Job Description

Job Location New York County Court - New York, NY 10013 Position Type Full-Time Exempt Salary Range $80,000.00 - $90,000.00 Salary/year

Title: Director of Court Advocacy Services

Unit: Court Advocacy

Reports to: AVP of Programs

Status: Full-Time; Regular; Exempt

Salary Range: $80,000-$90,000 annually

Main Location: Manhattan Criminal Court

Alternating Locations: Queens, Bronx, Brooklyn, and Manhattan ATI courthouse offices

Days/Hours: Monday-Friday; day hours of 9AM-5PM & night hours 5PM-1AM; plus alternating weekends as needed

Organization Overview:

The Fortune Society, Inc. (Fortune) has been working for over 57 years in service to our mission: to support successful reentry from incarceration and promote alternatives to incarceration, thus strengthening the fabric of our communities. The organization has evolved into one of the nation’s preeminent reentry and justice-informed service organizations, providing formerly incarcerated people with the skills and wrap-around services needed to break the cycle of crime and incarceration and to build productive lives in their communities.

Fortune has grown steadily over the years to an agency with close to $90 million in annual budget with just under 600 staff. We anticipate that we will keep growing, both in size and depth of service. Fortune has a dual mission: both advocacy and service. The advocacy portion of our mission focuses on building a more just criminal legal system and reducing the barriers to reentry into society. The service side of Fortune has evolved to encompass a broad range of programs that started with employment and education and now includes a robust array of services, among them: alternatives to incarceration, supervised release, court advocacy, discharge planning within correctional facilities, licensed substance use and mental health treatment, a housing continuum ranging from emergency and transitional through permanent congregate and scattered site housing, assistance in obtaining benefits, a care management unit, HIV services, a food and nutrition program, and an arts program. Each service we provide is informed by the needs of the population we serve. Fortune currently serves approximately 14,000 people a year.. Our program models are recognized, both nationally and internationally, for their quality and innovation. We have locations in Brooklyn, The Bronx, Manhattan and Queens.

Direct oversight over the DANY Court-Based Navigator Program and our Court Advocacy teams, including the day-to-day operations and supervision and guidance of all court advocacy staff in both day and night shifts. Maintain current and developing new relations with court and community stakeholders. Work alongside the Director of ATI and in tandem with other Fortune departments, specifically behavioral health, to ensure all programming is provided in a timely and effective manner. The Director will supervise, evaluate and support the development of staff within the court advocacy unit, including maintaining regularly scheduled supervision sessions in day and night court and overseeing day to day job performance and ensuring program goals are met by reviewing the data for all programs on a routine basis.

Core Competencies:

Mission and Fit Embodies Fortune’s mission and values and will be an effective member of the team in furthering both. The candidate should exhibit compassion and understanding for our participants (wherever they are in their re-entry process) and embrace Fortune’s core value that none of us should be measured against the worst things we have done.

Professionalism The Director must portray a steadfast, responsible, organized demeanor in their interactions with court parties, in order to maintain good relations. The front face of this initiative to the Courts will be the Director, and it will require that they embody finesse, confidence, drive and ambition.

Communication The Director must be able to communicate effectively with external stakeholders, including defense and district attorneys, judges, other court parties, and internal program staff. The Director must understand the role of each of these stakeholders and how to communicate with them all.

Time Management Arraignment Court can be a fast paced, unpredictable, chaotic environment. The Director is tasked with communicating with court parties, overseeing client screenings, fielding calls from court stakeholders and internal program staff, and coordinating with other departments as needed. Prioritizing the above is imperative in being able to manage the work and do it effectively. This job requires a presence at night.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Develop and maintain relationships with court stakeholders;

• Ensure all services rendered are documented in data management system as required by the agency and by funding sources;

• Ensure timely and accurate internal reporting, including playing an active role in development and implementation of new reports as needed to assess program effectiveness and achievement of desired outcomes;

• Plan, develop, conduct and/or arrange in-service training to maintain and improve staff competencies and optimal service delivery;

• Develop and implement corrective action plans as needed;

• Clearly communicate unit and agency priorities and ensure that priorities set are carried out;

• Assess, recommend, develop and implement accountability systems and best practice strategies to ensure compliance with programmatic requirements while producing maximum client outcomes;

• Provide both formal and informal staff assessment, and recommend hiring, firing, promotional and disciplinary decisions concerning staff members to the AVP of Programs;

• Render client assessments and write narratives if coverage is needed;

• Provide short-term crisis intervention as needed and make appropriate referrals for appropriate services;

• Chair case conferences, stakeholder meetings, and other programmatic services as directed;

• Participate as an active member of the data review to ensure targets are met;

• Ensure timely processes and documentation for enrollments and discharges;

• Provide coverage as needed in day and night shifts when staff are out and coverage is required;

• Able to work nights and occasional alternating weekends as needed

• Develop, monitor and conduct quality improvement to ensure program goals/objectives are achieved;

• Perform other duties as assigned

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Directly oversee the DANY Court-Based Navigator Team & the Court Advocacy teams; carry out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and engaging employees; addressing employee relations, supporting staff and resolving problems.

Qualifications

Qualifications:

• Master’s degree preferred, preferably in social work, public health, human services, criminal justice, sociology or related field;
• Three or more years preferred of full-time management experience, in the field of substance use, mental health and/or criminal justice with clientele like that served by the program(s) and with experience supervising counselors/social workers;
• One year minimum of supervisory experience;
• Computer literate; advanced skills such as Excel and database applications are a plus;
• Team-oriented, anticipatory self-starter working style; a strong work ethic, and the ability to think strategically required;

We seek talented, dedicated individuals from all walks of life who possess a strong commitment to this mission. Relevant personal experience is a plus.

Physical Demands:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The responsibilities and requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skills, minimum education, training, licensing, experience and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

The Fortune Society is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will be afforded equal employment opportunities without discrimination because of conviction history, race, religion/creed, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, military status, predisposing genetic characteristics, victim of domestic violence status or marital status.