Department: Law Legal Clinic
Salary/Grade: EXS/12

Job Summary:

The Director of Administration is charged with developing and implementing best practices, policies and systems to support the business infrastructure of the Bluhm Legal Clinic at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law. The Bluhm Legal Clinic is a multi-million dollar legal and research center, which houses more than 15 clinical programs within its 12 Centers. The Executive Director provides thought leadership to develop strategic plans and optimize (financial, manpower, space) resource utilization in support of the Clinic's teaching and research mission. The position ensures operational excellence in finance and budget, talent acquisition and performance, facilities, and administrative initiatives that meet the mission of the Clinic. The position oversees the effective, compliant, & efficient daily management of all operational, financial, & business functions in support of the Clinic's mission & in coordination with law school central offices such as HR, Budget, Facilities, IT, & the Dean's Office. Represents the Clinic on internal & external business affairs & is viewed as an expert resource regarding business area administrative affairs.

The Executive Director serves as an adviser to the Dean, Associate Dean, Clinic Directors and Clinic faculty members on fiscal, operational, compliance and human resource matters. The position also develops and implements long-term comprehensive strategies for the Clinic, with the input and approval of the Dean and Associate Dean for Clinical Education. This includes planning on issues related to the overall mission and framework of the clinic, including financial structure, human resources management and execution of the overall academic and research vision of this entity.

Please note: Supervisor provides objectives & deadlines. Work is reviewed for fulfillment of objective & deadlines & overall compliance with policy & procedures. EE completes some activities without direction, informing supervisor only of potentially controversial matters, &/or far-reaching implications.

Target hiring range for this position will be between $107,049 - $133,812 a year. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.

Specific Responsibilities:

Areas of Responsibility:

* Coordination & administration

* Budget & Financial

* Communications & Outreach

* Facilities & Safety

* Faculty Support

* Grants & Contracts

* Human Resources

* IT Services

* Regulatory Compliance

* Strategic Planning

* Student Support

Strategic Planning

* Creates, implements, & manages, in conjunction with Dean, Associate Dean and Directors strategic plans to best utilize revenue for key faculty recruitments, program development and expansion, space planning etc.

* Ongoing assessment of organizational design of clinic to ensure the staff infrastructure is appropriate and make recommendations regarding improvements necessary to better align the Clinic's operations with the strategic direction of the Law School.

* Develop and implement funding plan for support of Legal Clinic, including financial goals for each center, and specific funding components of each center and program (grant, gift, fees, endowment, sponsorship, etc.). Implement clinic-wide and center-specific financial goals

Budget & Financial:

* Plans & manages complex budget(s) to fund the strategic mission including financial sustainability & enhancement models.

* Plans & implements annual budget totaling $10 million, including fiscal resource allocation of appropriated, discretionary, endowment, and gift revenue.

* Develops strategy for use of attorney fee revenues totaling 6 million dollars.

* Delegate's payroll, purchasing, travel & entertainment (T&E) transactions & serves as Level II NU Financials approver.

* Serves as school level approver in FASIS.

* Oversees routine budget reconciliation & analyzes budget position.

* Approves funds reallocation within budget as necessary & appropriate.

* Knowledgeable in NU Financials, Cognos & FASIS; oversees staff training in same.

Grants & Contracts:

* Manages financial/research administrator in order to facilitate & enhance all administrative grant processes & related compliance.

* Responsible for pre- & post-award administration completed by financial/research administrator.

* Builds relationships with Clinic Faculty/Principal Investigators (PIs) & NU research associated offices; transfers knowledge & advises on research policy & procedure.

* Oversees payroll for research appointments.

* Ensures on-going training of support staff & PIs for optimal operations & compliance

Human Resources:

* Management oversight of 18 administrative and support staff and 30 summer employees, including direct supervision of Legal Practice Administrator, Business Administrator and Clinical Fellows.

* Accountable for recruitment, training, workflow design and overall performance management of Clinic team (including progressive discipline, salary planning, etc.)

* Ensures appropriate level of service to meet the needs of clients, faculty and students.

* Determines & implements organizational structures to align with strategic mission.

* Manages implementation of human resource programs, policies, procedures & talent management lifecycle & related mentoring & training.

* Oversees recruitment & selection process; Performance Excellence plan for each employee; & merit increase process.

* Manages & provides consultation regarding complex performance problems & issues; administers leaves; approves timesheets & oversees completion of annual staff Conflict of Interest survey.

* Provides strategic recommendation for management of faculty appointments, credentialing & exit (retirement & termination) processes.

* Reviews policies, recommends changes, implements new policies & ensures consistent interpretation.

* Participates in creation & implementation of FASIS.

* Oversees all aspects of faculty administrative tasks (faculty COI survey, annual report) ensuring optimal faculty support

* Assists Assoc. Dean/Dir of Legal Clinic in managing the Clinical Faculty hiring, evaluation and re-appointment process, including monitoring student teaching and case load.

* Develops and implements any restructuring plans related to long-term strategic plans for the Clinic.

* Executes structural changes resulting from strategic initiatives and the addition and/or loss of funding and programs.

Regulatory Compliance:

* Oversees development & implementation of processes & procedures for all safety, security & compliance programs & ensures compliance with all applicable federal, state, local & NU laws, regulations, policies & procedures.

* Oversees creation &/or implementation of associated training.

* Oversight responsibility for the implementation of computerized legal case management system, including business process design and user training (staff, faculty and students).

* Oversight responsibility for the clinic marketing plan, including newsletters, student handbooks and manuals. Oversight responsibility for the maintenance and enhancement of the Clinic's web pages.

* Oversight responsibility of the Legal Clinic Alumni Advisory Board, including board management, facilitation, and coordination with the Clinic's Director of Development.

* Management oversight of the Clinic's academic program, facilitating the smooth operation of program in which 160 + students participate in live client work.

* Attends national law conferences to promote the Legal Clinic and the Law School.

* Serves on University and Law School Committees as needed.

* Develops and maintains strong working relationships with internal and external constituents and direct reports.

Facilities & Safety:

* Manages Bluhm Legal Clinic space & common areas to ensure strategic use of available space & routine maintenance.

* Determines & assigns space allocation.

* Oversees construction projects in coordination with Law School Facilities Management.

* Develops safety plan & ensures communication & compliance.

* Monitors facilities condition & responds to Risk Management reports.

IT Services:

* Acts as liaison to Law School IT management to ensure technology systems are available to meet objectives of strategic plan.

* Ensures necessary hardware, software & network infrastructure technology services are appropriated from Law School IT.

* Issues work order requests directly or through support staff.

* Participates in developing Law School IT strategy to meet the mission & needs of the organization.

Miscellaneous

Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

* Bachelor's degree in business, accounting, or a related field with 8 or more years' experience in administrative or supervisory capacity with exposure to a combination of budgets, finance, grant administration, facilities, &/or human resources; or 10 years administrative experience.

* Minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible management experience.

Minimum Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities.)

* Experience and skills necessary to lead a diverse and growing organization.

* Experience with successful development and implementation of new initiatives.

* Demonstrated ability to effectively lead, organize and manage staff.

* Excellent communication and conflict resolution skills necessary.

* Computer skills, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and database applications necessary.

Preferred Qualifications:

* Master's degree in business, human resources, or related field.

* Strategic planning, human resources and financial experience strongly preferred, grant management experience desirable.

* 7-10 years of progressively responsible management experience.

Benefits:
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