http://www.flac.ie/download/doc/10_05_19_public_interest_law_alliance_manager_job_description__april

T ITLE Manager

Public

Interest

Law

Alliance

(PILA)

R EPORTS

TO

Director General - FLAC

W ORKING

HOURS

9.30 a.m. - 5.30 p.m. Monday to Friday

Project

Background Information Overview FLAC is a human rights organisation which exists to promote equal access to justice for all.

FLAC has established a Public Interest Law Alliance (PILA) building on its work in the area over the last five years. The aim of PILA is to facilitate and promote the use of the law in the public interest for the advancement and protection of human rights for the benefit of marginalised and disadvantaged people.

Summary of PILA PILA was set up in mid 2009 and is funded until mid 2012. There was a Manager in place for 1 year who has established the project on a sound footing. We are now recruiting for the PILA Manager position which is being offered on a 2 year contract basis, with the last six months of the contract dependent on funding in the amount of â‚Ź300,000 being raised. PILA is funded by the Atlantic Philanthropies with the support of FLAC and other donors.

J OB D ESCRIPTION T ITLE Manager

Public

Interest

Law

Alliance

(PILA)

R EPORTS

TO

Director General - FLAC

W ORKING

HOURS

9.30 a.m. - 5.30 p.m. Monday to Friday

Project

PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES :

The Manager will develop the Public Interest Law Alliance and foster a culture of public interest law in Ireland. The principal responsibilities of the Manager are to implement PILA’s existing work plan; to identify opportunities and to seek funding for PILA; to

develop a funding strategy to sustain PILA into the future and develop the public relations and communications functions within the project.

1.

Developing communications and funding strategies for PILA

•

Conducting research in order to identify potential funders for PILA from the range of funders which may be suitable for PILA to approach; writing compelling funding proposals for the development of relationships with identified prospects; developing relationships with prospects and arranging and attending meetings with them, following up with them etc; developing a funding strategy to sustain PILA into the future; developing the communications function for PILA; briefing the Director General and other FLAC personnel as appropriate on external PILA communications

• • • • •

2.

• • • 3.

• • • • • 4.

• • •

5.

Implementing Work Plan for PILA implementing with the support of the Director General of FLAC, the three year work plan for PILA; supervising the staff team (Legal Officer, Project Officer and Legal Information Officer) and consultants to implement the work plan with the support of the Director General; leading the staff team in the implementation of the work plan.

Overseeing the organisation of PILA events/activities/initiatives; developing the Public Interest Law Alliance; developing and growing the PILA database including implementing a potential PILA membership scheme; disseminating information, precedents and materials to PILA members/ subscribers; liaison with public interest law projects internationally; liaison with public interest law firms internationally.

Developing pro-bono initiatives amongst law firms/ practitioners working with law firms and practitioners to increase a structured engagement with public interest law for the benefit of marginalised and disadvantaged people in conjunction with the Director General ; developing opportunities for law firms and lawyers to provide advice and other services to the community legal sector and NGOs engaging in public interest law work; overseeing the development of a register to match practitioners with NGOs in public interest law matters.

Overseeing the development of public interest law resources

• • •

leading the development of a highly functioning website so that it becomes a valuable public interest law resource; developing the website to enable it to accommodate stakeholder groups’ information needs; Overseeing the development of research and information which identifies and seeks to promote the use of law in the public interest by marginalised and disadvantaged groups.

6.

Developing innovative PILA initiatives to support the development of NGOs engaged in public interest law work • Liaison with and support to non-governmental organisations which are using or which are aspiring to develop their use of law in the public interest; • Identifying and supporting networks of people to combine to address particular public interest law needs; • Increasing knowledge of and engagement with public interest law by academics and students through one or more clinical legal education projects; • Increased knowledge of public interest law in marginalised communities through community legal education programmes; • Liaison with the Irish Traveller Movement Law Centre including monitoring and evaluation of their project; • Arranging for the provision of start-up grants to new community law centres and new strategic law resources.

7.

• • •

Working with the PILA Advisory Board to develop PILA initiatives in Ireland Providing support for the PILA Advisory Board: attending and scheduling their meetings; producing minutes of meetings

8.

• • •

Monitoring and Evaluation of the Project Progressing the terms of reference for the evaluation of PILA; Supporting and overseeing the external evaluation of PILA’s work; Reporting to the Director General on the development and implementation of the PILA work plan.

9.

Any other duties as may be required from time to time in connection with this position.

Essential Requirements A relevant third level or professional qualification At least two years line management experience within the past 5 years

A track record of successful fundraising for a not for profit organisation Excellent interpersonal skills and people management skills Political acumen, sound judgment and a strategic mindset Excellent written communication skills including proposal and report writing Capacity to protect the integrity of FLAC A commitment to human rights and social justice issues An understanding of law in the public interest Desirable Requirement A track record in the successful implementation of projects which advance human rights/ social justice in the community and voluntary sector Terms and Conditions The Manager will be offered a two year contract, the last 6 months of which will be dependent on PILA having secured funding in the amount of â‚Ź300,000.

The salary offered with this contract position is commensurate with experience.

This is a full-time position based at FLAC Head Office in Dublin and the hours of work are 9.30am to 5.30pm Monday to Friday.

To apply for this position, please download the information sheet about PILA along with an application form from www.flac.ie or www.pila.ie Please e-mail completed application form with CV to recruitment@flac.ie or post to Director General, FLAC, 13 Lower Dorset Street, Dublin 1.

The closing date for receipt of applications is Friday 4th June at 5pm.

Interviews will be held during the week commencing 14th June 2010.