Program Director, Immigrant Rights

The Opportunity

The Program Director will lead a team of attorneys and community advocates working on issues and campaigns to protect immigrant and refugee communities from detention and deportation. The program builds toward a humane immigration system that keeps families and communities together. In partnership with senior leaders at ALC, this role will lead the team to bring about systems change through an integrated approach combining direct services, coalition building, innovative impact litigation, and strategic advocacy. The Program Director will also work with staff and collaborate with our Community Safety 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 criminal 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 Program Director 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. This position reports to the Director of Programs.

The Organization

Asian Law Caucus (ALC) is the nation’s first legal and civil rights organization serving low-income, immigrant, and marginalized Asian, Arab, Middle Eastern, and Pacific Islander communities. Since 1972, ALC has fought to protect access to 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 to low-income immigrants and communities of color. Today, with a staff of 60 we bring together legal services, community empowerment, and policy advocacy to fight for immigrant justice, economic security, and a stronger, multiracial democracy. Our work is rooted in the San Francisco Bay Area and California and expands to states across the country, including places where immigrant, Asian, Arab, Middle Eastern, and Pacific Islander communities are rapidly growing. 

Responsibilities

External

• Develop and consistently maintain technical expertise on immigration issues that impact our clients and communities
• Establish and deepen relationships with grassroots partners, advocacy and legal organizations, and government officials
• Be an ambassador for the program and the organization, and effectively communicate ALC’s breadth of work in various fora, including conferences, coalitions, and meetings
• In partnership with the Executive Director and Development Director, engage with funders, including providing regular written analyses and identifying new opportunities

Internal

• Develop and oversee the implementation of program goals and strategies in collaboration with the Senior Leadership Team, including the Director of Programs, Legal Director, Policy Director, and Communications Director
• Create a strategy screen to vet new opportunities and work with the Legal Director and Senior Counsels to develop and oversee ongoing impact litigation and the provision of direct legal services  
• Recruit, hire, supervise, and mentor program staff, including staff attorneys 
• Develop community engagement strategies, in collaboration with the Community Advocacy Manager, and ensure successful execution
• Identify intersecting work with other programs; lead, model, and promote a healthy culture of collaboration and accountability for the organization and for the team
• Develop and monitor a budget in partnership with the Finance Director that aligns with the program's goals and the organization's mission
• Work closely with the Development staff on grant proposals, reporting, and fundraising events
• Perform other duties as needed

All ALC staff are expected to participate in regular check-in meetings with their supervisor/supervisees, staff meetings, team meetings, and other organization meetings, as required. This includes two (2) annual retreats, an anniversary celebration dinner, and meetings as needed in the San Francisco Bay area. 

The above statements are not intended to encompass all functions of the position; rather, they are intended to provide a general framework of the requirements of the position. Job incumbents may be required to perform other functions not specifically addressed in this posting.

Qualifications

• J.D. and California bar membership required
• Minimum of eight (8) years relevant experience in immigration and removal defense, preferably for people with criminal convictions, and/or civil rights, with a legal services, policy advocacy, or state/federal court litigation approach, ideally with familiarity in practicing in a nonprofit organization
• Excellent research, analytical, written, and oral communication skills with the ability to tailor the message to the audience
• 3 to 5 years of experience managing and supervising staff, and managing a team
• Familiarity with the intersection of immigration and other issues, such as employment, housing, national security, and civil rights, is a plus
• Ability to conduct long-term visioning and strategic planning, both for the program and the organization
• 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 AAPI and AMEMSA community members impacted by the immigration and/or criminal legal system is highly desired
• Problem solver and team player with a sense of humor 
• Non-English language skills in AMEMSA and/or Asian languages (for example, Arabic, Farsi, Hindi, Khmer, Vietnamese, Chinese, Urdu) are a plus, but not required