The Bronx Defenders – an innovative, progressive, holistic indigent defense office in the South Bronx – seeks an organized recruiting professional with a commitment to social justice to provide administrative and programming support as a Recruiting Coordinator. 

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 reform at the local, state, and national levels. We take what we learn from the clients and communities that we serve and launch innovative initiatives designed to bring about real and lasting change. 

Recruiting

The Bronx Defenders is committed to attracting a strong and diverse pool of applicants dedicated to serving the Bronx community. Every year, we receive thousands of applications for internships and full-time employment opportunities, and aim to conduct a thorough, thoughtful and equitable vetting and onboarding process to ensure we’re hiring excellent advocates, providing opportunities for people from marginalized communities and creating an anti-oppressive workplace. We work to provide a seamless transition into our office, and assist in providing robust training, support and programming for all new employees.

The Recruiting Coordinator plays an integral role on the Recruiting & Hiring Team by providing administrative and programmatic support for the hiring process for full time employees at all levels and across interdisciplinary teams, as well as for multiple internships, externships and early career training programs. 

• Provide administrative support for all recruiting and hiring processes including 

• Job Postings  

• Compile and deploy job posts across multiple platforms, networks and relevant industry spaces  

• Track job posts, timelines, candidate activity and overall engagement with applicants 

• Organize candidate applications and interview request submissions 

• Navigate our ATS, iCIMS, to manage the candidate experience, including general communication with candidates, interview scheduling, candidate progress, reference checks and all necessary verifications as well as troubleshooting and resolving any issues 

• Provide hiring managers and internal teams with all relevant materials to support the interview process, including resumes, feedback and evaluation materials, and calendar reminders  

• Communicate with employees at all levels about the progress of the recruitment process and provide training and support with navigating the ATS 

• Organize iCIMS and facilitate access to job posts by hiring managers, teams and applicants 

• Organize and track recruiting and hiring materials on platforms outside of iCIMS including Google Drive and SharePoint 

• Assist with the hiring processes as necessary 

• Candidate screening, interviews and deliberations 

• Participate in client interview simulations    

• Conduct Spanish language screening  

• Provide programmatic support to organize, deliver and participate in recruiting events at BxD, college campuses, and industry gatherings 

• Engage with prospective candidates at recruiting events   

• Assist the Recruiting and Hiring Team with engagement with students, academic professionals and industry partners 

• Onboarding 

• Collaborate with key internal partners to facilitate a smooth and effective onboarding process 

• Assist with new hire orientation 

• Provide administrative and programmatic support in the planning, delivery and follow up for internships, externships and early career training programs 

• Assist with training new staff on the recruiting and hiring processes 

• At least two (2) years of experience supporting hiring and recruitment processes 

• Strong proficiency with iCIMS or other ATS   

• Strong technological skills, especially the ability to fluidly navigate Microsoft Suite and Google Suite, and learn other recruiting databases with minimal guidance 

• Excellent organization skills as well as meticulous attention to detail  

• Excellent oral and written communication skills 

• Ability to effectively and respectfully communicate, collaborate and engage with people with various backgrounds, identities and experiences  

• Ability to work well independently as well as collaboratively  

• Ability to multitask, remain organized and efficient in a fast-paced, high-stakes environment  

• Ability to think critically and creatively, finding innovative solutions to unique obstacles 

• Ability to exercise excellent judgment, discretion, and confidentiality with sensitive matters 

• Commitment to a hybrid work schedule with 3 days per week in office/onsite 

• Spanish language fluency is a plus 

Salary is commensurate with experience. The salary range for this position is $55,000-$65,000. Full-time employees are eligible for a comprehensive benefits package including but not limited to medical, dental and vision coverage; a 403(b) plan with employer contribution; and a generous vacation, sick leave, and parental leave policy.   

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.  

This position is non-exempt. By law, non-exempt employees are compensated hourly based on their annual rate and therefore are entitled to over-time, whereas exempt employees are not.   

To apply, please upload both a cover letter and resume as a single document when prompted. Applications missing any components or not submitted in the requested manner will not be considered. 

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 serve.