What are the responsibilities and job description for the Program Manager, Alternative Dispute Resolution position at The Bar Association of San Francisco?

About the Job :

The Bar Association of San Francisco is excited to be hiring for an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Program Manager :

The BASF BAY AREA MEDIATION SERVICES program includes a mediator membership panel, a mediation referral service program, and a training program to promote professional development opportunities for new and experienced mediators. The goal of the program is to support professional mediators by inviting them to join and engage in a meaningful network of practitioners, by giving them greater visibility in the field, by offering them professional development opportunities, and by referring them cases to mediate. The BAY AREA MEDIATION SERVICES provides affordable mediation services in most areas of the law that improves access to justice and helps parties resolve their disputes outside of court.

The BASF Special Education ADR program is offered in partnership with the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) Special Education Department and Support For Families of Children with Disabilities (SFCD), and is free for SFUSD families and staff thanks to a grant from the California Department of Education. BASF offers free, professional, neutral ADR services to help SFUSD families and staff resolve conflicts related to the unique learning needs of students who qualify for special education supports and services through their Individualized Education Plan (IEP). ADR services are designed with an equity lens to repair and support the relationships that are essential to a thriving and student-centered collaboration amongst all IEP team members. BASF’s interdisciplinary and diverse panel of certified neutrals are staff or independent contractors who have extensive training and a wealth of experience in special education law, school culture, negotiation, effective collaboration and communication, cultural humility, trauma informed approaches, interpersonal relations, and group dynamics. BASF’s panel of neutrals are vetted and assigned by BASF.

Regarding supervision for this position, the ADR Program Manager works closely with and is supervised by the Director of ADR.

Essential Job Functions :

Mediation Referral Program

Collecting data to assess the strengths and opportunities of the current ADR membership panel and mediation referral program
Designing and piloting a refreshed mediation membership panel and mediation referral program that centers diversity and equity
Marketing – working with Communications, BASF’s legal membership managers and Directors, and small to medium sized law firms to market our program.
Administering the mediator referral program (responding to day to day inquiries via phone, email, fax, mail; processing new cases - inputting data, creating spread sheets, creating files; corresponding with parties who haven’t signed on yet; assigning mediators; complete case management; arranging meeting rooms as needed; closing cases, collecting data for statistics; follow-up questionnaires / statistics; handling administrative fees / refunds / reporting to Accounting; panel coordination; updates to web bios, rates, testimonials, resumes, etc.; revising the mediation web pages when needed; handling panel fees and the yearly renewal cycle for mediators; working with Communications to promote the program and mediators in the BASF Bulletin, adding Mediation Trainings to the CLE Planner, occasionally contributing content about the program or a specific mediator or trainer to the SF Attorney Magazine and / or blog)

ADR Trainings :

Handling 40-Hour Mediation Certificate Training twice a year in the spring and fall

Handling 20-Hour Arbitrator Certificate (not fee disputes) Training once a year usually in the fall

Handling any advanced mediation / arbitration classes, including the yearly half-day Marketing for Neutrals training held in the fall; others as we create them

Developing more basics of Mediation trainings and more advanced mediation trainings

Supporting the ADR Speaker Series

Administration of all training programs, including all (1) preparation (finding and reserving dates; booking rooms or Zoom; the CLE or other Zoom account; assuring CLE compliance with State Bar regulations if CLE is offered (including preparing the folders required for CLE compliance and preparing reports to the State Bar for CLE programs); garnering co-sponsorship to increase attendance at training; working with Communications in making flyers; creating a Program Submission Form to calendar the event; responding to day to day inquiries; registration of people who write or call in; tracking registration numbers; gathering all program materials; arranging for catering for in-person large events), (2) hosting (some occur during evenings or weekends), (3) aftercare, including soliciting feedback and ensuring invoices are processed in a timely manner.

Special Education Mediation Program

Liaison with BASF Director of ADR and SFUSD ADR Administrator to make case assignments to our panel of mediators

Be available for trainings and orientations for other mediators, SFUSD SPED staff, and SFCD as necessary

Process invoice requests from panel of independent contractor mediators

Create invoices with BASF accounting for BASF staff to get reimbursed from SFUSD

Collaborate with SFUSD ADR Coordinator, BASF ADR Director, and SFCD to maintain and improve the early mediation program for all stakeholders

Host quarterly check in with panel of mediators and SFUSD and SFCD

Report to SFUSD as needed

Work Schedule :

This is a hybrid position that requires in office presence 1 or more times per week. Work is performed in an open area workstation at BASF’s office located in downtown San Francisco, or remotely when business needs allow, during normal business hours. Our regular business hours Monday through Friday, from 9 : 00am to 5 : 00pm. On occasion, meetings before or after hours or on weekends may occur.

Education :

B.S. or B.A. degree in a related discipline is required; J.D. and Mediation Certificate is highly desired

Familiarity with rules, regulations and policies in special education

Familiarity with conflict resolution, mediation, ADR

Familiarity with membership based programs

Experience :

Minimum of three (3) years of hands-on experience in program or project management

Experience working with both families and school staff of children who qualify for special education

Familiarity with special education special education law, school culture, negotiation, effective collaboration and communication, cultural humility, trauma informed approaches, interpersonal relations, and group dynamics.

Familiarity with ADR, including conflict resolution, ombuds, dispute system design, mediation, arbitration

Experience working with diverse populations

Prerequisite Skills & Requirements :

Excellent collaborative skills with attention to both relationships and results

Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Excellent organizational and problem solving skills with attention to detail

Ability to simultaneously manage multiple components of a project from beginning to end, including setting and meeting deadlines

Why Work For Us :

We offer a collaborative work environment, a progressive work culture, and a wonderfully diverse staff. Additionally, we have a standard 35-hour workweek, flexible scheduling (manager’s discretion), and we are a mission and values based organization.

We also offer competitive pay and a generous benefits package that includes : a choice of medical insurance plans, dental insurance, vision insurance, pretax commuter, health, and dependent care accounts, employer paid short- and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, a retirement and profit-sharing benefit, and more!

To find out more about BASF, please visit our website at

Equal Opportunity Employer :

BASF is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We conduct all employment-related activities without regard to race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation or any other classification protected by applicable Local, State or Federal employment discrimination laws. BASF welcomes diversity in the workplace.

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