Program Director

Program Director / Attorney

Medicaid Defense Team

Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, Inc. (LSEM), a nonprofit law firm that provides free legal assistance to people living with low income/low opportunity, seeks a full-time Attorney Program Director for its Medicaid Defense Team in the Health and Welfare Program. This new program, funded by the City of St. Louis, will focus on City residents impacted by HR1 (also called The One Big Beautiful Bill Act) and its changes to Medicaid eligibility. The City is also funding a parallel program at the Integrated Health Network to work together with LSEM on HR1 implementation. 

The Program Director will be responsible for supervising the City Grant Team, preparing grant reports for the funder, directly representing clients in individual cases, identifying systemic trends within the Team’s caseload, and working on systems-based solutions to those problems.

Responsibilities 

· Closely coordinating with the Integrated Health Network Team to devise a unified strategy for reaching City residents in need of HR1-related assistance.

· Supervising the Intake and Outreach Coordinator and three Healthcare Advocates, including conducting annual performance evaluations and regular case reviews.

· Participating in regular meetings with the Integrated Health Network Team, the state Medicaid agency, and other community advisory groups and state/national coalitions as needed.

· Staying up to date on new policies and trends in HR1 implementation.

· Advocating on behalf of clients in negotiation with the state Medicaid agency, with a focus on state fair hearings and circuit court appeals.

· Performing grant reporting duties as needed.

· Exploring systems-based solutions to systemic issues identified through the Team’s work, to include administrative advocacy, policy analysis, and potential litigation.

· Other duties as assigned.

· JD and admitted to practice in Missouri (or eligible to be admitted)

· At least 5 years of experience as a practicing attorney preferred

· Demonstrated commitment to public interest work or to legal services for the poor strongly preferred

· Previous experience or education in health or administrative law preferred

· Previous supervision experience preferred

· Strong litigation and advocacy skills

· Ability to relate well and work with low-income clients and collaborate with community stakeholders

· Excellent interpersonal skills and strong ability to form collaborative partnerships

· Strong writing ability

· Knowledgeable in Microsoft Office and willing to learn case management software

· Open to creative and innovative ways of fulfilling the legal aid mission

What we do
LSEM advances justice through legal representation, education, and supportive services. We partner with the community to improve lives, promote fairness, and create opportunities for those in need. Since 1956, LSEM has provided high-quality civil legal assistance and equal access to justice for low-income people in 21 counties in Missouri. We accomplish our mission through systemic advocacy/impact litigation and individual case work in a wide range of substantive civil areas which are in our priorities, e.g., family law for victims of domestic violence, prevention of homelessness/housing, health, public benefits, consumer, education, disability, community economic development, and immigration. As part of our community education/outreach efforts, LSEM works with over 150 agencies and participates in over 35 task forces/coalitions and has a vibrant Volunteer Lawyers Program.

Who we are

At Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, we embrace a culture that celebrates and promotes the many backgrounds, heritages, and perspectives of our colleagues and clients. We seek to hire individuals from a variety of backgrounds, who are professional, collaborative, and creative thinkers with a passion for our mission, and create an environment where everyone can thrive. We strongly encourage applications from all qualified individuals and will make employment decisions based on merit.

How to Apply

Upload your resume and cover letter through our online application. Applications without a cover letter will not be considered.

Salary & Benefits Information

The salary range for this position is $76,500 - $114,800. The specific salary offered within the range will be determined by years of relevant experience. Excellent benefits include medical, dental and vision insurance, a generous time off policy (starting at 4 weeks per year), 11 paid holidays, 12 weeks paid parental leave, 403(b) and 401(a) retirement plans, long-term disability and life insurance, and an employee assistance plan. An in-person/remote hybrid work option is also available.

Submission Deadline 

Applications will be considered until the position is filled.

Equal access to Legal Services of Eastern Missouri’s office is available. Those applicants requiring accommodation to the interview/application process should contact Human Resources at the e-mail HR@lsem.org. Legal Services of Eastern Missouri is an equal opportunity employer.

Notice of AI Use in Job Application Review

As part of our commitment in creating a fair, efficient, and consistent hiring process we may use artificial intelligence (AI) to help our recruiting teams organize, summarize, and analyze information provided by candidates, including resumes, application responses, and other materials submitted during the application process.AI may be used to identify patterns, highlight relevant skills, and experience, and assist in comparing a candidate’s qualifications with the requirement of a specific role. These tools are to improve efficiency and consistency while supporting more informed hiring decisions, which will ultimately be made by the hiring team.