DIRECTOR OF GRANTS & COMPLIANCE

Supervisor: Executive Director
Salary: Depends on experience and qualifications
Hours per Week: 40

Summary:

Experienced professional to maintain and expand upon relationships with solid core of existing grant partners (foundation, corporate, state and federal) while identifying and cultivating prospects for individual and corporate giving.  Primary responsibility is timely production of grant applications and grant reporting; will also handle day-to-day details of startup direct mail campaign and some aspects of annual chef’s event.

Responsibilities:

Grant Management

·      Primary responsibility for developing and renewing institutional (state and federal) grants to support agency services.

·      Primary responsibility for the reporting process for all institutional grants and other funds that support client services.

Agency Outcomes

·      Develop and monitor program policies and procedures to insure compliance with funding sources and to promote an efficient service delivery system

·      Develop/revise and implement mechanisms to evaluate agency programs and services

Client Outreach

·      Supervise the creation of user-friendly materials that explain agency services, legal rights/options, nature/impact of domestic violence, etc. to various client populations.

·     Provide primary recordkeeping for agency’s Client Assistance Fund

Agency Administration

·     Participate in the overall management of the agency by providing leadership to facilitate agency growth and development

·      Ensure compliance with policies adopted by Board of Directors

·      Assist in developing and reviewing an annual budget, administrative policies and procedures, and annual and long-term strategic plans

·      Assist in recruitment, training and deployment of graduate-student interns and of program and special-event volunteers

Minimum Requirements:

BA; at least five years experience with proven record of results; strong written and verbal communication skills and polished presentation self-motivated, with ability to work with minimal supervision.

To Apply:

Please e-mail, fax or send a resume and cover letter to:

Denise Pena
Office Manager
denisep@avda-tx.org
(Tel) 713-224-9911 x 221
(Fax) 713-715-6935

BI-LINGUAL CLIENT ADVOCATE

Supervisor: Director of Victim Services
Salary: Depends on experience and qualifications
Hours per Week: 40

Summary:

The Client Advocate works with individual victims of domestic violence to help them identify and accomplish their goals.  S/he is a voice for change in the community by advocating on a systems level for the safety and self-determination of battered women.

Responsibilities:

Provide safety planning, information and referral and personal/legal advocacy for victims of domestic violence in accordance with agency procedures

• Complete intakes for new client Protective Order calls and diverted clients from the Harris County DA’s office, shelters and in the office or as assigned

• Meet individually with clients for advocacy and Protective Order intake sessions 

• Initiate and continue ongoing contact with advocacy and legal clients and provide case management services:

• Ensure that their case is proceeding through the system in a timely manner and that we have the most current information regarding their phone numbers and addresses, employment, and general well-being

• Assist clients in securing basic needs, such as shelter, government  benefits, emergency food, counseling, etc.

• Answer questions and explain proceedings to the client

• Accompany clients to legal and social service appointments

• Utilize the case management system to adequately log new client calls and document all client contact

• Complete and submit service logs, timesheets, statistical reports and other paperwork in a timely manner and in accordance with agency procedures

• Assist in creating/editing client procedures, forms and handouts

• Perform other duties as assigned

Help create awareness about domestic violence and foster community coordination

• Develop and maintain cooperative relationships with police, prosecutors, courts, social service and domestic violence agencies

• Participate in the agency’s Speakers’ Bureau and assist with fundraising and awareness activities

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in a human services, legal field or equivalent knowledge in the Domestic Violence field 

• Knowledge of domestic violence and the law as it pertains to domestic violence

• Empathetic listening and interviewing skills; prior advocacy experience preferred

• Excellent oral and written communication skills in both English and Spanish

• Proficiency with PCs, including word processing and databases, and other general office machines

• Dependable transportation

• Ability to work flexible hours

To Apply:

Please e-mail, fax or send a resume and cover letter to:

Denise Pena
Office Manager
denisep@avda-tx.org
(Tel) 713-224-9911 x 221
(Fax) 713-715-6935

BI-LINGUAL PARALEGAL

Supervisor: Managing Attorney
Salary: Depends on experience and qualifications
Hours per Week: 40

Summary:

The Paralegal works with and at the direction of the attorney to ensure responsible and timely delivery of legal services for domestic violence victims seeking protective orders, divorces and child custody/support in Harris County family courts.

Responsibilities: 

• Interview client and review questionnaire in order to select, assemble, summarize, and compile substantial information
• Prepare all court documents and pleadings
• Organize client information for court appearances, including interview of witnesses
• Legal Research, including file review in court
• Perform all aspects of Discovery
• Subpoena any records that may be needed for hearings
• Advise and discuss issues of the case with client
• Assist attorney when needed in court
• Negotiate with opposing counsel under attorney's direction
• Ensure all aspects of scheduling orders are fulfilled
• Complete intakes for new client calls and provide victims with crisis counseling, information, referrals, and advocacy as assigned
•  In conjunction with client advocates, ensure that legal clients receive safety planning, information and referral and personal/legal advocacy in accordance with the agency philosophy and following agency procedures
• Utilize the electronic case management system and complete and submit service logs, litigation reports, timesheets and other paperwork in a timely manner and in accordance with agency procedures
• Help create awareness about domestic violence and assist with fundraising efforts as needed
• Provide on-the-job training, supervision and support for student interns and volunteers working in the legal program
• Demonstrate an understanding of and the ability to be sensitive to the complex and unique needs of domestic violence victims and to people of varying lifestyles, ethnicity, and religious groups
• Perform other duties as assigned

Qualifications:

• Associates degree, or equivalent paralegal experience
• Paralegal certification and at least one year’s experience working as a paralegal with family law cases preferred
• Bilingual English/Spanish
• Advanced proficiency with PCs, including word processing and databases, and other general office machines
• Ability to work under deadlines
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, preferably in both English and Spanish or English and Vietnamese
• Ability to work flexible hours
• Dependable transportation

To Apply:

Please e-mail, fax or send a resume and cover letter to:

Denise Pena
Office Manager
denisep@avda-tx.org
(Tel) 713-224-9911 x 221
(Fax) 713-715-6935

BI-LINGUAL ATTORNEY

Supervisor: Managing Attorney
Salary: Depends on experience and qualifications
Hours per Week: 40

Responsibilities:

A bi-lingual attorney at AVDA will represent victims of domestic abuse in court and in front of administrative agencies of government. An attorney will conduct civil lawsuits, draw up legal documents, interview clients and witnesses and advise clients about their legal rights. Responsibilities will include:

• Developing and implementing successful legal strategies on behalf of AVDA clients.

• Conducting legal research necessary for case presentation.

• Maintaining an approved active client load which includes, but is not limited to representing clients in court and at administrative hearings

• Advising low income battering victims about their legal rights.

• Preparing legal briefs, arguing cases and negotiating with local agencies on behalf of our clients.

• Adhering to the State Bar of Texas’ Rules of Disciplinary Procedures as well as Legal Service Corporation, Texas Equal Access to Justice Foundation and other funder regulations and restrictions.

• Maintaining regular AVDA office hours.

Qualifications:

An AVDA attorney must be a graduate of an accredited Law School and licensed to practice in Texas or qualify for reciprocity.

Minimum Skills and Abilities include:

• Strong writing and oral communication skills. .
• Experience conducting computer and standard legal research. 
• Demonstrated client service orientation and the ability to communicate effectively with low-income victims of domestic abuse.
• Skilled in interviewing, assessment, problem solving and negotiation.
• Demonstrated ability to aggressively pursue the rights of the client community.
• Bi-lingual in Spanish/English.

To Apply:

Please e-mail, fax or send a resume and cover letter to:

Denise Pena
Office Manager
denisep@avda-tx.org
(Tel) 713-224-9911 x 221
(Fax) 713-715-6935

BI-LINGUAL GROUP FACILITATOR

Supervisor: BIPP Director
Salary: Depends on experience and qualifications
Hours per Week: 40 (incl. some evenings)

A Bilingual Group Facilitator

Responsibilities of a Bilingual Group Facilitator include leading psychoeducational  groups in English and Spanish for individuals who are abusive in their relationships, conducting evaluations and orientations, and providing case management and community outreach.  The goal of the program is to increase accountability, promote non-violence and respect, and to identify and cease abusive behaviors.

Facilitators typically conduct 4 groups per week (some groups are in the evenings), plus individual assessment for incoming clients.   Case management entails maintaining case files and maintaining contact with referral sources such as probation, parole, the courts, and CPS.    

Excellent interpersonal skills and patience are a must in this position, given that the work is with often very challenging clientele.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or advanced degree in human services field, LPC or LMSW preferred
• Knowledge of dynamics of domestic violence
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, both English and Spanish
• Proficiency with PCs, databases, and word processing
• Dependable transportation
• Ability to work flexible hours

To Apply:

Please e-mail, fax or send a resume and cover letter to:

Sherri Kendall
BIPP Director
sherrik@avda-tx.org
(Tel) 713-224-9911 x 225
(Fax) 713-715-6945

BATTERING INTERVENTION PROGRAM ASSISTANT

Supervisor: BIPP Director
Salary: Depends on experience and qualifications
Hours per Week: 40

Responsibilities for the BIPP Program Assistant include assisting the Program Director, Client Registrar and Group Facilitators with client registration and day-to-day workings of  BIPP client case management.  This will primarily include assisting with registrations, confirming appointments, and various reporting requirements such as notifications to referral sources (i.e. probation or courts), victim/partner letters, and file closures.  Bilingual skills will be necessary for registering Spanish-speaking clients for the program.

While portions of the position are clerical in nature, interpersonal skills and patience are a must, as the Program Assistant will also have regular contact by phone with a very challenging clientele.

Qualifications

• Fully bilingual with excellent oral and written communication skills in English and Spanish
• Proficiency with PCs, databases, and word-processing, especially Word, Access and Excel
• Excellent organizational skills
• Dependable transportation
• Ability to work with challenging clients

To Apply:

Please e-mail, fax or send a resume and cover letter to:

Sherri Kendall
BIPP Director
sherrik@avda-tx.org
(Tel) 713-224-9911 x 225
(Fax) 713-715-6945