Team Administrator - Harris Eviction Defense

Neighborhood Defender Service of Texas (NDS) is a legal services office, providing free, community-based, client-centered, holistic housing defense representation to low-income residents of Harris County. NDS clients are represented by multidisciplinary teams including attorneys, advocates and team administrators. NDS adheres to a client-centered approach to representation that emphasizes a heightened responsiveness to clients’ needs.

Overview

NDS seeks to hire a Team Administrator for the Housing Defense Team . The Housing Defense Team plays an integral role in NDS’s fulfillment of its holistic mission and in realizing the right to counsel in housing proceedings. The team is part of the monumental movement toward a civil Gideon, providing assigned counsel representation to low- and no-income tenants facing a wide range of eviction proceedings in order to safeguard the right to secure, stable housing and combat the destabilization and disintegration of Houston’s diverse communities.

The Team Administrator is responsible for supporting the work of the Housing Defense Team by engaging in the following tasks

• Provide administrative support for representation of clients facing housing legal needs as part of an interdisciplinary team, including attorneys and non-attorney advocates;
• Enter and maintain confidential case data into case management system promptly and accurately;
• Support in-court and other intake by coordinating and maintaining intake calendars and schedules, preparing intake forms and documents, compiling case files, and collecting, maintaining, and reporting intake data to courts and agencies as needed;
• Communicate with courts and other agencies across Harris County over the phone and in person to obtain records necessary for client representation;
• Answer and direct phone calls in a polite and friendly manner;
• Ensure phone calls are redirected accordingly;
• Greet guests in a professional, friendly, and hospitable manner;
• Open and close visitor area;
• Create and draft memos, correspondence, reports, and other documents as requested;
• Maintain reception area and all common areas in a clean and orderly manner, and secure areas when closing;
• Operate standard office equipment on a regular basis, including a fax machine, a copier machine, postage machine, and a computer;
• Maintain and update the Staff Directory and staff mailboxes;
• Keep detailed and accurate records of visitor requests and of calls received;
• Receive deliveries; sort and distribute incoming mail;
• Maintain schedule of common area usage;
• Assist in providing general clerical support to team as needed;
• Assist in distribution of client supportive services;
• Take inventory of supplies and restock as needed.
• Fluency in Spanish required;
• Excellent phone etiquette and communication skills;
• Punctual with demonstrated strong attendance history;
• Ability to multi-task and prioritize work with minimal supervision.
• Knowledge of MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, Access);
• A demonstrated commitment to indigent defense, social justice issues and/or the Harris County communities with a strong desire to assist in the provision of high-quality legal services;
• Highly organized and able to prioritize tasks;
• Willingness to travel throughout Harris County;
• Ability to work cooperatively in a team setting;
• College graduate preferred but not required.
  
  
  

Compensation

Compensation is commensurate with experience and is in adherence to the NDS compensation scale. Exceptional benefits package includes full medical and dental for employee and family, retirement, life and AD&D insurance, paid vacation, holiday, and sick time.

The salary, benefits, and employment policies relevant to this position are governed by the CBA between NDS and the NDS Union, part of ALAA UAW 2325.

How to Apply

Interviews are held on a rolling basis, and applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Interested applicants should apply through the career portal at www.neighborhooddefender.org/jobs/list with a cover letter and resume.

For more information about NDS, please visit our website at www.neighborhooddefender.org .

The Neighborhood Defender Service is committed to creating a diverse environment that reflects the communities we serve. NDS is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. NDS encourages people with incarcerated loved ones, formerly incarcerated people, people of color, women, queer, transgender, gender non-conforming, and gender fluid people to apply. At NDS we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyways. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

USD $49,200.00/Yr.

USD $55,200.00/Yr.