Director of People & Culture

About the Office of the Appellate Defender (OAD)

OAD is the second oldest institutional provider of appellate representation in New York City. For 36 years, OAD has stood as a beacon of hope for people at the intersection of poverty and injustice. Our clients have been convicted of felony offenses in Manhattan and/or the Bronx and have been sentenced to terms of imprisonment and post-release supervision. Despite the circumstances of our clients’ offenses, convictions, and sentences, we believe in the humanity and dignity of every human being which informs our client-centered, trauma-informed advocacy. We are a beloved community of colleagues who are dedicated to public defense, access to justice, and racial equity.

Overview of the role

The Director of People & Culture (the “Director”) will be responsible for leading all aspects of Human Resources (“HR”) including, but not limited to, recruiting, onboarding, retention, performance management, training and development, labor relations, and all other HR strategy and operations. The Director will also lead and promote an organizational culture that is consistent with OAD’s mission and values and collaborate with staff to maintain a workplace that is reflective of these values. As a member of the leadership team, the Director reports to the President and Attorney-in-Charge, and ensures that OAD complies with state, federal and local laws, as well as the Collective Bargaining Agreement (“CBA”) which governs the relationship between management and staff attorneys, paralegals, interns, client services coordinators and administrative staff.

Who You Are

·      Experienced. You have a Bachelor’s Degree or higher and experience in: (1) leading HR functions, ideally, in the non-profit sector and/or a legal office; (2) interpreting collective bargaining agreements, especially as the agreements intersect with human resources; and (3) building consensus and influencing change across the organization. Regardless of title, you have exceptional listening, reasoning and strategic skills with a proven ability to influence staff and stakeholders to approach their work through an equity lens. Having a professional certification (SHRM or PHR) is desirable. 

·      Leader. You have the skills to supervise the human resources generalist and other roles as the organization grows. You possess a people-centric and culture-forward approach to managing relationships in the workplace. You do not fear change and are solution-oriented when differences arise. You challenge others to seek innovative and creative approaches to advocacy and encourage ongoing development by providing effective performance feedback and evaluation.

·      Culturally Aware and Sensitive. You understand what it means to work with and for individuals whose backgrounds and lived experiences are different from your own with sensitivity and humility. You are willing to learn more about the impacted and marginalized identities of people served by the organization and bring your awareness to all the work you do.

·      Clear Communicator. You can communicate clearly and concisely. You provide useful feedback to the people working with you. You adopt an organizational voice to ensure written or oral communications are consistent with the inclusive culture we strive to maintain and build upon.

·      Collaborative. You work effectively across roles to create a holistic environment to best address client needs.

·      Passionate. You care deeply about people served by OAD and are enthusiastic about challenging the inequities of the criminal justice system.

·      Agile. You have strong organizational and time management skills. You maintain composure and positivity in stressful situations. You are willing to take on new projects as the needs of the office or practice change.

What You Will Do

·      Lead work with carriers to design benefit plans, all aspects of the open enrollment process, ensuring filings and other legally required reports are submitted by deadlines.

·      Enhance/develop, implement, and administer human resources policies and procedures of the organization by way of systems that will improve its overall operations and effectiveness.

·      Implement ongoing assessment of OAD’s recruitment and retention efforts, report findings, and develop action plans that foster maintaining dedicated, high quality, and diverse staff throughout the organization.

·      Provide guidance and counsel to supervisors and managers on personnel matters, such as workplace performance challenges, as well as sensitive labor and employment relationship matters.

·      Oversee processes for review and resolution of employee grievances.

·      Develop, implement, and manage programs to enhance diversity and diversity initiatives, including working groups, affinity groups, and other resource groups.

·      Act as an internal resource for executives, directors, supervisors, and staff on complex diversity, equity, and inclusion issues, helping to find solutions that benefit teams and OAD.

·      Represent OAD on diversity-related topics at conferences, professional associations, and other stakeholder meetings.

Benefits

·      Generous vacation time and 14 paid holidays, including Summer Fridays where the office closes early.

·      401(k) with a defined contribution of 3% from OAD regardless of participation.

·      Personal, Bereavement and sick days given on the first day of employment.

·      Comprehensive health, dental, vision and life benefits, flexible spending, and health reimbursement account.

Your Application

To join our community, please apply with a cover letter, resume and writing sample here. Applications without a cover letter will not be considered. Your cover letter must address: (1) why you are interested in this role; and (2) what skills or experiences make you a strong candidate.

Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they are able to perform every task in the job description. OAD is most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may be one who comes from a less traditional background. OAD will consider any equivalent combination of knowledge, skills, education, and experience to meet minimum qualifications. We encourage you to think broadly about your background and skill set for this role.

OAD is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. We provide equal employment opportunities without regard to race, creed, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, marital status, age, veteran status, disability, or genetic information.

Please note that OAD requires all staff to be fully vaccinated for COVID and provide a vaccination record at the start of employment.