Position Details
Program Officer for Special Projects and Technology II|III Apply
Department: Office of Program Performance
Employment Status: Regular/Full-Time/Exempt
ABOUT LSC:
Established by Congress in 1974, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) is the country’s single largest funder of civil legal aid for low-income Americans. LSC currently funds 131 independent nonprofit legal aid organizations with more than 800 offices throughout the nation. LSC’s mission is to promote equal access to justice and provide grants for high-quality civil legal assistance to low-income Americans. This position is based in Washington, DC, and requires working from an office in DC in accordance with LSC’s hybrid work model. The successful candidate must live in the DC metropolitan area.
BASIC FUNCTION:
Under the general direction of the Director of the Office of Program Performance (OPP) and their designee, engages in project management for the Technology Initiative Grants (TIG) program special projects, works with grantee programs to use technology to improve the delivery of legal services to the eligible population, and assists with managing the TIG program. Moderate travel is required annually. This position is part of a collective bargaining unit represented by the International Federation of Professional & Technical Engineers, Local 135.
PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Project Management
- Serves as project manager for TIG Special Projects focused on technology’s importance in improving legal service delivery, including the Legal Services Corporation’s (LSC) annual Innovations in Technology Conference (ITC). Project management responsibilities include, but are not limited to, developing project plans, creating website content, preparing and monitoring budgets and project scopes, and ensuring effective communication and information sharing between consultants and internal stakeholders to ensure the success and timeliness of each project.
- ITC project management includes, but is not limited to: designing the conference agenda, recruiting speakers and presenters, developing marketing materials and website content, communicating and promoting the conference, collaborating with other LSC offices as necessary, including with LSC’s travel office on attendee registration and conference logistics and the Office of Institutional Advancement to identify conference sponsors and exhibitors.
- Consults with TIG team members to leverage their expertise and collaboration to ensure the successful planning, execution, and delivery of TIG special projects.
- Collaborates with the TIG team and LSC’s Office of Training and Technical Assistance (OTTA) to develop and execute training programs for a national network of LSC grantees on civil legal aid technology.
- Implements best practices in change management techniques to ensure smooth transitions for special projects and the successful adoption of new processes, tools, and technologies within the TIG program and with internal and external stakeholders.
Grantmaking, Portfolio Management, and Continuous Program Improvement
- Collaborates with Technology Initiative Grant (TIG) team members, OPP Management, and LSC leadership to further develop existing grantmaking strategies and to manage, monitor, and coordinate a grants portfolio of approximately $5 million annually.
- Collaborates with the TIG team to develop and implement improved procedures and systems for grantmaking, including executing the various stages of the grant lifecycle and overseeing Technology Initiative Grants. Collaborates with the TIG team to evaluate the impact of these grants and identify best practices for the creative and innovative use of technology in improving civil legal aid work across the United States.
- Provides targeted change management and project management support to grantees facing challenges in planning and implementing their TIG projects to ensure the successful completion and implementation of TIG projects. Offers strategies to overcome obstacles, ensure effective implementation, and maintain alignment and compliance with the grant terms, budget, and project scope.
- Leads and/or participates in onsite or remote visits to and oversight of grantee organizations to evaluate TIG projects, provide technical assistance, assess grantees’ delivery system, particularly related to technology, and identify areas for improvement.
Knowledge Management and Thought Leadership
- Keeps abreast of successful TIG projects and existing research, current trends, and emerging issues related to the intersection of technology and the delivery of legal services to develop and maintain a repository of information and resources to promote peer-to-peer learning among LSC’s grantee community. Collaborates with LSC’s OTTA to create and deliver training and educational materials to promote the TIG program and advocate for innovative technology solutions to improve the delivery of and access to civil legal services.
- Works closely with the TIG team program officers to actively engage with national, regional, and statewide access to justice partners to establish and maintain partnerships, thereby elevating LSC’s role and profile in the legal tech and access to justice stakeholder communities. Develop systems to track the TIG team’s relationships with national organizations and collaborate with the TIG team to identify strategies for building strategic partnerships.
- Develops and maintains a breadth of knowledge about existing research, current trends, and emerging issues related to the intersection of technology and the delivery of legal services.
Intra-Department Collaboration
- Manages the information flow between TIG grantees and LSC departments for TIG special projects through contemporaneous and consolidated reporting using dashboards to provide a high-level overview of project performance and accompanying summary documents for internal LSC viewing.
- In collaboration with the TIG team, makes presentations about legal service delivery approaches and best practices for LSC staff, LSC board of directors’ meetings, and LSC-sponsored events and other convenings.
- Responds to requests for grantee information by LSC management and the Office of Government Relations and Public Affairs (GRPA), serving as a resource on past and current TIG grantees and LSC’s grantee community. Provides other specialized expertise related to legal service delivery, mainly through technology.
- Works with OPP and the Office of Information Technology and Operations (OITO) to improve LSC’s internal technology systems and usage related to the TIG program. This includes troubleshooting and recommending modifications to LSC’s grants management system to support the TIG team’s grants management and oversight responsibilities.
Other Responsibilities
- Contributes to the collaborative process of developing goals, objectives, and operational plans for the TIG program.
- Works on other special projects as assigned by OPP’s Director and their assignee.
- Performs other related duties as assigned.
COMPETENCIES REQUIRED
General
- Excellent written communication skills with demonstrated ability to produce professional, clear, well-written work product that requires minimal editing. Excellent oral communication and interpersonal skills with demonstrated ability to reach different audiences and effectively manage conflicts.
- Experience analyzing complicated concepts and offering cogent conclusions. Unimpeachable integrity and adherence to the highest standards of ethics and professionalism.
- Ability to function in a discreet, diplomatic, and confidential matter. Must possess sound judgment and articulate well-informed and objective recommendations.
- A high degree of flexibility, capacity for self-management, and attention to detail. Strong organizational skills.
- Adaptable and able to manage multiple priorities with shifting and/or competing priorities and tight deadlines.
- Understanding of and commitment to organizational mission and goals. Ability to influence, motivate, challenge, and inspire confidence among others. Ability to work well with people from diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and working styles.
Technical/Specialized Expertise
- Minimum Experience:
- For Program Officer II, a bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline and a minimum of seven years of experience related to technology project management, grants management, and conference/special event planning and program management, or 10 years of combined education and experience.
- For Program Officer III, a bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline in a relevant discipline and at least 11 years of relevant experience or 15 years of combined education and experience.
- Experience working with legal services providers, the court system, or non-profit organizations is preferred.
- Demonstrated track record of successfully organizing large-scale conferences and workshops, including agenda setting, speaker coordination, marketing, attendee registration, and onsite logistics management.
- Demonstrated experience in project management, encompassing project planning, budgeting, scheduling, resource allocation, risk management, and stakeholder communication.
- Ability to determine informational needs, collect and analyze information, and develop statistical analyses and reports.
- Capacity to understand nonprofit technology, including the capacity to develop or leverage an existing understanding of the intersection of technology and the justice system, recognizing the potential impact that technology, particularly emerging technology, can have on the delivery of legal services.
- Ability to develop and implement systems and best practices for grant oversight.
- High-level proficiency in Smartsheet or similar project management software platforms and Microsoft Office—MS Outlook, Word, Excel, Teams, Project, and PowerPoint.
SALARY AND BENEFITS:
Program Officer II
Salary: $108,490
Salary Range: $108,490-$112,873
Program Officer III
Salary: $125,896
Salary Range: $125,896-$130,982
LSC has a competitive market-based salary structure that establishes a specific salary range for this position. The salary range has eight pay levels separated by seven steps. An employee must wait two years to advance in Steps 1 through 4. New hires typically begin at Step 1. In special circumstances, LSC may authorize a new hire to start at a higher step based on a special need or superior qualifications of the new employee.
Excellent benefits package.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE:
Please apply through LSC’s online application portal at www.tinyurl.com/applytoLSC. A cover letter and résumé must be included. To have your application considered, please answer all application questions and provide all requested information.
Note: If you need reasonable accommodations in the application process, please notify OHR at jobapplicant@lsc.gov.
DIVERSITY STATEMENT:
We are committed to diversity, equity and inclusion. Our differences fuel excellence, and we strive to create an environment where every individual is valued and feels empowered to bring their full, authentic self to work. We are building a community rooted in openness and trust where colleagues have the resources to grow, thrive and fully contribute to achieving equal access to justice.
LSC is an equal opportunity employer.
