Director for Economic Justice and Pro Bono Initiatives

Director for Economic Justice and Pro Bono Initiatives

Founded in 1841, Fordham is the Jesuit University of New York, offering an exceptional education distinguished by the Jesuit tradition to more than 16,000 students in its nine colleges and schools. It has residential campuses in the Bronx and Manhattan, a campus in West Harrison, N.Y., the Louis Calder Center Biological Field Station in Armonk, N.Y., and the London Centre in the United Kingdom.

The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision insurance; flexible spending accounts; retirement plans; life insurance; short and long term disability; employee assistance program (EAP); tuition remission; and generous time off.

Successful candidates should have a knowledge of and commitment to the goals of Jesuit Education.

Title of Position: Director for Economic Justice and Pro Bono Initiatives

Reporting to the Executive Director of the Center for Social Justice, the Director for Economic Justice and Pro Bono Initiatives leads the Center's multi faceted economic justice work, including ensuring the smooth on the ground running of clinics and the provision of high quality, limited scope pro bono services, and oversees all operational and programmatic aspects of the Center's new pro bono initiatives.

Essential Functions

• Plans and develops initiatives, in conjunction with the Center's leadership, related to the Center's economic justice work and leads the Center's economic justice advocacy efforts, including legislative campaigns, amici briefs, and engagements with relevant stakeholders, policy makers, and court officials.
• Oversees all operational and programmatic aspects of Economic Justice Programs and Pro Bono Initiatives at the Center, including operating volunteer staffed, limited scope, court based legal clinics, providing other limited scope pro bono services, developing pilots, organizing service trips and supervising remote pro bono opportunities.
• Oversees all aspects of pro bono management, including developing and maintaining legal templates and forms, program manuals, policies, protocols, recruiting, training, supervising, and recognizing the Center's volunteers, both attorneys and law students.
• Serves as the principal point of contact for the day to day operation of the consumer debt defense programs for key constituents, including court personnel, legal services partners, and volunteers.
• Oversees all aspects of the Center's case management system in connection with pro bono services and ensures integrity of data collection and tracking.
• Helps identify and pursue funding opportunities and manages grant reporting in connection with the Center's consumer defense and other pro bono initiatives.
• Spearheads community engagement efforts to ensure community and client centered programming in connection with the Center's consumer defense and other pro bono initiatives.

Note: This list is not intended to be an exhaustive list. The University may assign additional related duties as necessary.

Management Responsibilities

Supervises the work of other Fordham employees who are individual contributors. Responsible for hiring, training and developing, managing performance and administering corrective action. Has significant input in compensation decisions.

Additional Functions

Helps develop Know Your Rights and outreach materials in connection with the Center's pro bono initiatives.

Required Qualifications: Education and Experience

• J.D. degree.
• Admitted or eligible for admission to the bar of the State of New York.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience as a lawyer, preferably in a civil legal services organization and preferably providing consumer defense.
• Experience with pro bono and volunteer management.

Required Qualifications: Knowledge and Skills

• Demonstrated commitment to race equity, anti racism, and economic justice in the workplace and in providing legal services.
• Demonstrated analytical, legal writing, and advocacy skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills and team player with the ability to work in a positive, collaborative, and inclusive environment.
• Self motivated worker with strong initiative, ability to work independently and with superior judgment.
• Exceptional organizational skills and ability to balance multiple projects and deadlines.
• Exceptional attention to detail.

Preferred Qualifications

• Fluency in Spanish and English.

Minimum Starting Salary

$90,000

Maximum Starting Salary

$120,000

Note

Salary is commensurate with qualifications, experience, and skills.

Is this a Union position?

No

Posting Number

A903P

Number of Vacancies

1

Start Date

ASAP

Posting Date

09/25/2025

EEO Statement

Fordham University is committed to excellence and welcomes candidates of all backgrounds.
Fordham University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Physical Activity and Work Environment

Sitting Often

Repetitive Hand Motion (such as typing)

Repetitive Hand Motion (such as typing) Often

Hearing, Listening, Talking Often

Standing

Standing Seldom

Walking

Walking Seldom

Running

Running Not Required

Bending, Stooping, Kneeling, squatting, Crouching, Crawling

Bending, Stooping, Kneeling, squatting, Crouching, Crawling Seldom

Climbing stairs Not Required

Climbing ladders

Climbing ladders Not Required

Reaching overhead

Reaching overhead Not Required

Pulling, pushing

Pulling, pushing Not Required

Shoveling

Shoveling Not Required

Lifting - up to 20 pounds

Lifting - up to 20 pounds Not Required

Lifting - up to 50 pounds

Lifting - up to 50 pounds Not Required

Lifting - over 50 pounds Not Required

Work Environment: Office Environment - Employees are protected from weather conditions or contaminants, but not necessarily occasional temperature changes.

Documents Needed to Apply

Required Documents

• Resume
• Cover Letter

Optional Documents

Supplemental questions you will be required to answer on the application (No action is needed on this page)

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk ( ).

• Do you have a Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school?
  • Yes
  • No
• Do you have a minimum of 5 years of experience as a lawyer, preferably in a civil legal services organization and preferably providing consumer defense?
  • Yes
  • No
• Have you been admitted or are you eligible for admission to the bar of the State of New York?
  • Yes
  • No
• Do you have experience with pro bono and volunteer management?
  • Yes
  • No