About Neighborhood Defender Service
Neighborhood Defender Service (NDS) is a non-profit, client-centered, holistic public defender office currently operating in Harlem, Detroit, San Antonio and Houston. Annually, NDS serves more than 10,000 individuals and families, with holistic legal and social work services.
In contrast to a traditional public defense practice, NDS clients have an entire team fighting on their behalf, including criminal and civil attorneys, family defense attorneys, advocates, social workers, investigators, paralegals, law school and social work interns, and pro bono attorneys. NDS deploys these resources on behalf of their clients, addressing the underlying issues that bring them into contact with the criminal legal system. NDS staff utilizes their engagement with a client as an opportunity to disentangle them from the legal system completely. This approach allows the defense to extend well beyond the courtroom, with robust social services and comprehensive investigations meant to protect our clients from the damages of criminal legal proceedings. When clients face consequences with employment, schooling, immigration or in family or housing court, or other destabilizing contact with the legal system, NDS works alongside them to resolve these issues.
For the past decade, Neighborhood Defender Service has been in a position of sustained growth. The annual budget has grown from $4.7M in 2011 to more than $40M today, most of which is secured through government contracts and grants. After operating in Harlem since 1990, NDS has now expanded to Detroit, San Antonio, and Houston, and anticipates further growth in the coming years.
Service Offerings
- Pre Arrest Services
- Criminal Defense
- Family Defense
- Civil Defense
- Immigration Defense
- Youth Law
- Servicios en Espanol
- Global Justice
- Policy
PACE Program
The PACE Program is the next generation of groundbreaking work growing out of the NDS experience. NDS launched the PACE Program to disrupt and dismantle the structural impediments in our society that continue to oppress its clients, their families and communities.
Learn more about Neighborhood Defender Service at https://neighborhooddefender.org/.
ROLE SUMMARY
The Managing Director of Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem oversees the programmatic excellence of the holistic public defense practice with offices in Harlem and the Bronx. The Managing Director fosters a positive, effective, and accountable culture within their team of approximately 175 attorneys, social workers, client advocates, investigators, and support staff.
NDS is an organization with a national scope that is still rooted in community-based offices. The incoming Managing Director will excitedly embrace this supportive model, leveraging the resources within the national structure to advance Harlem’s unique priorities and needs. An effective communicator, the Managing Director will understand how to communicate and operate in a complex, matrixed environment, and work across functional areas to ensure the ultimate success of the overall program. This position reports to the CEO (Chief Executive Officer).
Primary Responsibilities
National Leadership and Relationship Building
As a member of the national leadership team, work collaboratively and effectively with national leadership, including the Chief of Management, Chief Operations Officer, Chief Advancement Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and the Managing Directors of Detroit and Texas to advance the priorities of the Harlem office in the context of the organization’s overall success.
Actively participate in national initiatives and forums to stay abreast of industry trends and best practices.
Program Management and Oversight
Responsible for ensuring programmatic effectiveness and excellence.
Deep understanding of and commitment to holistic public defense and ability to advocate for the power of holistic public defense with the legal community, local judiciary, funding partners, state representatives, and other key stakeholders.
Identify areas for program improvement, both in internal operations and with external partners.
Hire, manage and develop all in-house audit resources.
Culture Building and Team Management
Foster a strong organizational culture with Managing Attorneys to be shared among supervisors and staff.
Act as an effective bridge-builder, who can communicate organizational priorities and plans to local staff while also championing the unique needs and goals of the local office within the leadership team.
Provide visionary leadership to a diverse and interdisciplinary team, fostering a positive, collaborative, transparent, and inclusive work environment.
Lead by example, promoting a culture of transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement.
Local Initiatives and Community Engagement
Work closely with local organizations, public defenders, and community stakeholders to advance local policy initiatives aligned with the organization's mission.
Build and maintain strong community relationships to enhance the organization's impact and visibility in the local community.
Report to the local advisory board on program effectiveness.
Strategic Planning and Implementation
Develop and execute strategic plans to achieve organizational and local office priorities, ensuring alignment with broader organizational goals.
Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of strategies, adjusting as needed to respond to changing circumstances with all composition and Committee functional responsibility requirements.
CANDIDATE PROFILE
With a strong commitment to, and passion for NDS’s mission, vision, and values. The Managing Director must be a strong team-player who promotes integrity, transparency, collaboration, and communication in an equitable and respectful work environment. To be successful in this leadership role, the Managing Director will possess the flexibility and skill for high-level, complex legal and policy strategy setting, along with the ability to lead a high performing and passionate team. The incumbent must be comfortable in a complex, growing, and regionally diverse organization.
At least ten years experience in public defense in a criminal, parental representation, or civil defense setting;
Expertise in holistic public defense;
Willingness and ability to manage in a matrixed, national organization;
Ability to communicate in an effective, open, and collaborative manner;
Experience in supervision, management, administration in a non-profit organization or defender office;
Must possess strong organizational skills;
Must possess excellent interpersonal, analytical, writing, and communication skills;
Applicants must possess a demonstrated commitment to civil rights, indigent defense, social justice issues and/or the communities of Northern Manhattan; and
Must be able to work cooperatively in a team setting.
COMPENSATION
The salary for this position is expected to fall within the range of $150,000 - $200,000 commensurate with experience. In addition, Neighborhood Defender Service offers a comprehensive benefits package.
SEARCH TEAM
Denielle Pemberton Heard and Amber Gomes of Diversified Search Group and Koya Partners have been exclusively retained for this search. To express interest in this role please submit your materials by filling out the Talent Profile or email Amber directly at [email protected]. All inquiries and discussions will be considered strictly confidential.