POSITION SUMMARY
Philadelphia VIP seeks an energetic, goal-oriented team player to serve as its Landlord-Tenant Initiative Outreach Coordinator, focusing on Philadelphia’s emerging eviction crisis. The Outreach Coordinator will build VIP’s long-term capacity to represent low-income clients facing eviction by helping design, implement, and support programs that provide renters facing a scheduled eviction hearing with legal representation from a volunteer attorney.
The ideal candidate is a self-starter, highly detail-oriented, and successful at managing multiple deadlines; has strong skills in written and oral communication and demonstrated experience in working with people from a range of socio-economic background; and cares deeply about access to justice for underserved communities, values volunteers, and enjoys working on a collaborative team.
VIP values a diverse work environment and strongly encourages people of color, people who identify as LGBTQ, and people with disabilities to apply.
This is a one-year AmeriCorps VISTA position. An overview of VISTA benefits for 2021, including living allowance and health benefits, is located here: Overview of 2021 VISTA Member Benefits.
KEY QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s Degree required. This position does not require a law degree.
- Close attention to detail, organized, and comfortable working individually as well as in a team.
- Willing to work in a fast-paced environment and able to manage and move between multiple, simultaneous projects and track deadlines.
- Strong written and oral communication skills.
- Experience in data entry, database management, and full suite of Microsoft Office programs.
- Embraces technology, including leading-edge case management systems.
- Passion for access to justice for underserved communities.
KEY FUNCTIONS
Build capacity to serve more tenants through initiatives that engage a critical mass of volunteers:
- Use the knowledge of underlying law and court processes to expand and/or make needed refinements to service models, including VIP’s Tenant Defense Team approach.
- Develop best practices and templates for clinics and projects that can be replicated by VIP and shared with partner agencies.
- Build relationships with partner agencies to identify legal issues that are best addressed in a project or clinic setting.
Guide and support clients and volunteer attorneys throughout the life of the case:
- Develop an understanding of the underlying law and court processes for eviction cases.
- Interview new clients to gather necessary information and documents, and with attorney supervision, assess the legal merit of cases.
- Provide ongoing case management, including by developing relationships with clients and volunteer attorneys and by facilitating the volunteer-client relationship.
- With attorney supervision, provide technical assistance to volunteers and obtain case updates.
- Monitor cases for deadlines and emergencies.
Identify strategies to increase volunteer participation:
- Analyze the existing systems for matching clients with volunteers, including which factors are indicative of a successful case placement, implement strategies to improve case placement.
- Work with internal and external partners to extend the time to place a case with a volunteer, including streamlining the referral process and expediting the current placement process.
- Study case placement metrics and volunteer feedback to determine best practices for volunteer outreach.
Recruit and retain volunteer attorneys in private practice to represent tenants facing eviction and increase volunteer capacity for long-term participation through repeat engagements:
- Use multiple modes to recruit volunteer attorneys and match them with clients, including maintaining volunteer records to identify potential volunteers for new cases.
- Deepen partnerships with key stakeholders, and participate in volunteer recognition efforts.
- Assist in planning, execution, and follow-up for volunteer clinics, trainings, and other events.
HOW TO APPLY:
Email cover letter and resume to Karna Laubenstein, Director of Operations, klaubenstein@phillyvip.org. No calls, please. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with a priority deadline of August 31, 2021.
What to include in your cover letter: We invite you to include a statement about how your unique background and/or experiences might contribute to the diversity, cultural vitality, and perspective of VIP’s staff team and legal practice.