JOB TITLE: Director of Information and Referral Services

MICHIGAN PROTECTION & ADVOCACY SERVICE, INC.

JOBDESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE:Director ofIntake & Information and Referral Services

REPORTS TO:Executive Director

JOB SUMMARY:

Provides leadership, direction and supervision to the Intake &Information and Referral Team. The Information and Referral Team is responsible for implementing the agency vision and mission by:

  • Providing timely, accurate, and individualized short-term assistance and follow-up to eligible individuals. “Short-term assistance” is time-limited service provided by telephone, mail, electronic or other communication that includes explanation of disability laws, client rights, options available, means of achieving rights/desired outcomes and problem resolution.
  • Conducting proactive information and referral, community education, training, and outreach to public, private, and other community organizations.
  • Creating and updating content accessible to a wide variety of audiences on disability rights topics for use in agency publications and electronic media.
  • Collecting and reporting information on national, community and individual issues and trends to agency management.
  • Referringcases and monitoring case intake and acceptance using criteria developed to implement agency priorities.
  • Participating in agency advocacy, outcome reporting, priority development, and strategic planning.

PRIMARY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

  1. Assumes primary responsibility for completion of Information and Referral responsibilities as detailed in the job summary.
  2. Hires, trains, coaches, supervises, develops, and evaluates Information and Referral Team staff.
  3. Provides leadership, management, and strategic directionin the successful delivery of Information and Referral work. Ensures quality service is provided.
  4. Reviews Information and Referral Team service requests and project work and ensures all cases that meet case acceptance criteria are forwarded for acceptance.
  5. Investigates and resolves issues and concerns regardingtheInformation and Referral Team operations and services.
  6. Assures timely and accurate completion of case-related and administrative data collection and reporting by Information and Referral Team staff.Documents follow up on cases sent for acceptance that are rejected by Service Area Director. Ensures cases that are accepted are appropriately transferred.
  7. Participates in agencyoperations as a member of the Management Team.
  8. Regularly reportsto agency managers on emerging trends, issues and problem areas facing people with disabilities who contact MPAS.
  9. Prepares required documentation and reportsrelated to the goals, activities and expenditures of one or more federal or state grants as assigned.
  10. Communicates with other managers and agency staff to exchangeinformation, provide technical assistance/consultation, and resolve problems.
  11. Participates in various outreach activities including representation on various community boards/coalitions/work groupsas assigned.
  12. Facilitates and participates in staff meetings, training and in-service programs. Analyzes need for training on topic areas relevant to team to keep I&R staff current on changing laws and policies.
  13. Maintains a working knowledge of legal mandates, government systems and agency policies relatedto the rights of individuals with disabilities.
  14. Performs other duties as assigned.

JOB QUALIFICATIONS:

  1. Juris doctor degree from an accredited law school and active membership in good standing in the Michigan Bar or eligible for admission.
  2. Two to four years of related human services experience including experience working with rightsissues preferred.
  3. Demonstrated supervisory, management and leadership skills to effectively manage the daily operations of the team.
  4. Demonstrated commitment to the civil rights of all people and the ability to work with individuals with a variety of disability characteristics and cultural backgrounds.
  5. Ability to maintain confidentiality.
  6. Ability to innovate, be creative and take initiative in changing systems.
  7. Interpersonal skills necessary to work productively with all levels of agency staff, consumer groups, community groups,and other organizations to meet the mission of the agency.
  8. Demonstrated ability to respond appropriately to individuals with communication, cognitive, or emotional challenges.
  9. Ability to identify/analyze case work trends and recommend systems advocacy strategies and changes to MPAS protocols and priorities.
  10. Demonstrated ability to organize and prioritize multiple projects and demands.
  11. Demonstrated ability to work with various computer software packages including Office2016.

The successful candidate will be required to pass a criminal background check.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT:

  1. Normal office environment with little discomfort or exposure due to unfavorable working conditions.
  2. Work may involve travel to various locations throughout the State and nation.
  3. Evening and weekend hours may be required from time to time.
  4. The office location is in Lansing, Michigan.

Updated 11/15/17

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by a person assigned to this job. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties that may be performed by a person so classified.