Position Summary 

Project Guardianship is seeking a compassionate, knowledgeable communicator for our Training and Education Department. This staff member will work on various educational initiatives related to Article 81 Guardianship and its alternatives. Reporting to the Managing Attorney of the Guardianship Prevention and Support Helpline, this position will help staff the helpline, responding to calls and emails asking questions about Article 81 guardianship. This will include periodically covering live call hours. Working with the Director of Guardianship Initiatives, this position will also include presenting and developing webinars and workshops, and creating and contributing to internal and external resources. This position will collaborate with outside partners not only on educational initiatives, but will support the organization in developing new programming related to guardianship and its alternatives.  

The Organization  

Project Guardianship (PG) provides legal guardianship services for older adults and people living with disabilities and mental illness in New York who have no family or friends able to assist them. PG’s team approach provides guardianship clients with services that allow them to be as independent and in the least restrictive setting possible. Since 2005, PG has served hundreds of New Yorkers and has become a leading voice in a national, interdisciplinary effort to re-envision and strengthen guardianship policy. More recently, PG created training and advocacy initiatives to help improve older adult and disability services throughout New York and to ensure that older residents have access to good guardianship and other decision-making support services, regardless of their ability to pay.  

Primary Responsibilities: 

• Providing information and referrals to callers on a variety of topics including, but not limited to: commencing guardianship cases, guardianship prevention, restoration of rights, interpreting court papers, advance directives, accessing benefits, supportive housing, elder abuse, and care planning.  

• Collaborate with staff to develop internal and external educational resources.   

• Presenting workshops on Article 81 guardianship and its alternatives, including advance directives (both virtual and in-person, requiring periodic travel) 

• Tailor and develop new trainings as needed. 

• Use database to track calls and workshops 

• Work with the Director of NYS Guardianship Initiatives on developing programming related to guardianship and its alternatives.  

Qualifications: 

• J.D. and at least 2 years of legal experience 

• Understanding of legal procedures 

• Knowledge of Article 81 Guardianship and its lesser restrictive alternatives 

• Knowledge of two or more of the following areas preferred: public benefits, medical and mental health care, long-term care, Medicaid, advance directives, powers of attorney, housing law, supported decision-making  

• Experience presenting information to groups 

• Effective, compassionate communicator 

• Problem-solving, research, and organizational skills 

• Demonstrated commitment to social justice preferred  

Compensation  

• $70,000 - $80,000 annually 

• Generous paid time off (vacation and sick), health care, life insurance, disability insurance, commuter, and retirement benefits  

• 13 paid holidays  

This role is hybrid; depending on the location of the employee, they may be required to work from our office in Dumbo, Brooklyn 1 to 2 times per week.  Travel will also be required for any in-person workshops. 

Apply 

To apply, submit your resume, cover letter.  

Project Guardianship explicitly requests that applicants not use AI tools to write their cover letters.