Small Business Coordinator

ABOUT PHILADELPHIA VIP

Philadelphia VIP is a nonprofit that recruits and supports volunteer attorneys to represent low-income Philadelphians who face critical legal issues but cannot afford a lawyer.

Since 1981, VIP has been the hub of pro bono in Philadelphia, annually supporting over 1,000 volunteers assisting hundreds of low-income clients in four priority areas: preventing homelessness, preserving income, supporting family stability, and promoting community economic development. Our staff of eighteen consists of attorneys, case managers, and other professionals and is highly collaborative, creative, and passionate about our capacity-building model of service. VIP values a diverse and inclusive work environment and encourages qualified people from historically underrepresented groups to apply.

POSITION SUMMARY

Reporting to the Managing Attorney, the Small Business Coordinator leads VIP’s Community Economic Development Initiative, which matches small businesses and nonprofits with volunteer attorneys who provide pro bono legal advice and transactional representation.

The position is full-time (38-40 hours/week) and exempt, with an outstanding team atmosphere, a salary range of $62,000 to $67,000, and a $3,000 salary increase for written and spoken Spanish proficiency. VIP’s generous benefits include medical and dental insurance (with employee medical premium fully paid by VIP); a 403(b) plan with employer contributions; short- and long-term disability and life insurance; flexible spending accounts for health and dependent care; industry-leading paid time off, including substantial vacation and sick time, 12+ paid holidays, and paid parental leave; an individual budget for professional development; and alternative work arrangements, including generous telework hours and scheduling flexibility. This position is part of a bargaining unit of employees represented by UAW.

KEY QUALIFICATIONS

A strong candidate will demonstrate a passion for supporting businesses in Philadelphia’s most underserved neighborhoods; excellent project management and presentation skills; and the ability to independently plan and execute a robust event calendar with numerous partner organizations. Further qualifications include:

• Excellent strategic thinking ability; a data-driven, results-oriented mindset; and a strong sense of ownership and accountability in project execution
• At least two years of relevant professional experience required; no legal experience necessary
• Outgoing personality and ability to identify and build effective relationships with a diverse array of stakeholders, including business owners, community leaders, and volunteer attorneys
• Intermediate-level knowledge of Philadelphia’s diverse neighborhoods and their unique needs
• Ability to speak and read Spanish preferred, but not required
• Prior relationships with local business associations or coalitions preferred
• Ability to attend occasional community outreach events in evenings and on weekends

KEY FUNCTIONS

Support volunteer attorneys and clients through case management:

• With attorney supervision, prepare cases for volunteers by gathering background information and documents from clients, assessing eligibility and legal merit, and summarizing the legal issues requiring assistance
• Using VIP’s volunteer database, conduct routine, thoughtful outreach to persuade volunteers to take cases
• Monitor referred cases, including serving as a liaison to volunteers and clients and regularly requesting status updates
• Establish strong relationships with the Business Law Section of the Philadelphia Bar Association, corporate legal departments, and business groups within law firms, who serve as the primary source of volunteers for the Initiative

Coordinate and execute all aspects of the Initiative’s legal clinics, with particular emphasis on building relationships with clinic clients before and after the clinic event:

• Plan, prepare for, and execute legal clinics (approximately six annually), some of which occur in the evening
• Recruit potential clients by regularly publicizing the clinic with community partners, and thoroughly screen potential clients for eligibility and legal needs through one-on-one conversations
• Recruit volunteer attorneys through regular outreach to law firms, corporations, and other key partnerships
• Attend to all other event details, including securing trainers as needed and coordinating logistics with host law firms

Develop and implement a strategy to expand awareness of the Initiative in Philadelphia’s business community:

• Initiate relationships with new community partners proactively to build pipelines of clients, and promptly follow up with concrete ideas to expand our reach into their communities
• Meet regularly with established community partners to maintain relationships and expand the program’s reach
• Attend community fairs, workshops, and outreach events to raise awareness of the Initiative’s services, and follow up with attendees to connect them with legal help
• Pursue and coordinate opportunities to present information to the community about small business and nonprofit services available through VIP

Manage other projects related to VIP’s small business and nonprofit work:

• Develop relationships with other nonprofits providing analogous services, and refer clients to other resources for issues beyond VIP’s scope
• Identify areas of legal need in the small business and nonprofit community, and organize virtual business law seminars and written resource guides utilizing VIP’s volunteer network to address them
• Proactively plan and implement events throughout the year to increase Philadelphia’s access to free legal knowledge and to further public awareness of VIP’s services
• Attend regular meetings, and perform all other duties, as assigned

HOW TO APPLY:

Email cover letter, resume, and references to Nadav Carmel, Director of Operations, at jobs@phillyvip.org. References will not be contacted without prior permission from candidate. No calls, please.

What to include in your cover letter: All cover letters should include a salary requirement and potential start date.

Deadline: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with priority given to those received by May 1, 2025.

Candidates should be able to interview in person at VIP’s Center City office for a 2nd round interview, at minimum, during May 2025.

PHILADELPHIA VIP IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Philadelphia VIP values and encourages diversity and solicits applications from all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, gender, sex, age, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, medical condition, military and veteran status, gender identity or expression, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. VIP is committed to equal employment opportunity, and all personnel decisions and actions, including recruitment, hiring, training, promotion, and compensation and benefits, will be based on valid job requirements and without regard to any characteristic protected from discrimination under applicable laws.