Career Opportunities

Location

Ft. Lauderdale, Tampa, Gainesville, Tallahassee or Fully Remote

Job Summary

The Director of Community and Healthcare Services is responsible for initiating the necessary system change activity to ensure community integration and protection of rights are prioritized within the public benefit and service delivery systems throughout the state by Disability Rights Florida attorneys, advocates, and coordinators. The DCHS works with the Legal Director in developing the long-range priorities and coordinates with the other legal directors to analyze state-wide systems and develop activities within our authority to ensure the systems in place are responsive to the needs of individuals with disabilities and their families. The Director Community and Healthcare Services also reports outcomes to the Board of Directors on results accomplished and collaborates with outside counsel, community partners, stakeholders, and agencies to ensure Disability Rights Florida continues to develop its reputation for excellence in advocacy for individuals with disabilities throughout Florida.

Essential Duties

• Ensures that the rights of people with disabilities as provided for by law and regulation are enforced through organizational leadership as well as personal effort.
• Uses best practices to ensure effective appropriate action to resolve complaints of violations, withholding, or denial of rights made by or on behalf of clients.
• Assists the Legal Director and coordinates with other Directors in programmatic and operational oversight of the organization, including coordination with the grant coordinators and the Director of Operations to ensure our work meets the program performance expectations required by our federal funding and consistent with our organizational priorities.
• Coordinates with the Legal Director and other directors to develop and utilize a variety of strategies to accomplish system change, including legal and administrative challenges to systems unresponsive to client needs as well as education of policymakers, monitoring or investigations and collaborative advocacy.
• Coordinates with the Legal Director and other directors to develop community outreach and educational opportunities for legislators and leaders of the state executive branch agencies on organizational priorities with particular emphasis on systemic reform of public benefits.
• Ensures high quality legal and advocacy representation through staff training, routine guidance, providing opportunities for achievement and recognition, and enforcing professional accountability.
• Demonstrates command of law and legal procedure, monitors trends in litigation and policy development and communicates legal advice in a manner appropriate to the audience.
• Acts with utmost commitment to the code of professional conduct and ethics, sets example for professional conduct of all staff.
• Provides comprehensive oral and written reports of accomplishments to the Board of Directors, PAIMI Advisory Council and as required or requested by other executive, legislative or policy leaders.
• Completes accurate and timely administrative reports, manages resources, and ensures staff compliance with organizational fiscal and human resource policy and procedure.
• Oversee case selection and assignment, ensuring adherence to the agency’s Goals, Priorities and Objectives.
• Supervise and manage staff on case and project activity and legal representation.
• Participates in organizational events, maintains working relationship with other attorneys in public legal service and private practice, as well as relevant state and national advocacy organizations to enhance the visibility of the organization and further the rights of individuals with disabilities.
• Keeps contemporaneous accurate time entries and notes for case and project activity.
• Carries out other such duties as may from time to time be required.

Job Requirements - Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Member of the Florida Bar and all federal district bars in Florida within 6 months of appointment.
• Government clearance by the United States Government Office of Personal Management is required for this position.
• Knowledge of state and federal law, regulations, court, and administrative procedure as well as rules of professional conduct.
• Federal and state court litigation experience to include client contact, complex motion or appellate practice and significant litigation through jury or non-jury trial.   
• Ability to read, write and speak professionally and communicate effectively in English, including a working knowledge of correct grammar, punctuation, spelling, sentence structure and legal citation.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze complex problems, plan, and direct resolution.
• Proven leadership skills, knowledge of management principles and strategic planning, organizational skills to manage multiple priorities and meet internal and external deadlines.
• Ability to supervise and manage attorneys, as well and non-attorney team members, including advocate/investigators, paralegals, coordinators, and staff assistants in accordance with 4-5.3 Rules Regulating the Florida Bar.
• Knowledge of federal benefit and state social welfare systems, institutional regulations impacting individuals with disabilities.
• Public speaking skills.
• Proficient with use of a PC and Microsoft Office applications, especially Word and on-line research.
• Availability to travel, sometimes on short notice, throughout Florida, including rural areas.

Additional Skills & Abilities

• Strong organizational skills.
• Ability to work as a member of a team.
• Ability to communicate with varying levels of professionals. 
• Ability to be sensitive to the needs of individuals with disabilities.

Preferred Qualifications

• A passion for working with mission-driven organizations.
• Leadership and executive responsibilities within a public organization, non-profit  organization or law firm.
• Knowledge of and experience working with people with disabilities.
• A commitment to the mission of the P & A and to the civil rights of all people. 

Physical & Other Job-Related Requirements

• Usually performs work in an office environment, but this position will require work in non-standard workplaces such as state institutions, nursing homes or assisted living facilities, and group homes.
• Expected to travel within and outside the state as necessary. Travel Required- More than 20% of the time.

DFWP/EOE

Disability Rights Florida is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer that does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender, disability, medical condition, family leave status, citizenship status, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by local, state, or federal laws, rules, or regulations. Our organization’s equal opportunity policy applies to all employment practices and terms and conditions, including, without limitation, recruitment, employment, assignment training, compensation, benefits, promotions, disciplinary action and terminations. Disability Rights Florida welcomes referrals of all qualified applicants. To achieve our goal of equal opportunity, Disability Rights Florida maintains an affirmative action plan through which it makes good faith efforts to recruit, hire and advance in employment, qualified minorities, individuals with disabilities and veterans.

Job Type

Full-time

Salary

Salary is commensurate with education and experience

To Apply

Please submit a DRF Application, current resume, and a writing sample:

• by email: job529@disabilityrightsflorida.org
• by mail: Cynthia Ryan Harris, Disability Rights Florida, 2473 Care Dr., Suite 200, Tallahassee, FL 32308
• or by fax: 850-558-1821

Download Application