Senior Advocacy Program Associate – Manhattan

Company Description

AHRC New York City is one of the largest providers of services for children and adults with developmental disabilities in New York City. Our mission is to advocate for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to lead full and equitable lives.

Job Description

AHRC NYC is looking to hire a Senior Advocacy Program Associate who will work to ensure that New York City school students with disabilities receive a Free Appropriate Public Education from New York City Public Schools and other ID/DD education organizations, as mandated by federal and state law. This position ensures students and families are well-advised and ably supported in the resolution of education-related disputes and are empowered to learn the advocacy skills necessary to navigate future potential conflicts.

SALARY: $72,000 – $77,000 per year plus a very generous and comprehensive Benefit package. See Benefit information below.

Essential Responsibilities

• Provide direct advocacy, technical assistance, and information & referral services to parents, youth, and professionals seeking help from the AHRC NYC Education Advocacy Program.
• Effectively represent youth and families during IEP meetings, mediation sessions, school visits, and other multi-disciplinary team meetings.
• Manage a caseload and oversee all aspects of advocacy casework for assigned students, including daily documentation and quarterly reports.
• Conduct training sessions and workshops for advocacy clients and community members, and develop new training based on identified client needs.
• Represent the agency’s Education Advocacy Program at virtual and in-person events, coalitions, and council meetings, as directed by Director of Advocacy Services.
• Develop, maintain, and enhance quality assurance systems to track outcomes of advocacy actions.
• In collaboration with the Director of Advocacy Services, monitor Advocacy Program metrics and deliverables to ensure annual contract fulfillment.
• Provide some supervision and mentorship of advocacy staff and interns as needed.
• Facilitate family and peer support/learning groups as needed.
• Participate on the agency’s Incident Review Committee and/or Human Rights Committee.
• Perform all other job-related activities as requested by the Director of Advocacy Services.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Master’s in Social Work, Special Education or a related human services field and four years of direct or related experience with OPWDD Family Support Services programs.
• Fluency in Mandarin or Spanish (Mandarin preferred) highly desired.
• Solid understanding of the IDEA, the Individualized Education Program (IEP), and New York State and City special education programs, policies, procedures, and regulations.
• Three or more years’ experience working with and advocating for families and youth with I/DD.
• Strong ability to establish and maintain positive working relationships with students, family members, IEP team members, and related professionals.
• Excellent written and oral communication ability, as well as strong presentation skills and comfort with public speaking.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to explain complex concepts visually and orally in a manner that is easy to understand.
• Organized, detail-oriented, and ability to multi-task in response to changing circumstances and high-stress situations.
• Ability to work independently on tasks and deliverables with minimal direct oversight in hybrid working environments.
• Facility with Office 365 (PowerPoint, MS Teams, SharePoint, Outlook, Excel, Forms, etc.) and Adobe software platforms, with willingness to learn new software as needed.
• Ability to collaborate effectively and courteously with colleagues in dynamic small-team environments under strict deadlines.
• Commitment to culturally responsive, anti-racist, and anti-oppressive practices; willingness to uphold value of human rights and self-determination for students and individuals with I/DD; and commitment to provide person-centered care for students and their families.
• Passion for continuous learning, as an individual, as part of a team, and as part of the agency as a whole.
• Capacity to attend occasional weekend and/or evening events as needed.

Additional Qualifications

• LMSW or LCSW preferred; SIFI preferred (or willingness to complete SIFI within 2 years).
• Knowledge of OPWDD services and systems of support.
• Familiarity with OPWDD crisis intervention services and parent training highly preferred.

Additional Information

Benefits

• Low Cost Quality Medical Insurance
• Paid time off (sick, personal & vacation)
• Paid Training
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Referral program
• 403(b) retirement plan
• 403(b) company match
• Life insurance
• Employee discount
• Health savings account

AHRC New York City is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We consider applicants for all positions without regard to age, race, color, creed, religion, national origin, alienage or citizenship status, gender, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, disability, marital status, partnership status, military status, status as a victim of domestic violence, sex offenses or stalking, genetic information, or unemployment or any other protected characteristic under federal, state or local law.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

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