BROOKYLN LEGAL SERVICES SEEKS GRANTS AND CONTRACTS SPECIALIST

Our Organization

Brooklyn Legal Services is part of Legal Services NYC (LSNYC) and provides high-quality, innovative representation to address the pressing legal needs of Brooklyn’s diverse low-income population. LSNYC’s mission is to fight poverty and seek racial, social, and economic justice for low-income New Yorkers. LSNYC is the largest civil legal services provider in the country. Our staff of over 600 people in neighborhood-based offices and outreach sites across all five boroughs helps more than 110,000 New Yorkers annually. BLS focuses on the problems that have the greatest impact on our clients — preserving affordable and decent housing, maintaining income support, redressing abusive lending and consumer practices, promoting family stability and mitigating the effects of domestic violence, and advocating for vulnerable populations including low income immigrants, older adults and people with disabilities.

LSNYC prides itself on its Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) efforts. As a social justice organization, we are committed to fighting for a workplace that is as diverse, equitable, and inclusive as possible for everyone. Our DEIB committee and numerous affinity groups work to foster collegial relationships among staff and allow staff to explore and advocate for racial justice and anti-oppression growth within our organization and through our legal work. All employees are expected to learn about, seek to understand, and work to realize our DEIB goals. LSNYC provides numerous opportunities for growth and professional development, including funding for continuing education (CLE) hours.

The Opportunity

BLS seeks a Grants and Contracts Specialist to handle administrative and grants duties related to the BLS’ various grants and contracts. BLS’s Grants and Contracts Specialist (Grant Specialist) will report to BLS’ Director of Grants and Contract Management and will liaise with LSNYC’s Senior Grants and Contracts Specialists with regard to citywide anti-eviction and anti-displacement contracts and will work closely with other BLS staff members, especially BLS’ Director of Administration, Director of Intake and intake staff with regard to meeting grant and contract requirements across the program.

Tasks and responsibilities include:

• Assisting with grant/contract program client eligibility verification and assembling of documentation required by funders, as needed;
• Entering (and extracting) of grant/contract program information into internal case management systems and databases and/or case management systems and databases maintained by funders, as needed;
• Serving as a key point of contact for grant-funded programs which involves communicating with funder agency/program staff and, if appropriate, referring cases to LSNYC neighborhood offices;
• Communicating with practice leaders, staff advocates, contract managers, funders, and other staff about grant/contract-related needs and deadlines;
• Collaborating with practice leaders and other staff to assist in ensuring that LSNYC’s case management system and other databases are modified to collect all required data for grants and are able to generate custom reports providing these data elements, which includes working with practice leaders and staff to develop forms for data collection and strategies for reporting;
• Assisting in preparation of grant proposals, responding to RFPs, and preparing grant close-outs;
• Coordinating reporting and proposal deadlines;
• Participating in annual audit and funder audits as needed;
• Serving as a liaison to the Finance Department in order to secure grant and contract budgets and expenditure reports;
• Preparing written and oral presentations on grant performance and related subjects.

Requirements include:

• An understanding of computerized case management systems (such as Legal Server);
• Experience in grants administration, including compliance for performance-based contracts, data collection and analysis, and an interest in systems as they relate to grant reporting and compliance monitoring;
• Experience and/or interest in learning about housing grant eligibility, documentation requirements and compliance rules;
• Strong abilities in Excel, Windows, and Microsoft Word;
• Strong oral and written communication skills; and
• A strong attention to detail;
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and work under tight deadlines;
• The ability to work independently and under tight timeframes;
• An interest in contributing to LSNYC’s mission by performing grants administration tasks; and
• An ability to work collaboratively within a high paced multidisciplinary environment (borough attorneys, supervising attorneys, intake staff, grant managers, etc.) with many competing priorities.

In addition, we seek a candidate with a:

• Commitment to social justice, interest and experience working with and supporting diverse, low-income communities.

Health Recommendation

All employees are strongly encouraged to continue to receive and maintain up-to-date COVID vaccinations unless they are unable to for medical or religious reasons.

How to Apply

Applicants should send a cover letter, resume, and two writing samples to bkhiring@lsnyc.org. Please write “Grants and Contracts Specialist” in the subject line of the email. Only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted. No telephone calls. LSNYC is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer. People of color, women, people with disabilities, gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals are welcome and encouraged and encouraged to apply.

LSNYC acknowledges that applicants from groups that have been historically marginalized are less likely to apply for positions unless they feel that they meet 100% of a job description’s qualifications. We understand that the ideal candidate might not completely meet the criteria listed above or be equally proficient in each area; we especially encourage applicants who are impacted by LSNYC’s work to submit their application anyway.

Job#88_2024; Posted: 09.2024

Salary Range (Based on years’ experience):

• 1-10 years: $62,805 -$85,108
• 11-20 years: $87,256 - $104,721
• 21+ years: $109,961 - $120,073