Defense Coordinator

Job Title: Defense Coordinator

About Siembra

Siembra NC is a basebuilding organization focused on building power by organizing Latinos and workers throughout the state of North Carolina. We organize across the state to take up campaigns that fight to stop wage theft, defend our rights, and recruit more of our gente to join bigger fights. Our North Star is to organize North Carolina into the best state for workers. In addition to our basebuilding and issue based fights, we also build campaigns that engage voters across the state and that build the story of the real majority of our state, everyday workers, like us.

Read more about our organization here:

• NPR: Fear Busters: how a North Carolina group is fighting misinformation in immigrant communities
• Teen Vogue: ICE Watch Programs Can Protect Immigrants in Your Neighborhood – Here’s What to Know
• WUNC: Families of immigrants detained by ICE speak out as Republican immigration bills advance

About the Position

Siembra NC is seeking a dedicated and highly organized Defense Coordinator to serve as the primary point of contact and advocate for families navigating detention. This is a relationship-first role that balances rapid-response case management with strategic narrative building. The Defense Coordinator accompanies families from the initial detention intake call, manages logistical details related to defense funds and other support, and empowers families to share their stories in ways that build public pressure and community support.

The ideal candidate is a proactive over-communicator who thrives in the details of a spreadsheet and feels equally comfortable coaching a family member through a media interview. Due to the nature of the position, this role might require evening and weekend hours.

Responsibilities Include:

Crisis Intake & Case Management

• Rapid Response: Lead detention intakes from the first call forward, ensuring families feel heard, supported, and informed of their next steps immediately.
• Data Integrity: Maintain meticulous records. This role requires frequent, daily updates to internal spreadsheets and databases to track case progress, bond status, and legal deadlines.
• Defense Fund Oversight: Manage follow-ups regarding financial assistance for bond or legal fees, ensuring funds are distributed and tracked accurately.

Narrative Building & Media Advocacy

• Storytelling: Work closely with families to help them articulate their experiences. You will identify the core "heart" of a case to help move the public to action.
• Content Capture: Conduct interviews with families and impacted individuals to document their stories for social media, legal declarations, or campaign materials.
• Media Coaching: Prepare and coach family members to speak with reporters, ensuring they feel safe, prepared, and empowered to share their truth.
• Public Spokesperson: Serve as a secondary spokesperson to the press, speaking knowledgeably and passionately about specific cases to raise awareness.

Community Mobilization & Accompaniment

• Supporter Engagement: Coordinate with Siembra supporters to organize "accompaniment" (e.g., attending court dates or check-ins) and community-led fundraising efforts.
• Resource Navigation: Connect families to local resources while maintaining frequent, proactive communication to ensure no family feels "lost" in the system.

Other Responsibilities

• Take hotline shifts as needed, with a target of approximately four shifts per week depending on overall workload.
• Collaborate with hotline and communications team and other member, staff and volunteer teams to implement organizational strategies
• During periods of higher intensity defense team activation, work closely with supervisor to adjust intake protocols
• Coordinate other defense projects and trainings as needed
• Maintain a weekly/monthly work plan
• Participate in supervision and other team meetings
• Complete timesheets, expense reports and use other administrative tools as necessary

Required Qualifications

• Bilingual in Spanish and English
• Strong communication skills; a proactive overcommunicator with families and teammates
• Deep empathy and ability to remain calm and grounded in high-stress, traumatic situations
• Strong attention to detail and comfort working with spreadsheets and organized data
• Ability to prioritize tasks in a fast-paced environment
• Comfort supporting media engagement and public-facing communication
• Ability to give and receive constructive feedback
• Proficiency with basic technology (cell phone, laptop, Google Docs, WhatsApp, messaging platforms)
• Ability to travel locally for in-person support
• Demonstrated commitment to Siembra’s values and theory of change

Preferred Qualifications:

• 3+years experience working in related fields or relevant volunteer experience
• Journalism background
• Experience with ActionNetwork or other contact management platforms
• Experience with Canva or other design software

Compensation and Benefits

Competitive salary range of $71,500–$76,500 depending on experience, with benefits, including fully employer-paid health insurance for staff and 100% coverage for dependents, paid time off (PTO), remote office set up, monthly stipend of $100 for phone and internet, and mileage reimbursement for travel. This position is full-time and based in North Carolina.

How to Apply

Please submit your resume and cover letter to the Defense Coordinator application form. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis but will be accepted later than January 27, 2026.

Benefits include fully employer-paid health insurance for staff and 100% coverage for dependents, paid time off (PTO), remote office set up, monthly stipend of $100 for phone and internet, and mileage reimbursement for travel. This position is full-time and based in North Carolina.

Bilingual in English and Spanish.