Asylum Seekers and Families Program Director
The Director of the Asylum Seekers and Families (ASF) Program is responsible for developing and delivering a strategy that positions IRC to best serve asylum seeking clients throughout the state of Arizona. They will directly manage all of IRC’s activities and services for asylum seeking families and individuals in the state, including those delivered at the flagship Phoenix Welcome Center. Key responsibilities include staying fully informed of all developments related to asylum seeker patterns and policy across the state; designing and overseeing an advocacy and policy change agenda reflective of state, regional, and cross-border political realities and integrated with IRC global asylum policy positioning in collaboration with the Asylum and Legal Protection Unit; identifying ways to grow the ASF program both operationally and financially, and directly supervising an ASF senior management team. This position is part of the senior leadership team for IRC’s Arizona operations and is expected to contribute to setting the strategic direction of IRC in the state and contributing to operational problem solving through their areas of professional expertise. This position is also expected to contribute beyond the local office to influence best practice in their areas of expertise throughout the IRC. This position reports directly to the Executive Director for Arizona.
Major Responsibilities:
- Serve as a member of the IRC AZ leadership team, participating in strategic and office-wide discussions and processes. - Provide leadership, oversight, and supervision to staff directly serving asylum seekers in Arizona. Ensuring adequate training and support of staff. - Collaborate with the Development unit on delivery of highest quality volunteer engagement across the ASF program portfolio with particular attention to volunteer management at the Phoenix Welcome Center. - Ensure close programmatic and referral linkages across all IRC programs serving asylum seekers and between ASF and other IRC AZ programs and departments; proactively work to facilitate a strengths-based approach to services and implement processes and procedures that ensure clients are appropriately assessed and connected to relevant programs throughout IRC and referred to appropriate external parties. Ensure close and effective collaboration with the Arizona Asylum Network in Tucson and health and wellness staff across the state for client service coordination. - Develop and oversee overarching operating budget for all ASF programs in AZ in partnership with individual program managers, Finance, Grants and Development unit colleagues. - Develop and maintain strategic community partnerships with other service providers, government agencies, foundations, employers, and other key stakeholders. - Design, develop and grow IRC’s services for asylum seekers in Arizona and ensure the development of human and financial resources to sustain the program for the future. - Stay informed on immigration, asylum, border and cross-border (US/Mexico) issues nationally and in the State of Arizona and ensure IRC representation in interagency discussions and efforts. - Develop and execute a comprehensive advocacy and policy influence strategy to enhance the rights, protection, and quality of services for asylum seekers in Arizona in partnership with IRC’s Asylum and Legal Protection Unit and IRC RAI/HQ policy, advocacy, and communications leads. - Develop and sustain collaborative and impactful relationships with IRC RAI/HQ Technical Units and be the point of contact for any asylum related visits to Arizona. - Monitor provision of services to Asylum Seekers through regular and systematic file reviews, client interviews, and field visits, to ensure compliance with donor requirements and provision of quality services. - Actively strive to resolve all grievances and improve upon identified deficiencies in service provision through enhanced training, coaching, and monitoring. - Ensure effective representation for the Welcome Center and ASF program to federal and state offices, health, welfare, and education programs, community-based organizations, media and other external stakeholders. - Comply with all IRC policies, procedures and protocols including adherence to the IRC Way and Child Safeguarding. - Other related duties as assigned.
Key Working Relationships:
Position Reports to: Executive Director Position directly supervises: Welcome Center Program Manager, ASF Engagement Manager; Volunteer Supervisor; other ASF program leads.
Other Internal and/or external contacts:
Internal: Development Director; Grants Manager, Deputy Director of Programs; Managing Attorney, Health and Wellness Manager, Finance Director Deputy Director of Operations; HR Manager; RAI SHE, RAL, ALP Technical Units; RAI Asylum Policy and Advocacy Director; IRC Mexico
External: Local, State and Federal Government and other partner organizations and community entities also involved in asylum seeker services, public and private donor community
Job Requirements:
- Undergraduate degree required with preferred field of study in Non-Profit Management, Public Administration, Social Work or related field. - Master’s Degree in Non-Profit Management, Public Administration, Social Work or related field preferred. - Minimum 6+ years of related professional experience in non-profit management, program development and management; preferably in a grant-driven social services or non-profit environment. - Four years of demonstrated experience in mentoring supervisors and direct staff supervision. - Demonstrated understanding of the U.S. immigration system and stakeholders, particularly the U.S. asylum system; awareness of and commitment to the rights and realities of immigrant communities in the U.S. and the overall region with a special focus on the Southwest and Arizona, particularly along the U.S.-Mexico border. - Demonstrated ability to establish and sustain partnerships with a variety of stakeholders, resulting in meaningful collaboration efforts. - Fluency in written and spoken English and Spanish required. Cross-cultural understanding and strong communication skills, both written and verbal. - Demonstrated understanding of fiscal management and reporting. - Strong, demonstrated skill in donor compliance and donor relations. - Ability to speak in front of groups comfortably and effectively. - Excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to communicate with limited-English speakers in a multi-cultural environment. - Highly organized self-starter with proven success prioritizing multiple tasks, making critical decisions, and delivering results in a fast-paced environment with tight deadlines.
- Strategic, creative, problem solver capable of working well independently and as a part of a team.
- Advanced computer proficiency with an emphasis on Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Teams, Outlook) database systems, desktop publishing, and PowerPoint. - Must have a valid driver’s license, active insurance policy, access to reliable transportation and the ability to travel regularly throughout Arizona and service delivery area. - In accordance with Arizona State Law, must possess or be eligible to receive a fingerprint clearance card.
Working Environment:
A combination of standard office environment, remote work, and ‘field’ time within the service delivery area to perform the above outlined responsibilities. Office is based in Glendale with frequent travel to the Welcome Center, Tucson and other program locations including the border.
Posted pay ranges apply to US-based candidates. Ranges are based on various factors including the labor market, job type, internal equity, and budget. Exact offers are calibrated by work location, individual candidate experience and skills relative to the defined job requirements. Commitment to Diversity and Inclusivity: IRC is committed to building a diverse organization and a climate of inclusivity. We strongly encourage applications from candidates who can demonstrate that they can contribute to this goal.
Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances.
Professional Standards: The IRC and IRC staff must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Global Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti-Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.
Equal Opportunity Employer: We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.
US Benefits: We offer a comprehensive and highly competitive set of benefits. In the US, these include: 10 sick days, 10 US holidays, 20-25 paid time off days (depending on role and tenure), medical insurance starting at $145 per month, dental starting at $7 per month, and vision starting at $5 per month, FSA for healthcare, childcare, and commuter costs, a 403b retirement savings plans with up to 4.5% immediately vested matching contribution, plus a 3-7% base IRC contribution (3 year vesting), disability & life insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program which is available to our staff and their families to support counseling and care in times of crisis and mental health struggles.
Qualifications Update