Program Officer for Technology

Job Description

Job Description

 

POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT

 

Position:

 

Program Officer for Technology 

Location:

 

1825 I (Eye) Street, Suite 800, NW, Washington, DC 20006 

Department:

 

Office of Program Performance

Employment Status:

 

Regular/Full-Time/Exempt 

Schedule:

 

Hybrid. LSC’s Hybrid Work Policy. Moderate travel expected.

 

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 roughly 130 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.

JOB FUNCTION:

Under the general direction of the Director of the Office of Program Performance (OPP) and their designee, works with grantee programs to use technology to improve the delivery of legal services to the eligible population and assists with managing the Technology Initiative Grant (TIG) program. This position is part of a collective bargaining unit represented by the International Federation of Professional & Technical Engineers, Local 135.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Grantmaking

• 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. 
• Executes the various stages of the TIG lifecycle, including pre-award, application review, award process, grant progress monitoring, and award closure. 
• Evaluates applications for funding under the TIG program by reviewing proposals for funding and related documents and making recommendations for funding. 
• Reviews and finalizes grant goals, objectives, milestones, and budgets. Prepares and executes grant modifications, extensions, and amendments as needed throughout the grant term.

Portfolio Management

• Manages a portfolio of project grants awarded under the TIG program, including analysis, review, and approval of project progress reports, payment requests, budgets, and adherence to all grant assurances. Communicates expectations and reinforces requirements with grantees. Determines referrals of grantees as needed for compliance and enforcement.
• Leads and/or participate 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. 
• Serves as a resource to OPP Program Counsel and other LSC colleagues regarding LSC grantees’ use of technology and the development and implementation of technology plans. Drafts findings and provides recommendations for program technology improvement for inclusion in OPP visit reports.
• Engages in other grants management activities related to designing, implementing, and promoting the application process and overseeing existing grants. Help maintain documented TIG program procedures and ensure that TIG staff follow all rules and requirements. Analyzes, interprets, and visualizes grantee data for better decision-making and improved grant management.

Knowledge Management

• Works collaboratively with TIG staff and other LSC departments to coordinate and hold LSC’s annual Innovations in Technology Conference, including design of conference agenda, recruitment of speakers and presenters, writing marketing materials, communication, and promotion of conference, coordination of attendee registration, and onsite conference logistics.
• Represents LSC’s TIG program by making presentations and participating in national and regional conferences and online legal aid community events regarding technology as a tool for delivering legal services. 

Thought Leadership

• Encourages a culture of innovation among LSC grantees and builds relationships with other access-to-justice stakeholders, motivating organizations to explore new approaches and technologies for more effective legal service delivery.
• 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. 
  • Helps develop policy relating to the use of technology in delivering legal services to the client community.
  • Stays informed about the latest technological advancements, including but not limited to artificial intelligence and machine learning, to help the legal aid community explore how these technologies can enhance service delivery. 
  • Promotes cybersecurity best practices across the grantee network, ensuring organizations improve their security posture and protect sensitive data.
  • Emphasizes the development and promotion of accessible and inclusive technology solutions that maximize the impact of innovation across the community, including among individuals living with disabilities and those with limited experience using technology. 

Intra-Department Collaboration

• Manages the information flow between TIG grantees and LSC departments through contemporaneous and consolidated reporting using dashboards to provide a high-level overview of TIG project performance and accompanying summary documents for internal LSC viewing.
• Make 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 subjects with expertise related to legal service delivery, mainly using technology.
• Works with the Office of Legal Affairs (OLA) regarding reviewing and revising current regulations and developing new regulations, as appropriate. Works with OPP and the Office of Information Technology (OIT) to improve LSC’s internal technology systems and usage.

Special Projects and Other Responsibilities

• Provides project management and evaluation support on TIG-related special projects involving outside consultants, including, but not limited to, serving on the selection committee, monitoring the scope of work, and facilitating effective communication and information-sharing between the consultant and internal stakeholders. 
• Contributes to the collaborative process of developing goals, objectives, and operational plans for the TIG program. 
• Works on special projects 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. 
• Ability to conduct thorough investigations and reviews through effective interviewing, research, and application of relevant regulatory authority and best practices. 
• 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:

• Minimum Experience:
  • For Program Officer II, a bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline and a minimum of 7 years of experience as a practitioner, funder, or policy or design expert in the field of technology and/or access to justice or 10 years of combined education and experience. 
  • For Program Officer III, a bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline and a minimum of 11 years of relevant experience, or 15 years of combined education and experience.
  • Experience working with legal services providers, the court system, or other non-profit organizations is highly desirable.
• Knowledgeable about the intersection of technology and the justice system recognizes the potential impact that technology, particularly emerging technology, can have on the delivery of legal services; able to devise service delivery strategies employing technology; must possess solid research and analytical skills. 
• Demonstrated experience as a liaison and convener across relevant sectors, including grantees, practitioners, technology vendors, government officials, academics, private sector representatives, and civil legal or social services organizations. 
• Capacity to interpret the LSC Act, Appropriations Riders, LSC regulations, policies, and rules as they influence the use of technology grants in the legal services delivery system, and the ability to design and implement changes that respond to these laws. 
• Capacity to identify, evaluate, and understand trends and data that affect LSC, its grantees, and their clients; in-depth working knowledge and experience with the use of information technology, including applications related to law practice and law office management, case management systems, websites and web applications, knowledge management, familiarity with network applications and administration, and demonstrated experience with implementation of technology projects is required. 
• Familiarity and experience with grants management. Proficient in the use of Microsoft 365.