Immigrant Rights Program Manager

Immigrant Rights Program Manager
Advancing Justice - Asian Law Caucus
Based in San Francisco, CA; Hybrid Work Schedule
Exempt, Full-time, Regular position

Applications due by October 6, 2023

The Opportunity

Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Asian Law Caucus (ALC) seeks an experienced attorney and advocate to lead its Immigrant Rights (IR) Program. The Program Manager will lead a team of attorneys, community advocates, and fellows to bring about systems change through an integrated approach combining direct services, coalition building, impact litigation, and strategic advocacy. The Program Manager must be able to utilize, integrate, and manage legal, policy, and advocacy strategies on issues and campaigns to protect immigrant and refugee communities from detention and deportation and build toward a humane immigration system that keeps families and communities together. She/he/they will supervise attorneys on a wide range of legal matters before the immigration court system and federal courts.

The IR Program Manager will lead the program’s direct services, advocacy, and community empowerment work with and for low-income immigrants facing detention and deportation. The IR Program Manager will also work with staff and collaborate with our Criminal Justice Reform program to build on the past decade of advocacy to disentangle ICE from local and state law enforcement. The ideal candidate is attuned to and has deep expertise in crim-imm legal issues and is committed to building leadership and power with and for impacted communities. Experience working with people who are formerly incarcerated and/or directly impacted by the criminal legal system is highly desired. The IR Program Manager should bring a leadership style that is grounded in principles of equity and inclusion and can partner with ALC’s leadership and staff to build connectivity and cohesion across the organization.

The Organization

ALC is the nation’s first legal organization focusing on advancing and defending the civil rights of Asian and Pacific Islander (API) communities, including Arab and Middle Eastern communities. Since 1972, ALC has preserved affordable housing in San Francisco’s Chinatown, litigated high-profile civil rights cases, advocated for the passage of landmark policy changes, and provided an array of services, including community education, advocacy, and direct client representation to further the rights of low-income immigrants and communities of color. Current program areas include Housing Rights, Immigrant Rights, Criminal Justice Reform, National Security & Civil Rights, Workers’ Rights, and Voting Rights.

Primary Responsibilities

• Develop and oversee the strategic direction and the short and long-term goals of the IR Program
• In collaboration with the Director of Programs, Litigation Director, Policy Director, and Communications Director, develop advocacy strategies to address the impacts of the existing immigration systems on API immigrant communities and other immigrant communities of color
• Supervise the legal team to provide direct legal services to low-income API immigrants and oversee legal casework and client management, including contesting aggravated felony and other criminal-immigration charges, habeas actions seeking release from ICE detention, and constitutional challenges to ICE enforcement practices
• Work with attorneys and Litigation Director to staff ongoing litigation and identify new opportunities, legal theories, and claims to challenge civil rights abuses in the immigration system
  
• Work with Community Advocacy Managers to develop successful community engagement strategies
  
• Collaborate with Communications staff to develop stories with ALC clients and their communities and execute narrative-shifting strategies
• Collaborate and coordinate with relevant programs on work that intersects with the immigration system
• Establish and deepen relationships with grassroots partners, advocacy organizations, and other stakeholders
• Develop and monitor a budget that aligns with the program's goals and organization's mission
• Assist in development activities such as grant proposals, reporting, funder meetings, and fundraising events

Qualifications

• Minimum two (2) years of experience supervising staff and managing a team
• Substantive experience with immigration issues and a minimum of five (5) years' related legal services, policy advocacy, or state/federal court litigation experience, ideally with familiarity in practicing in a nonprofit organization
• J.D. degree and California bar membership
• Significant removal defense for people with criminal convictions and federal court experience are highly desired
• Familiarity with the intersection of immigration status and other issues, such as national security, employment and housing, a plus
• Demonstrated leadership and ability to work independently and in collaboration with other attorneys, community advocates, and community-based organizations
• Demonstrated commitment to building power for and with grassroots communities
• Experience working with API and AMEMSA (Arab, Middle Eastern, Muslim, and South Asian) community members impacted by the immigration legal system is highly desired
• A trusted colleague who works effectively within a nonprofit management team towards organizational goals and objectives
• Excellent research, analytical, written, and oral communication skills
• Willingness to take risks and innovate
• Ability to do long-term visioning and planning, and ability to grow a team while maintaining a culture
• Non-English language skills (such as Asian languages or Spanish) a plus but not required

Compensation and Benefits

This is a regular, full-time, exempt position. The annual compensation depends on years of relevant experience; the range is $125,000-$167,990.

ALC’s comprehensive benefits package includes the following: generous vacation and paid holidays; medical, dental, disability, and life insurance coverage (ALC pays 100% of premiums for employees and 75% for qualified dependents); a flexible spending account (FSA); and 401K retirement plan with employer non-elective contribution and match.

Application Process

Interested candidates should submit the following by October 6, 2023:

1. Cover letter addressing your interest in the position
2. Resume
3. Writing sample (no more than ten (10) pages)
4. Three professional references
   

Advancing Justice – Asian Law Caucus is committed to the principles of equal employment. We are committed to complying with all federal, state, and local laws providing equal employment opportunities, and all other employment laws and regulations. It is our intent to maintain a work environment that is free of harassment, discrimination, or retaliation based on an individual’s race (including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists), color, religion, religious creed (including religious dress and grooming practices), national origin, ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition (including cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, marital status, reproductive health decision-making, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), gender (including gender identity and gender expression), age (40 years and over), sexual orientation, veteran and/or military status, protected medical leaves (requesting or approved for leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act or the California Family Rights Act), domestic violence victim status, political affiliation, height, weight, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local laws. The Advancing Justice – Asian Law Caucus is dedicated to the fulfillment of this policy in regard to all aspects of employment, including, but not limited to, recruiting, hiring, placement, transfer, training, promotion, rates of pay, and other compensation, termination, and all other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment.