Description

SUMMARY: The Neighborhood Services Organization, Stay Housed launched in 2025 to provide virtual and in-person services in legal self-help, pro bono referrals, brief legal advice, “know your rights” information for both landlords and tenants, and referrals to housing-supportive social services. As the leader of that new initiative, the Stay Housed Director must be entrepreneurial, creative, a skilled manager, adept at building and managing relationships, and dedicated to the mission and work of NSO. 

Under general direction but with great autonomy, the Stay Housed Director builds and manages a diverse team that is a reflection of the community they serve, manages programs providing services to self-represented litigants in housing cases; participates in community outreach on behalf of the Center; serves as a hub of knowledge for best practices of serving pro se litigants and working with legal and service partners; supervises staff and community volunteers in the Center; and performs other related duties.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Plans, manages, reviews, evaluates, and proposes new court-based and community programs to provide assistance to self-represented litigants in housing matters.
• Recruits, selects, trains, supervises, and evaluates EPC staff and volunteers.
• Works closely with partner service providers, including Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City University School of Law, and the Oklahoma County Bar Association.
• Recommends, facilitates and consults on the implementation of process, policy, and procedural changes to maximize assistance to self-represented litigants.
• Stays abreast of technological solutions and other innovations that can enhance the provision of services to self-represented litigants and leverages those solutions.
• Works closely with judges, the County Clerk, and other court staff to ensure that self-represented litigants are receiving the assistance necessary to improve court filings and improve the efficiency of the court system.
• Participates in the development of grant applications, service agreements, and memoranda of understanding with governmental and non-governmental entities.
• Partners with committees, community organizations, law schools, and other stakeholders to improve the Center’s provision of assistance to self-represented litigants.
• Ensures compliance with all grant and reporting requirements.
• Ensures all web and print materials are up to date and accurate and develops new and additional materials as necessary.  
• Designs and approves clinics and workshops to assist self-represented litigants with common procedural and substantive needs.
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with judicial officers, court staff, and justice partners engaged in the provision of services to self-represented litigants and mediation services.
• Develops and maintains plain language legal information for self-represented litigants as needed and ensures that Eviction Prevention Center visitors are provided with referrals to legal and non-legal resources as necessary.
• Collect data concerning the program and review the data to make recommendations for the program.
  Perform other tasks as requested to support NSO housing

Requirements

Training & Experience 

• Candidate must possess a Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school; active bar membership is not required for this role.
  Supervisory experience is required.
• A minimum of 3 years’ experience in legal services or with the court system is required.
• Experience in working with low-income individuals, especially related to housing issues, strongly preferred.
  Preference for prior experience with program development.
• A valid driver's license and ability to become an approved driver under NSO’s insurance policy is required. 

Knowledge / Job Specific Competencies

• Knowledge of principles and practices of staff management, including recruitment, development, training, and retention; mentoring techniques; problem-solving and conflict resolution methods.
• Knowledge of judicial branch operations; court policies, procedures, and processes, particularly processes in eviction.
• Knowledge of principles and practices of program development, implementation, management and evaluation; budget management, including development of grant applications, service agreements and memorandums of understanding with governmental and non-governmental organizations.
• Familiarity with applicable laws and codes; relevant educational materials; proper forms and the correct completion of them; appropriate referral sources.
• Knowledge of best practices that help self-represented litigants with accessing and using the court system
• Ability to exercise excellent independent judgment in dealing with complex and/or sensitive matters; maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to prepare clear and concise correspondence, reports, and related written materials; read, understand, interpret, and apply a variety of statutes, rules, and regulations; analyze complex issues, apply applicable legal authorities, and reach legally sound decisions.
• Ability to deal tactfully, work cooperatively and professionally, and communicate effectively with judicial officers, court personnel, the public, and justice partners.
• Ability to analyze complex matters, formulate recommendations and alternatives, anticipate problems, and present ideas and solutions in a logical and justifiable manner, often while under pressure.
• Ability to communicate effectively, neutrally and clearly with individuals of diverse socioeconomic, cultural and ethnic backgrounds, including persons with disabilities and non-native English speakers.
• Possession of strong change management skills with the ability to push forward common goals and a shared plan across stakeholders with competing values and interests.
• Ability to work with and be sensitive to the needs of diverse, systematically disadvantaged populations and support NSO’s commitment to building equitable systems of care.
• Possession of strong time management skills and the ability to multi-task and prioritize in a fast-paced environment, while exercising sound judgment.
  Ability to think critically, with a high level of initiation, motivation, and enthusiasm.
• Possession of a high degree of confidence and initiative to develop effective business relationships, both internally & externally.
• Possession of an intermediate level of computer software programs specifically, Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, and Outlook).

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• The majority of time spent in this position is in a well-lit, heated and/or air-conditioned indoor office setting with adequate ventilation.
• This job requires moderate physical activity performing in a primarily administrative nature.
• Occasional periods of high stress.
• Position is full-time exempt
• The position is based at NSO’s Stay Housed Center but may be required to work from other NSO properties at times.
• Travel in and about the community required. May be required to make overnight trips to Tulsa, OK and occasional out of state travel.

The qualifications, physical demands, and work environment described herein are representative of those an employee will encounter and must meet to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  The requirements listed in this document are the minimum levels of knowledge, skills, and abilities.