Workers' Rights Program Supervising Attorney - Bakersfield, CA

UFW FOUNDATION JOB POST

TITLE:

Workers’ Rights Program Supervising Attorney

FLSA STATUS:

Exempt (Salary)

LOCATION:

Bakersfield, CA

HIRING RANGE:

$85,000.00 to $105,000.00 annually, depending on experience. 

About UFW Foundation: For nearly 20 years, the UFW Foundation has mobilized farm workers and their organizations across the country to advocate for more equitable policies, such as immigration reform, pesticide protections, heat standards, hazard pay, and other worker protections. We engage constituents in systemic change to break the cycle of poverty while also providing critical services. In fact, the UFW Foundation is one of the largest federally accredited immigration legal service providers in the state of California. The organization has staff in Arizona, California, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, New York, and Washington state.

The Workers’ Rights Supervising Attorney will lead and oversee the implementation of the UFW Foundation’s workers’ rights program. This position will be based in Bakersfield, CA, and is a full-time exempt position. The Supervising Attorney will lead the strategic development, launch, and management of a new program dedicated to educating, advocating for, and empowering workers. The Supervising Attorney will establish operational protocols, develop outreach strategies for low-wage or vulnerable workers, and build partnerships to address violations of wage theft, workplace health and safety, discrimination, and more.

SUMMARY: The Workers’ Rights Program Supervising Attorney’s role combines litigation, community lawyering, and program leadership with a focus on building an integrated legal services model that responds to the evolving needs of low-wage or vulnerable workers regarding workplace issues, including (1) wage and hour; (2) safety and health; (3) discrimination, harassment, and retaliation; and (4) leave violations. The Workers’ Rights Program Supervising Attorney will report to the Chief Programs Officer. In addition, the Workers’ Rights Program Supervising Attorney will develop education and Know Your Rights materials and workshops, as well as leadership training for community members.

The UFW Foundation seeks an attorney with law practice experience or experience working with low-wage or vulnerable worker communities that can help the organization, in collaboration with the UFW Foundation’s various programs and departments, as well as its partners, to develop a service delivery model that will maximize the limited resources in rural communities and leverage relationships from urban communities. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:  (This is not an exhaustive list)

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

The ideal candidate for this position must have a high level of professionalism and organization. The candidate must demonstrate competency in the following areas:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

PREFERRED REQUIREMENTS AND/OR QUALIFICATIONS:

• Five years of workers’ rights experience as an attorney working with immigrants, farm workers, and vulnerable communities. 

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:

• Licensed attorney in good standing with admission to practice in California. Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook) experience.
• Minimum three years of workers’ rights experience as an attorney.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS: 

• Valid driver’s license, access to an automobile, insurance, and willingness to drive to off-site locations.

COMPENSATION: 

The annual salary pay range for this position is $85,000.00 to $105,000.00, and benefits include:

• Accruals of 2, 3, and 4 vacation weeks per year depending on tenure
• 16 paid holidays (includes a personal day)
• 1 mental health day per calendar year
• Paid sick days
• Health, dental, and vision benefits
• Life insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Employee Assistance Program for support with personal and work-related challenges
• 403(b) retirement plan with 2% employer match (providing employee meets criteria)
• 401(k) retirement plan with no employer match (providing employee meets criteria) *
• Employer-sponsored pension plan*
• Supplemental insurance (within 30 days of hire date)*
• Professional development opportunities and access to thousands of courses
• 20% discount for immigration services through the UFW Foundation
• Many discounts, such as entertainment discounts for movie theaters, theme parks, etc. via ADP Lifemart, TicketsatWork, and UnionPlus

*Note: Some of the benefits listed above are not available to temporary employees. Eligibility and access to benefits may vary based on employment status and other factors.

ADDITIONAL AND/OR SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS AND/OR QUALIFICATIONS

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement – The UFW Foundation is committed to ensuring the health and safety of our community, employees, and program participants. While vaccinations and boosters are not currently mandatory, we strongly recommend their use as a crucial measure in reducing the transmission of COVID-19. It is imperative to emphasize that if a pandemic situation arises that necessitates vaccines and/or boosters, we will reinstate this requirement to protect everyone effectively. Vaccinations have proven to be effective in preventing the spread of the virus and reducing severe illness. By choosing to get vaccinated, individuals contribute to the collective effort in mitigating the impact of the pandemic and creating a safer environment for all. We will continually monitor the evolving situation and follow the guidance of health authorities. 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. 

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

This is a hybrid position that offers a balance of in-office and remote work. The incumbent will be expected to work on-site in person at one of our regional offices, two to three days per week. The rest of the week can be spent working remotely, with the flexibility to adjust according to project needs. In addition, the incumbent may be required to attend meetings, trainings, or workshops either in their home state or elsewhere throughout the year.

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER:

The UFW Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe a strong commitment to equal employment opportunity is more than a legal and moral obligation – it is also a sound business practice to realize the potential of every individual. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive work environment for all! In order to provide equal employment and advancement opportunity to all individuals, employment decisions at the UFW Foundation will be based on merit, qualifications, and abilities. Except where required or permitted by law, employment practices will not be influenced or affected by an applicant’s or employee’s race, color, religion, sex/gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, ancestry, disability, genetic information, age, or any characteristic protected by law. 

We encourage all qualified applicants to apply for a position fighting for farm worker and immigrant communities! The UFW Foundation believes in second chances. As an organization, we will rely on individualized assessments in the hiring of those with past criminal convictions. The UFW Foundation will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with qualified disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act unless doing so would result in an undue hardship. Persons of color, gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people, persons with disabilities, persons who have lived in poverty, formerly incarcerated, persons 40 years old or older, and people fluent in more than one language are strongly encouraged to apply for open positions with the UFW Foundation. 

This policy governs all aspects of employment, including selection, job assignment, compensation, counseling, discipline, termination, access to benefits and training. Our commitment to equal opportunity employment applies to all persons involved in our operations and prohibits unlawful discrimination by any employee, including supervisors and co-workers.