Director of Strategic Partnerships and Community Engagement

The Tahirih Justice Center is a national, nonprofit organization that serves women, girls, and all immigrant survivors of gender-based violence. Our interdisciplinary, trauma-informed model of service combines free legal and social services with bridge-building policy advocacy and research-based training and education. Our programs efficiently and effectively leverage donated professional services from a vast network of attorneys, medical professionals, and other experts to serve as many immigrant survivors as possible. By amplifying the experiences of survivors in communities, courts, and Congress, Tahirih’s mission is to create a world in which all people share equal rights and live in safety and with dignity.

Position Summary: Reporting to the CEO, the Director of Strategic Partnerships and Community Engagement works closely with other program leadership and staff to build and maintain a robust pro bono program at Tahirih while ensuring that Tahirih fosters relationships with a diversity of community partners. This role requires an individual with strong relationship management, networking, and presentation skills. The Director of Strategic Partnerships and Community Engagement must be able to represent Tahirih publicly in coalitions, trainings, conferences, and fundraising events. Tahirih is currently working in a hybrid model, but this individual must be located within commuting distance of one of our five office locations (Falls Church, VA; Atlanta, GA; Houston, TX; San Bruno, CA; or Baltimore, MD).

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

This Job Description is not designed to cover a comprehensive listing of activities that are required of the employee. The precise duties and responsibilities of the job may change over time.

• Own Tahirih’s national pro bono engagement strategy and maintain relationships with lead partners and coordinators at major law firms. Create and communicate a coherent slate of engagement possibilities – in collaboration with Tahirih’s program staff – to facilitate law firm service to Tahirih’s clients.
• In consultation with program leadership and staff, build and maintain consistent operations of Tahirih’s pro bono program including systems for onboarding, supporting, and ensuring ongoing mentoring, training, and the success of pro bono partners representing clients.
• Check in regularly with program leads to ensure efficient, consistent, and adequate usage of pro bono resources.
• Collaborating closely with program leadership and staff, design and implement a range of pro bono engagement opportunities nationally and in each of Tahirih’s markets.
• Serve as a thought leader on the substantive issues facing Tahirih’s clients as well as the functioning and value of legal and other professional volunteerism with Tahirih.
• Monitor changes in immigration law, practice, and policy and how those changes will impact the pro bono program.
• Serve as primary point of contact and relationship holder for most law firms and corporations across the country. Work closely with General Counsel to review and execute co-counsel agreements. Establish a gift and sponsorship strategy for law firms and corporations volunteering with Tahirih and support development and communications team efforts to raise funds from individual volunteers in collaboration with the development team.
• Identify needs for a well-curated pro bono resource library and support creation of substantive immigration legal and trauma informed practice trainings, templates, and sample materials in collaboration with program leadership and staff. Ensure regular updating of materials and trainings.
• Train staff on mentorship best practices with pro bono attorneys in collaboration with program leadership. Provide program staff support in pro bono relationship management as needed.
• Alongside other program leadership and staff, identify local and national trends and challenges facing Tahirih’s clients with a view to informing public policy advocacy.
• Support external communications relating to program activities, including emails to supporters, newsletters, press releases, and letters to the editor, in coordination with Policy and Communications.
• Represent Tahirih publicly in coalitions, trainings, conferences, and fundraising events to increase public awareness of Tahirih’s work and issues it addresses and strengthen the organization’s reputation as an impactful leader and advocate in the field.
• Periodically review and assess Tahirih’s partnerships with community-based and like-minded organizations nationwide. Ensure that Tahirih is partnership with and conducting outreach to a diversity of individuals and organizations representing a range of backgrounds and needs.
• Partner closely with the grants and program leadership teams to seek national technical assistance and direct services funds and support program leadership and staff in executing these functions.
• Work with other directors to ensure accurate collection of data regarding partnerships and volunteer engagement to enable outreach efforts.

Requirements

• At least 8 years of relevant legal or relevant program experience including 5-plus years in a management role in a community nonprofit organization, government agency, or similar organization.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to innovate and take initiative to grow and improve Tahirih's pro bono program.
• Sincere and informed commitment to equity and inclusion, social justice and dismantling individual and systemic violence against women and immigrants.
• Interpersonal skills to handle sensitive and confidential situations with both internal and external stakeholders; demonstrated ability to maintain poise, tact, and diplomacy.
• Demonstrated experience building authentic and effective partnerships and coalitions among organizations and activists working at all levels, from the grassroots to the national level, including the ability to work effectively with a broad range of stakeholders
• Experience serving as an organizational spokesperson for media, with policymakers, at conferences, and other highly visible opportunities to build education and awareness in our mission.
• Demonstrated ability to think innovatively and execute creative problem solving, strategic thinking, and analytical skills; an exceptional ability to build open-minded relationships across lines of difference, forge consensus, and resolve conflict.
• Deep trauma-informed understanding of the experiences of immigrant survivors of violence.
• Strong project management skills and exemplary time management and prioritization skills.
• Knowledge, appreciation, and commitment to staying abreast of immigration issues on the local, state and national levels.
• Demonstrated commitment to Tahirih’s values: https://www.tahirih.org/about-us/. 
• Ability to participate in travel to meetings and conferences as needed, likely several times per year