Senior Advisor, Immigration Enforcement

UnidosUS, previously known as NCLR (National Council of La Raza), is the nation’s largest Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization. Through its unique combination of expert research, advocacy, programs, and an Affiliate Network of nearly 300 community-based organizations across the United States and Puerto Rico, UnidosUS simultaneously challenges the social, economic, and political barriers that affect Latinos at the national and local levels. For more than 50 years, UnidosUS has united communities and different groups seeking common ground through collaboration, and that share a desire to make our community stronger. For more information on UnidosUS, visit www.unidosus.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

SUMMARY

UnidosUS, previously known as NCLR (National Council of La Raza), is the nation’s largest Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization. Through our unique combination of expert research, advocacy programs, and an Affiliate Network of 300+ community-based organizations across the United States and Puerto Rico, UnidosUS simultaneously challenges the social, economic, and political barriers that affect Latinos at the national and local levels.

The Senior Advisor, Immigration Enforcement is a role that will support UnidosUS’s Protect, Defend & Advance (PD&A) Campaign by providing expertise about the policies and practices of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration Customs and Enforcement agency. The Senior Advisor is member of the institution-wide campaign team, a key advisor within the immigration working group. The Senior Advisor plays a key role in developing strategies and carrying out tactics that shed light on immigration enforcement practices and provide policy advice and recommendations to policymakers and advocates on steps to increase DHS oversight and ensure that enforcement efforts are humane and consistent with American values. The advisor is expected to conduct and publish policy analyses and engage with government officials, lawmakers, stakeholders, funders, and may provide expert testimony for Congressional committees and serve as a spokesperson in media.

The Senior Advisor must be available for in-person Capitol Hill visits and events. The position requires occasional travel, including to UnidosUS events. This is a full-time temporary exempt position expected to run through December 31, 2026.

Location: This position is hybrid, and will be based in Washington, DC. UnidosUS policy is to work onsite two days per week or as needed to fulfill the duties of the position.

Salary: $200,000-$220,000

Essential Functions:

Policy Analyses and Advocacy

• Develop and publish material that provide information, advice, and recommendations about policy, practice, regulations, in a range of enforcement areas from detention to recruitment and training of new ICE agents.
• Identify key priority areas for congressional oversight and advise on tactics to spotlight problem areas and recommend necessary improvements in DHS/ICE policy and practice. Includes tracking appropriations and use of funds by DHS.
• In collaboration with Senior Advisor, Immigration Policy & Strategy to shape the communications strategy in support of immigration policy strategic campaign goals, including those that support litigation strategies.
• Establish, cultivate and maintain influential relationships with key members of Congress, federal and state officials, state lawmakers, stakeholders and coalition leaders, funders and supporters, and media partnerships.
• Shape and inform DHS oversight activity by Congressional and state policymakers.
• Work directly with and partner with community stakeholders to ground oversight tracking and monitoring.
• Serve as a lead policy expert, advocate, and spokesperson externally, including in high-level coalition tables, at conferences and events across the U.S.

Portfolio Management and Cross-Sectional Leadership

• In collaboration with resource development, support fundraising efforts for the Protect, Defend, & Advance Campaign.
• Support efforts to keep major stakeholders of UnidosUS informed about immigration efforts, especially Affiliates and the Board of Directors.

Required Qualifications

• Advanced degree in policy, law, or related policy and advocacy field.
• Minimum of fifteen (15) years of in-depth experience engaging in federal level advocacy.
• Demonstrated experience publishing material, producing analyses, and other written forms of communication with the public and community-based organizations.
• Knowledge and demonstrated expertise in immigration enforcement policies and practices at DHS.
• Experience working with Congress.
• Experience communicating priorities and responding to questions in public settings.
• Experience staffing principles and senior leadership in their engagement with Congress.
• Flexibility to accommodate the congressional calendar (session) and for occasional travel (up to 10%).
• Demonstrated experience with and knowledge of the Latino community.

Preferred Qualifications

• Seven (7) or more years of government experience.
• Experience preparing and delivering expert testimony or similar communications about issues and priorities.
• Experience working with Hispanic lawmakers.
• Bilingual ability (English and Spanish).

Skills and Abilities

• Steadfast commitment to UnidosUS mission, vision, and values: Excellence, Respeto, Accountability.
• Commitment to U.S. Latino community, Latino non-profit organizations, and the Latino market.
• Strong communications skills.
• Experience with communicating the application of federal agency regulations and policies to state and local levels.

Competencies

• LeadershipExhibits confidence in self and others; Inspires and motivates others to perform well; Effectively influences actions and opinions of others; Accepts feedback from others; Gives appropriate recognition to others.
• Strategic ThinkingDevelops strategies to achieve organizational goals; Understands organization's strengths & weaknesses; Analyzes market and competition; Identifies external threats and opportunities; Adapts strategy to changing conditions.
• Project ManagementDevelops project plans; Coordinates projects; Communicates changes and progress; Completes projects on time and budget; Manages project team activities.
• Written CommunicationWrites clearly and informatively; Edits work for spelling and grammar; Varies writing style to meet needs; Presents numerical data effectively; Able to read and interpret written information.
• Oral CommunicationSpeaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; Listens and gets clarification; Responds well to questions; Demonstrates group presentation skills; Participates in meetings.
• Problem SolvingIdentifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; Gathers and analyzes information skillfully; Develops alternative solutions; Works well in group problem solving situations; Uses reason even when dealing with emotional topics.
• TeamworkBalances team and individual responsibilities; Exhibits objectivity and openness to others' views; Gives and welcomes feedback; Contributes to building a positive team spirit; Puts success of team above own interests; Able to build morale and group commitments to goals and objectives; Supports everyone's efforts to succeed.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

• Able to work well independently and remotely.
• Ability to travel.
• Accurately complete detailed forms and reports.
• Coordinate multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Sit for long periods of time.
• Utilize visual acuity to operate equipment, read technical information, and/or use a keyboard.

Employment with UnidosUS is contingent upon the successful completion of a background screen.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, national origin, marital status, religion, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, personal appearance, family responsibilities, political affiliation, or enrollment in a college, university, technical school, or adult education.