Cannabis jobs at The Bronx Defenders

Overview:
The Bronx Defenders (BxD) – an innovative, progressive, holistic indigent defense office in the South Bronx – seeks an inaugural Director for The Bronx Cannabis Hub, a project by The Bronx Defenders.
The Bronx Defenders is a public defender non-profit that is radically transforming how low-income people in the Bronx are represented in the legal system, and, in doing so, is transforming the system itself. BxD seeks thoughtful, creative, energetic individuals with a strong commitment to social justice to join our dynamic and diverse staff. Our staff of over 400 includes interdisciplinary teams made up of criminal, civil, immigration, and family defense attorneys, as well as social workers, benefits specialists, legal advocates, parent advocates, investigators, and team administrators, who collaborate to provide holistic advocacy to address the causes and consequences of legal system involvement. Through this integrated team-based structure, we have developed a groundbreaking, nationally-recognized model of representation called holistic defense that achieves better outcomes for the people we defend.
Each year, we defend more than 20,000 low-income Bronx residents in criminal, civil, child welfare, and immigration cases, and reach thousands more through our community intake, youth mentoring, and outreach programs. Through impact litigation, policy advocacy, and community organizing, we push for systemic change at the local, state, and national levels. We take what we learn from the people we represent and communities that we work with and launch innovative initiatives designed to bring about real and lasting change.

The Bronx Cannabis Hub
The Bronx Defenders seeks a Director for a new project, The Bronx Cannabis Hub (the “Hub”). Working in partnership with The Bronx Community Foundation and other community partners, BxD has launched the Hub to make the social equity provisions of the Marihuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA) a reality for justice-impacted New Yorkers. The Hub will:

• Provide trainings and workshops covering cannabis license options, eligibility requirements, business plan creation, and the best way to craft a winning licensing application

• Launch a legal clinic in partnership with experts in cannabis law and pro bono law firms to assist eligible candidates with the cannabis licensing process and create educational programming
• Offer space for Bronx-based organizations to educate, engage, and advocate for Bronxites in the new cannabis industry

This position has guaranteed grant funding for at least 18 months, with the possibility of continued funding thereafter. The Director of the Hub will report to the Chief of Staff and work closely with the Criminal Defense Practice Policy Counsel; the Director of Community Engagement; the Managing Directors of Strategic Partnerships, Policy, and Strategic Communications; and external partners to ensure successful operation of the Hub.
Responsibilities:

• Manage day-to-day operations of the Bronx Cannabis Hub
• Supervise the creation of a comprehensive training curriculum and public education series covering the MRTA licensing process
• Collaborate with the Director of Pro Bono and BxD’s consultants to create and direct a legal clinic staffed by pro bono attorneys from partnering law firms to advise eligible candidates in the cannabis licensing process
• Build effective and collaborative partnerships with The Bronx Community Foundation and other core community partners
• Supervise the work of external experts and consultants to the Hub

• Work with the Managing Director of Strategic Communications and external communications partners to develop a strategic outreach and social media plan, create educational materials and talking points, and act as the public spokesperson for the Hub
• Develop and maintain a comprehensive list of accounting, business planning, legal, and financial resources and disseminate information to people looking to enter the cannabis industry
• Plan various public education events and work with partners to identify locations and manage logistics for these events
• Keep detailed records and data, and author and disseminate case studies and reports documenting the work of the Hub

• Collaborate with the Director of Community Engagement to identify opportunities for collaboration with Bronx community groups to educate, engage, and advocate for Bronxites in the new cannabis industry
• In partnership with the Chief of Staff and Managing Director of Strategic Partnerships, identify financial resources and strategic partnerships to enhance and advance the Hub’s work, including philanthropic organizations, academic institutions, private and corporate donors, as well as other non-profit organizations
• Travel as needed within New York State for cannabis related advocacy

Qualifications:
To be eligible, applicants must have:

• 
  At least 5 years of relevant legal advocacy experience with direct experience working with community-based organizations and/or government entities on economic development initiatives including support for small business development and/or workforce development
• Experience using data and analytics to help guide program development
• Familiarity with the MRTA and knowledge of cannabis social equity initiatives as well as state-level regulatory frameworks

• Project Management Experience
• Law Degree preferred

Applicants must demonstrate:

• 
  Commitment to holistic public defense, racial justice, and legal system change with the goal of dismantling punitive carceral systems

• Ability to effectively and respectfully communicate, collaborate and connect with people with various backgrounds, identities and experiences
• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively on an interdisciplinary team of lawyers, non-lawyers, community members, and external partners
• Ability to effectively navigate coalition spaces, manage interests and relationships, and collaborative effectively
• Ability to multitask, maintain order and meet deadlines in a fast-paced, high-stakes environment

• Effective written and verbal advocacy skills
• Strong legal analytical skills
• Meticulous attention to detail
• Ability to exercise good judgment, discretion, and confidentiality around sensitive issues
• Ability to receive constructive feedback, demonstrate introspection and shift behavior accordingly

• Commitment to raising one’s cultural consciousness and challenging oppressive practices on an interpersonal and institutional level

This is a hybrid position that will require in-person work and contact with staff and community members. As of October 29, 2021, all city-funded employees with any potential of in-person contact with community members or staff are required to show proof of full vaccination. You can find more details regarding this mandate here. Please let us know if this presents an issue.
Approximately 70% of The Bronx Defenders' staff, including attorneys and non-attorneys, are represented by UAW Local 2325 - Association of Legal Aid Attorneys (AFL-CIO). This position is not within the bargaining unit.
Salary is commensurate with experience with an expected range of between $101,600 and $127,610. Full-time employees are also eligible for a comprehensive benefits package including but not limited to medical, dental and vision coverage; a 403(b) plan with employer contribution; a generous vacation, sick leave, and parental leave policy. More specific information about salary and benefits will be provided when and if an offer is extended.
To apply, please click APPLY TO THIS JOB ONLINE and upload your resume and a cover letter in one document when prompted. If writing a cover letter is not accessible to you, you may upload your resume as a document and separately upload a video or audio statement instead of a cover letter if that is more accessible to you. Your cover letter or video/audio statement should share why you want to do this work at our office, some key lived and/or professional experiences that have prepared you for this position, and any additional information you would like us to consider. Your cover letter may be up to one page if written or up to 3 minutes if an audio/video statement. This information allows us to understand your distinct perspective, experience and potential beyond the work history summarized on your resume. Please remember that you may submit a written cover letter or an audio/video, but not both, and applications without either will not be considered. The start date for this position is immediate or as soon as possible.
Applications will be accepted through 9/23/2022. Please contact Wesley Caines, Chief of Staff, via email at [email protected] with any questions regarding the position.
The Bronx Defenders is an equal opportunity employer and is cultivating an anti-oppressive workplace that embraces staff with a diversity of backgrounds, identities and experiences. We acknowledge the ways in which systemic oppression and injustice can undermine access to professional opportunities and are committed to conducting hiring and promotion processes that are equitable and accessible to those commonly excluded from the workforce. We do not discriminate against and in fact specifically encourage applicants from marginalized communities to apply, including those who identify as Black, Indigenous, people of color, queer, transgender, gender non-conforming, disabled, neurodivergent and those directly impacted by criminal, civil, family and immigration legal systems. We value lived as well as professional experience and particularly welcome applications from the Bronx community that we work with.

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