Associate Director

About NYLAG

Founded in 1990, NYLAG is a leading civil legal services organization combatting economic, racial, and social injustice by advocating for people experiencing poverty or in crisis. Our services include comprehensive, free civil legal services, financial empowerment, impact litigation, policy advocacy, and community partnerships. NYLAG exists because wealth should not determine who has access to justice. We aim to disrupt systemic racism by serving individuals and families whose legal and financial crises are often rooted in racial inequality. NYLAG goes to where the need is, providing services in more than 150 community sites (e.g. courts, hospitals, libraries) and on our Mobile Legal Help Center. NYLAG’s staff of over 400 impacted the lives of nearly 129,000 people last year.

Job description

The New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG) seeks a highly motivated Associate Director for a full-time position supervising the Immigrant Protection Unit (IPU). The Associate Director will work alongside the Director and Associate Director to provide legal and programmatic oversight to IPU, develop and implement new programs, manage special projects, and train and develop staff. The job requires substantive knowledge and experience in immigration law, supervising staff, and managing grants and programs.

The Associate Director will work within the Immigrant Protection Unit at NYLAG to assist the Director and Associate Director with the operations of the unit, grant reporting, and development of the team and unit. The Associate Director will report directly to the Director to assist in overseeing a team of 70 advocates.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Work with the IPU leadership team to provide legal and programmatic oversight to IPU staff;
• Work with the IPU leadership team to develop and manage unit priorities, develop long-term strategies, and manage unit growth;
• Manage special projects as needed;
• Supervise and evaluate staff on day-to-day assignments, performance, and training;
• Work with the IPU leadership team to develop creative, responsive and community informed programming;
• Assist in managing IPU’s grants and contracts;
• Develop and manage relationships with communities, community-based organizations, stakeholders, and funders;
• Develop collaborative opportunities with partners;
• Select cases for representation and assign to IPU staff;
• Conduct legal and other trainings for IPU staff, outside partners, and the community;
• Establish policies and procedures for managing IPU’s work along with the IPU leadership team;
• Participate in conferences, meetings, and trainings;
• Engage in policy and advocacy efforts within community, with stakeholders, government, and partners to advance immigrant justice;
• Interview and participate in the selection of interns, fellows, and new staff;
• Evaluate and develop unit materials, sample filings, and legal training presentations;
• Oversee the orientation of new staff, and provide ongoing support, including professional development and team-building, for IPU staff; and
• Other duties as needed.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctorate from an accredited school
• Admission to the New York State bar
• Fluency in another language widely spoken by NYLAG clients (e.g. Spanish, Mandarin, Russian, Haitian Creole, etc.) is required
• Minimum eight years of experience working in immigration law required
• Minimum five years of experience supervising required; extensive experience with affirmative applications for relief before USCIS strongly preferred
• Experience managing programs and grants required
• Excellent writing, speaking and organizational skills
• Ability to communicate effectively with clients, community organizations, attorneys, judiciary, and the public
• Ability to work in a collaborative setting with other professionals
• Demonstrated commitment to immigrant rights, racial justice, and social justice issues
• Ability to work independently and under pressure while managing multiple competing deadlines

NYLAG’s Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

NYLAG is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. People of color, women, people with disabilities, immigrants, veterans, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people, and those with lived experiences in the communities we serve are strongly encouraged to apply.

Employment type:

☒ Full-time

Professional Level:

☒ Managerial

Salary: $137,436-$156,866

Benefits: Medical, dental, vision, 401k, life insurance, long term disability, commuter benefits, flexible spending accounts (FSA) for Medical and Dependent care.

Application Instructions: Please save resume and cover letter on one pdf.

Covid Vaccination Policy: Please note, to safeguard the health and well-being of our employees and clients, NYLAG requires all employees to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19, unless a medical or religious exemption is approved.

NYLAG is committed to a hybrid work policy for staff whose work does not require their full-time presence in the office. NYLAG’s current policy is that most staff are required to work in NYLAG’s offices or do other in-person work at least two days each week. This policy is subject to change.