Director of NYS Guardianship Initiatives

About Project Guardianship

Project Guardianship (PG) provides guardianship services for older adults and people living with disabilities and mental illness in New York who have been determined by a judicial proceeding to need help making decisions and have no family or friends able to assist them. PG’s team approach employs attorneys, case managers, and finance associates to provide clients with services that allow them to be as independent and in the least restrictive setting as possible. Since 2005, PG has served hundreds of New Yorkers and has become a leading voice in a national, interdisciplinary effort to re-envision and strengthen guardianship policy.

Position Summary

Project Guardianship seeks an organizer to lead one of its key initiatives: developing a framework for a statewide guardianship system in New York. Reporting to the President & CEO, the Director of Statewide Initiatives will work to develop and engage a network of nonprofit providers of guardianship services across New York State. The Director will build partnerships with a variety of stakeholders – Courts, government agencies, nonprofits, academic institutions, professional guardians, healthcare systems, etc. – and gather information about guardianship services and needs across NYS. The Director will develop pilot projects in partnership with providers outside New York City both for new models of guardianship services and for less restrictive alternatives.

Primary Responsibilities

·        Lead network building activities in conjunction with the Director of Policy and Advocacy;

·        Facilitate and coordinate effective meetings and communication among network members;

·        Conduct a resource and needs assessment;

·        Initiate and set goals for the pilot programs based on work plan objectives;

·        Oversee the Training and Education Manager and meet goals for conducting presentations and trainings and developing educational materials; 

·        Oversee the development of a Guardianship Best Practices guide;

·        With the Data and Evaluation Manager, share Project Guardianship’s data practices, logic model, and research findings with partners and work towards better data practices across the network;

·        Draft a proposed framework for a statewide guardianship system;

·        In conjunction with Director of Policy and Advocacy, conduct outreach to elected officials and policymakers to gain support for new legislation to formalize and fund the network to ensure long term stability and sustainability;

·        Monitor evaluation and success of program;

·        Support the Executive Director in meeting grant goals, and other duties as may be necessary.

Qualifications

·        MSW or Master’s Degree in Human Services, Public Administration, or related field;

·        At least 5 years of work experience, or other relevant work/education experience;

·        Minimum of 3-5 years’ supervisory experience;

·        Experience overseeing large scale programs;

·        Experience in community organizing and coalition building;

·        Article 81 guardianship experience preferred;

·        Ability to work independently and as part of a team;  

·        Strong written and oral communication skills;

·        Strong multi-tasking skills, attention to detail and ability to perform well under pressure;

·        Commitment to social justice;

·        Passion for working with older adults and/or people with disabilities desirable

Salary

·        $85,000-$100,000 (starting salary commensurate with experience).

·        Full benefits including health, dental, vision, retirement plan with employer match, long- and short-term disability, life insurance, and generous paid time-off policy.

Please indicate your salary requirement in your cover letter.

Project Guardianship is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without unlawful discrimination based on race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, prior record of arrest or conviction, citizenship status, current employment status, or caregiver status.

Project Guardianship works to advance justice, particularly racial justice, in an increasingly multicultural country and globally connected world. We value diverse experiences, including with regard to educational background and justice system contact, and depend on a diverse staff to carry out our mission.

For more information about Project Guardianship’s work, please visit www.projectguardianship.org.