendars, and assist with data processes and reporting while maintaining confidentiality.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
• Associate degree with two years of related experience.
• High school diploma or HSE with five years of related experience.
• Equivalent combination of demonstrated training and experience.
• Valid NYS driver’s license and access to a registered vehicle during working hours.
• Ability to travel within the 7th and 8th judicial districts.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with program leadership to identify and develop outreach communications and activities.
• Manage communications calendars, workflows, and timelines for materials.
• Support RIAC operations, outreach, data processes, and reporting obligations.
• Attend departmental, partner, and agency meetings as needed.
• Communicate with clients, attorneys, court officials, and the public; handle messages and referrals.
• Coordinate and track CLEs and trainings for the program.
• Assist attorneys by entering case information, assembling documents, and drafting correspondence.
• Review program productivity using case management software.
• Ensure adherence to Bureau policies and procedures.
• Maintain knowledge of relevant regulations and laws.

Job description

The Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo, Inc. has an exciting opportunity for an Outreach/Program Coordinator to contribute to our impact on Western New York communities. This union position is part of the Regional Immigration Assistance Center (RIAC) team, which offers legal advice, training, and other technical support to appointed criminal defense counsel and Family Court attorneys representing non-citizen clients in the 7th and 8th judicial districts.The RIAC team may also assist with appeals, and the analysis of NY CPL § 440.10 motions or other post-conviction relief for ineffective assistance of counsel if a client was not properly informed of the immigration consequences of a plea. The RIAC team also provides legal referrals when appropriate.These services are available to all mandated attorneys serving clients in Criminal and Family Court proceedings.

Under the direction of the RIAC Managing Attorney, this position is initially primarily responsible for supporting the program’s operations and service delivery through communications and outreach, operational, and administrative duties. The Outreach/Program Coordinator will work collaboratively with attorneys to meet the needs of the program and the Unit while maintaining confidentiality. This position is required to travel within the 7th and 8th judicial districts (approximately 15-20 percent).

Given the nature of our work, this Outreach/Program Coordinator position is expected to work primarily on-site from our office located at 290 Main St., Buffalo, NY.

Who are we?

The Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo, Inc. has been providing access to justice and due process to the most vulnerable individuals, children and families in the Western New York Community for over 100 years. Using a holistic approach, we provide quality, client-centered legal representation in a vast range of criminal and civil matters such as mandated criminal defense, mandated child and youth representation, consumer credit, employment, education, family, post-conviction, appeals, housing, employment, and immigration. Please visit our website to learn more.

Why Join Us?

Competitive Pay:

Salary ranging from $53,518 to $58,121 commensurate with relevant experience.

Mission-Drive Culture:

• Supportive work environment.
• Opportunities to learn and grow through collaboration with colleagues.
• Enjoy a full-time, 35-hour work week, and build flexibility into your schedule within the parameters of our collective bargaining agreement.
• Medical, dental, and vision benefits for you and your dependents.
• Extensive paid time off programs– holiday,vacation, personal, sick time, and more
• Paid parenthood leaveplan.
• 401(k) retirement plan with contributions made bytheLegal Aid Bureau of Buffalo, Inc.between6and8%wheneligible.
• Life insurance.
• Voluntarysupplemental insuranceoffering, which includeshort-term disability, long-term disability,term life insuranceplus more.
• Parking expense reimbursement plan, transit plan, flexible spending account, and more.

Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness:

Eligible for the Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program and the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation Loan Forgiveness Program.

Key Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with program and Unit leadership to identify and develop professional and community outreach communications and activities in alignment with program needs, including drafting and preparing online content, monthly newsletters, and correspondence.
• Manages program’s communications calendars, workflows, and timelines for finalized materials.
• Supports the RIAC program’s operations, such as facilitating outreach, addressing service demands, coordinating data processes, monitoring compliance with reporting obligations, and by assisting with the program’s day-to-day activities.
• Participates, as needed in departmental, partner, and agency meetings required to support program operations and communications.
• Communicate in person, by telephone, e-mail, fax, or by mail with clients, their family members, other agencies, attorneys, court and other public officials, other staff, other people with whom the program staff interacts, and the general public; takes and gives telephone messages; and answers questions and/or makes referrals as appropriate.
• Coordinates and tracks virtual and in-person CLEs and training for the program.
• Assists attorneys by accurately entering and maintaining case information from files into databases; obtains, assembles, and reviews all necessary client documentation, reports, or court records related to the case; drafts and prepares correspondence, meeting materials, and reports; and assists in interviewing clients and field work.
• Reviews program productivity using case management software.
• Ensures adherence to all Bureau policies and procedures.
• Maintains specialized knowledge of regulations and laws as required by the Unit.
• Operates basic office equipment, including, word processor, typewriter, transcriber, copier, postage meter, computer, fax machine, shredder, and calculator.
• Provide guidance and support program attorneys and staff, including onboarding and training related to the position’s responsibilities.
• Seeks new assignments from the supervisor when all other work is completed.
• Cooperates with other members of the program, Unit, and Bureau to develop effective teamwork.
• Proactively identifies improvements and enhancements to the RIAC program’s operations and related processes.
• Other duties as assigned.

Employment Standards:

• Graduation from a regionally accredited or New York State registered four (4) year college or university with a Bachelor’s degree; or
• Graduation from a regionally accredited or New York State registered college with an Associate’s degree in a related field and two (2) years of related experience; or
• Graduation from high school or possession of a high school equivalency diploma and five (5) years of related experience; or
• An equivalent combination of demonstrated training and experience.

*Degree(s) must have been awarded by a college, university, or law school accredited by a regional, national, or specialized agency recognized as an accrediting agency by the U.S. If the degree was awarded by an educational institution outside the U.S. and its territories, the candidate must provide independent verification of equivalency.*

Additional Requirements:

• Possession of a valid NYS driver’s license and access to a registered, insured vehicle available for use during working hours, or demonstrated capacity to meet the transportation requirements of the position.
• Ability to travel within the 7 th and 8 th judicial districts.

The Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo, Inc. values diversity and is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We encourage applicants from all backgrounds and do not discriminate on the basis of any protected class.

The Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo, Inc.
Attention: Human Resources
290 Main Street, Suite 400
Buffalo, NY 14202

If you need a reasonable accommodation in submitting the documents outlined above, completing the application, interviewing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please direct your inquiries to the Human Resources Office at [e-mail] or 716-853-9555 x183 or x288.