Communications and Development Specialist

Based in Portland, Maine, with a satellite office in Lewiston, the Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project (ILAP) is Maine’s only state-wide immigration legal aid organization. ILAP’s mission is to help low-income immigrants improve their legal status and to work for more just and humane laws and policies affecting immigrants. ILAP’s work includes direct legal services for over 3,000 clients each year; education and outreach to immigrant communities and service providers; and systemic advocacy on local, state, and federal immigration law issues.

ILAP is committed to having a respectful, collaborative, and equitable work environment, with equal opportunity for all employees. We strongly encourage applications from people of color, immigrants, and other underrepresented and historically marginalized groups. We believe in building an organization that is reflective of the communities that we serve and is diverse in work background, experience, education, race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, ancestry, national origin, or sensory, mental, and physical abilities. We believe that having a diverse and equitable organization strengthens our programming and services and advances our organizational values.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The Communications and Development Specialist will play a vital role in deepening ILAP’s visibility, strengthening its narrative, and supporting fundraising and advocacy through strategic communications and storytelling.

Reporting to the Development Director, the Communications and Development Specialist is responsible for strategizing, developing and coordinating organization-wide communications to increase awareness of ILAP’s work, support donor and public engagement, and amplify systemic advocacy efforts. This position also works closely with the Policy Director and collaborates with ILAP’s Leadership Team and other staff across the organization.

We take a collaborative and iterative approach to our development and communications work and strive to create an environment of open communication and mutual support, where ideas, feedback, and responsibilities are shared freely. We believe all aspects of ILAP’s work should be grounded in race, equity, and social justice, and that bold action is needed to achieve justice and accountability in our immigration system. In alignment with these values, ILAP’s development efforts are rooted in a commitment to community-centric fundraising.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s and advanced degree or certification/credential or training in a communications field. Equivalent education and/or experience will be considered.
• 5+ years of direct experience in nonprofit communications, including copyediting, graphic design, production, distribution of materials, storytelling, and social media management. Experience working with the media, fundraising, and developing policy advocacy materials preferred.
• Demonstrated passion for advancing immigrant rights and a history of personal and professional commitment to racial justice and equity. Expertise and understanding of the immigration system built through lived experience highly desirable.
• Experience communicating complex topics to diverse audiences and comfort writing and editing in English.
• Demonstrated skills in envisioning, developing, and managing communications projects, while gathering key feedback and consulting with colleagues.
• Demonstrated exceptional attention to detail.
• Demonstrated experience and strong skills with communications technology including email marketing software, website and database management, design software, and social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Experience with Mailchimp, Adobe suite, Canva, WhatsApp, and/or CiviCRM a plus.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to understand, balance, and respond to feedback and priorities of colleagues, supporters, and partners.
• Track record of taking initiative, troubleshooting problems, and developing solutions through continuous improvement and skill building. Experience successfully planning and implementing competing tasks and projects.
• Excitement about creative thinking, brainstorming, and exploring new ideas.
• Knowledge of and commitment to ethical storytelling, information accessibility, and community-centric fundraising a plus.
• Proficiency in ILAP’s relevant client languages a plus.
• Availability for periodic evening and weekend activities.
• ILAP conducts job-related background checks to ensure a safe and secure work environment in which staff, clients, resources, and assets are protected, while protecting the integrity and confidentiality of information gathered.

For 2025, ILAP’s base salary for this position ranges from $70,040 - $78,280. Placement on our salary scale is based on multiple factors including job classification and years of relevant experience. Employees may also receive additional compensation based on language proficiency in one or more relevant client languages, supervision responsibilities, and membership on ILAP's Equity Committee.

ILAP offers a generous benefits package. Current benefits include:

• Fully paid individual health and dental insurance coverage and significant coverage for dependents’ health insurance;
• Vacation (20 days), Holidays (13.5), Sick Days (12), and Personal Days (4);
• Reduced Hours Fridays;
• Paid parental leave and a paid family and medical leave policy;
• Paid sabbatical after each 5 years of employment;
• Employer Retirement Contributions;
• Health Savings Plan;
• Law School Repayment Assistance;
• Employer paid premium for long term disability and life insurance;
• Individual and staff-wide professional development opportunities; and
• Alternative Work Arrangement (eligible after 90-day onboarding)