Program Manager (Supervising Attorney)

OUR STATEMENT
The San José State University Research Foundation (SJSURF) is committed to building a work environment where everyone can show up as their own self and have an opportunity to contribute, develop, and advance in their career. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) are core values of the organization. We strive to attract, retain, and develop employees who reflect the community and society where we work and live. The Research Foundation aims to develop a culture where everyone feels welcome, shares their views, and where differences in backgrounds and perspectives are seen as adding value.

GENERAL NATURE OF POSITION
The Record Clearance Project (RCP) program manager, supervising attorney will supervise and perform RCP legal services work providing needed services to those who cannot afford them and by educating undergraduates to deliver those services with dignity and respect. RCP’s legal services program informs people regarding their legal rights to a clear record and provides the legal assistance necessary for them to achieve the second chance that the law promises. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide RCP legal services and supervise RCP staff and students in providing:

• Brief legal advice interview sessions, including intake, research, preparation of individualized written materials to provide clients, and post-interview record-keeping.

• Presentations regarding expungement rights to people in the community and in custody.

• Legal representation, including research, interviewing, and preparing legal documents. 

• Assure accurate, complete data collection, record-keeping, and reporting obligations to meet contractual goals.

• Provide budget and funding oversight for legal services work. 

• Handle other duties as assigned to assist the RCP project director with program tasks.

INTERPERSONAL CONTACTS

• Reports to RCP project director.

• Frequently interacts with students, staff, community members, court, custody officials, community organizations, faculty, pro bono volunteers, funders, and others in carrying out responsibilities described.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
The Supervising Attorney will supervise RCP staff and students.

QUALIFICATIONS
Minimum Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree required.

• Admission to California Bar Association in good standing.

• Experience working in a diverse, multi-cultural setting.  Knowledge of issues affecting low-income communities and/or communities of color.

• Experience working in self-directed, high initiative-low supervision environments.

Additional Requirements

• Strong verbal and written communications skills, organizational and time management skills with a focus on multi-tasking, prioritization and adaptability.  

• Interest in supporting students to develop competence in assisting clients in understanding legal options available to justice-impacted clients.

• Quick response time and flexibility needed to meet legal and reporting deadlines.

• Ability to prioritize tasks, to work independently, to maintain confidentiality, and to take initiative to improve upon current operations.

• Ability to be cleared to enter jail to offer presentations.

• Excellent judgment, independent creative problem-solving skills.

• Ability to maintain and organize data regarding services provided for accountability to clients and reporting to funders.

• Excellent communication and writing skills.

• Demonstrated ability to cultivate and maintain positive working relationships with colleagues, faculty and representatives of various organizations and agencies. 

• Proficient in the use of MS Office (Word, Excel, Access, Gmail), Windows or other applicable software packages.  

Desired Accomplishments

• Justice-impacted or direct experience with justice-impacted individuals

• Language capabilities beyond English.

• Familiarity with Record Clearance Project 

Physical Demands

• Must be able to effectively and efficiently operate a computer, including mouse and keyboard, and general office equipment.

• Must be able to do community education presentations in person in Santa Clara County area.

A background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate can be offered a position with the SJSURF. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the application status of applicants or the continued employment of current SJSURF employees who apply for the position.

PLEASE NOTE: This position is considered a “sensitive” position by SJSURF and California State University (CSU) policy. Consequently, the successful candidate must undergo and successfully complete the Live Scan (fingerprinting) background check as a condition of their employment. This background check must be completed before the actual start of employment.

NOTE: This position description intends to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. It is not intended to include all duties and responsibilities. The order in which duties and responsibilities are listed is not significant.

Compensation Range:

BENEFITS
The SJSURF provides an excellent benefits package to benefited employees. The comprehensive benefits package includes:

• Four company health insurance plans to choose from (employee contributions differ according to plan and level of coverage).

• Employer-paid dental and vision for both employee and eligible dependents.

• Life, AD&D, LTD with supplemental coverage opportunities.

• 14 paid federal & state holidays.

• Retirement Plan: 403 (b) employee contribution plan component and a 403 (b) employer contribution component, which vests immediately.

• Vacation-hour accruals and separate sick-hour accumulations.

• Employee discounts.

• Paid training and professional-development conferences.

Please visit the Benefits & Compensation page on the SJSURF website for more detailed information.
 

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION
The SJSURF is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with physical or mental disabilities in the employment, recruitment, examination, interviewing, and hiring processes. If you are a job seeker with a physical or mental disability, and you require a reasonable accommodation to search, apply, or interview for a job opening or otherwise need a reasonable accommodation during the application and hiring process, please contact us at foundation-jobs@sjsu.edu. In the email message, please indicate your full name, phone number and the type of assistance required. You must not reveal the underlying medical reason for your needed reasonable accommodation or otherwise disclose confidential medical information.
 
ABOUT THE SJSU RESEARCH FOUNDATION
SJSURF employment is separate and distinct from San José State University (SJSU) or state of California employment. SJSURF employees are not employees of SJSU or of the state of California. SJSURF is a non-profit auxiliary of SJSU. SJSURF is totally self-supported. The majority of the organization’s funding comes from the federal government, and other public and private entities. With annual revenues totaling over $65 million, programs managed through SJSURF cover a rich diversity of applied research, public services, and educational-related activities.
 
San José State University Research Foundation is an Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, gender, religion, marital status, registered domestic partner status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, sex, genetic information, sexual orientation, military and veteran status or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws. It also prohibits unlawful discrimination based on the perception that anyone has any of those characteristics, or is associated with a person who has or is perceived as having any of those characteristics.

It is our policy to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment. All employment practices such as recruitment, selection, promotions, and other terms and conditions of employment are administered in a manner designed to ensure that employees and applicants for employment or services are not subjected to discrimination. We are committed to providing a work environment free from discrimination and harassment, and where employees are treated with respect and dignity. This policy is in accordance with federal, state and local laws and reaffirms the Research Foundation’s continuing commitment to both the spirit and intent of equal employment opportunity laws and policies.

San José State University Research Foundation is an EOE M/F/Vet/Disability. Learn more about our organizations EEO and AAP policy by visiting our website HERE. Data metrics on the AAP is available for review upon request. Please also visit OFCCP for additional resources: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ofccp/posters.

If you have any questions or need assistance or an accommodation in completing this application, please contact Research Foundation HR at (408) 924-5582.
 

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