DC 37 Health & Security Plan’s Municipal

Employees Legal Services (MELS) provides legal representation to over 200,000

eligible DC 37 members, retirees and their families. We are currently seeking

an experienced attorney to be the Director of MELS Operations and Counsel whose

primary mission is to ensure that high quality legal services are provided to

our clients by the MELS staff consisting of 100 employees including 60+

attorneys, 20+ legal assistants, social workers, and administrative staff.

The MELS Director

of Operations and Counsel along with the MELS Chief Legal Counsel will be

responsible for managing MELS’

departments, teams and processes with the objective of identifying and

implementing opportunities for improvement, efficiencies and professional

development all toward the provision of quality legal services for DC 37

members. Working with and reporting to

the DC 37 Health & Security Plan Administrator and Associate Administrator,

the MELS Director is expected to engage

in strategic planning, technology management and data analytics as well as

performing oversight of MELs’ legal practice, recruitment, staff development

and provide critical leadership.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Oversight of MELS daily operations with MELS

Chief Legal Counsel regularly assessing and

evaluating MELS’ legal practice.

2. Lead strategic projects and initiatives, creating work plans

and deliverables with the goal of optimizing MELS’ productivity and proposing

innovative technological solutions.

3. Evaluate

information technology needs of MELS, staff training needs, and thereafter

implement and organize training.

4. Develop change management plans for each initiative that

acknowledges all aspects of the change process (e.g., analysis, strategy,

implementation, training and launch). Using standards such as Lean Six Sigma

and the Plan Do Study Act method to increase productivity of MELS.

5. Collaborate with H&S Administration to build short and

long term work plans and roadmaps for the future of MELS that align with

overall H&S strategy.

6. Provide efficient, effective, and clearly communicated

implementation guidance for the MELS attorney teams through sound assessment of

the environment and expectations.

7. Increase MELS operations productivity under

the following rubrics: strategic planning and technology and management

analytics.

8. Evaluate and

improve MELS intake process, and the assignment and management of attorneys’

caseloads.

9. Create strategies

and processes to manage recruiting, oversee onboarding, training, retention,

and mentoring of new Team members.

10. Coordinate the

delivery of MELS staff training, professional development and CLEs to

attorneys.

Qualifications Desired:

-

Juris Doctor and member in good standing of NYS Bar (NJ admission

also desirable).

-

10+ years of civil law practice in

New York City, including litigation, community/legal engagement/service

delivery to working people.

-

5+ years of law office management

experience with a deep understanding of legal services, legal department

structure, processes, best practices, and industry norms.

-

Experience in workflow analysis and

developing future office processes and procedures.

-

Ability to apply technological tools

to solve administrative problems.

-

Experience in supervising and

mentoring, professional development training and mentoring legal assistants and

attorneys.

-

Commitment to explore alternative

approaches for improving legal practice and services.

-

Strong ability to develop

improvement strategies using Lean Six Sigma, PDSA or other established CQI

methods.

-

Excellent MS Office skills including

PowerPoint, Excel, analytics and dashboard experience.

-

Extensive ability to configure

workflows using process management software.

-

Detail oriented with excellent

organization, presentation, critical and analytical thinking, and

problem-solving skills.

-

Ability to prioritize and handle

multiple complex tasks and competing priorities in a fast-paced environment

-

Superior writing and verbal

communications.

-

Strong sense of accountability,

taking ownership over projects, resolving issues proactively, and knowing when

to ask for assistance or escalate.

-

Demonstrated leadership ability,

interest in public service, and representing working people.

Compensation and Other Benefits:

The annual salary

for this position will be dependent upon experience and between $175,000 - $195,000 . DC 37

MELS/Health & Security Plan provides employees with excellent family health

insurance at zero ($0) cost including supplemental benefits such as dental,

optical, prescription drug, personal counseling services, and legal services. A

defined benefit pension plan and 401k is also provided. MELS has a generous

paid time policy (e.g. sick, personal, holidays and vacation). The selected candidate

must be prepared to begin this role by no later than June 15, 2024. Please note

our offices are located at 125 Barclay Street in downtown Manhattan.

How

to Apply?

Interested candidates must forward a current

resume and letter of interest to DC 37 H&S Administration Executive Assistant

Connie Fontana ( cfontana@dc37.net ) by no later than

Friday, April 26, 2024. When submitting, please use the subject line “ MELS Director of Operations and Counsel” Applicant.

Director of operations and counsel