Regional Director of Advocacy (Agricultural Workers Program)

WHO WE ARE: Founded in 1966, CRLA’s mission is to fight for justice and individual rights alongside the most exploited communities of our society. Through a network of regional offices and cross-cutting programs, CRLA provides legal services to over 43,000 low-income people annually. Our work impacts farm workers, individuals with disabilities, immigrant populations, LGBT+ communities, women, children and families in rural areas.

The Agricultural Worker Program (AWP) provides targeted services to California's agricultural workers (greenhouses, dairies, orchards, nurseries, farm workers) through a hub of five offices located in the state of California (Stockton, Fresno, Salinas, Coachella, Oxnard). 

• Position:      Regional Director of Advocacy - Agricultural Worker Program
• Experience: 5+ years active civil legal practice
• Application Deadline: Open until filled
• Location:     Any CRLA Agricultural Worker Program Office
• Term of Employment: Regular, Full-Time
• Other:          FLSA Exempt, Non-Union Position

The Regional Director of Advocacy (RDA) will lead counseling and co-counseling of major litigation, supervision of program staff, training and coordination of task forces or work/team groups. The Regional Director of Advocacy should have experience in advocacy and management including; supervision, mentoring of staff advocacy efforts, litigation, negotiation, legislative, administrative advocacy and community education. The Regional Director of Advocacy supervises and evaluates staff, as assigned, to ensure implementation and monitoring of approved field office work plans and advocacy are met.

General Responsibilities: 

• Litigates impact cases as a lead counsel or co-counsel
• Establishes and enforces program policies, trains and directs AWP staff in carrying out CRLA's policies and procedures
• Evaluates advocacy and managerial skills of program attorneys, evaluating staff's training needs, identifying and providing training/mentoring opportunities, creating opportunities for cross-training between offices.
• Approves or denies requests for legal services, exercising independent judgment in resolving client needs and other office/case complaints
• Conducts regional or local office case reviews, reviews LAPs and proposals for litigation originating in the respective region. The RDA role in review of the LAPs is limited to review from an office coordination and resource allocation standpoint.
• Reviews and supports in development of work plans, coordinates/allocates local office resources, in collaboration with Program Legal Directors (PLDs), Directing Attorneys (DAs), and Director of Litigation, Advocacy and Training (DLATs). 
• Ensures advocacy efforts are appropriately staffed by evaluating resources needed and available, local office expertise, and opportunities to arrange for external resources
• Supervises, monitors and supports implementation of CRLA’s Core Expectations
• Reviews, supports in development of annual needs assessments, identifies outcomes and evaluates progress
• Serves as communication conduit between local offices and Executive Director
• Supports development efforts, by assisting in development of regional proposals, supports and maintains local and regional grants
• Supports DAs with local office management, supervises, supports staff performance of administrative functions and fills in for DA in their absence
• Supervises compliance of LSC regulations, ensures DAs receives information regarding CRLA policies and updates
• Monitors respective budgets, program grants, including LSC funding, and impact advocacy deadlines
• Collaborates with DLATs on statewide planning development and coordination of advocacy efforts
• Maintains professional working relationships with Support Staff, Community Workers, Attorneys, DAs, PLDs, DLATs and Office Administrator Departments. 
• Performs other duties as may be assigned