Immigration Program Manager

The Program Manager, Immigration, provides guidance, leadership, and direct support for immigration legal and related civic engagement services for both the Richmond and Charlottesville offices. The Program Manager is responsible for supervision of legal services provided by DOJ accredited representatives, and staff and intern performance as well as program delivery, implementation, and development. The Program Manager will bring not only legal expertise and a passion for this area of work, but also the ability to motivate and mentor a team of legal professionals in a dynamic and fast-paced environment. The position will work in close collaboration with a range of community partners and the Legal Services Technical Unit (TU) at IRC’s headquarters. The Program Manager must be currently accredited by the US Department of Justice (DOJ) through IRC or another DOJ-recognized organization.

Major Responsibilities:

Program Development & Leadership

- · Oversee legal strategy through daily direct supervision of Department of Justice (DOJ) accredited representatives and legal assistants.

- · Create a viable outreach strategy to cultivate and maintain strong relationships with community-based organizations and nonprofit legal providers to enhance collaboration and outreach for legal and civic engagement services. Pursue program initiatives with partners that further goals and address unmet demand.

- Represent IRC at immigration-related meetings and events in the community, with partners and funders, and with government agencies, including by giving presentations.

- · Create and support implementation of outreach strategy. Develop and implement media opportunities in conjunction with the Executive Director and Community Engagement Manager for publicizing immigration work.

- · Develop strategic plan for immigration and civics education, incorporating client and partner feedback, to increase responsiveness of services, increase sustainability, and improve service delivery.

- · Actively co-facilitate and support grant opening, grant review, and grant closing meetings related to legal services, and lead all aspects of grant cycle, including developing/implementing monitoring & evaluation plans.

- · Serve as an in-house expert on US immigration law by updating internal IRC colleagues on changes in immigration law affecting IRC’s clients as needed.

- Serve as key liaison with the Immigration HQ Technical Unit for caseload and ongoing legal work, including participating in regular calls and trainings.

- · Collaborate with other IRC program areas as appropriate to ensure client-centered services.

- · Serve on the Virginia Senior Management Team and work effectively across programs to further IRC’s mission.

- Stay apprised of relevant immigration law and policy and maintain DOJ accreditation by attending and keeping records of continuing legal education training and credits.

Direct Client Services

- · Maintain a limited caseload of cases before US Citizenship & Immigration Services, including family reunification, adjustment of status, and naturalization cases.

- · Maintain strict client confidentiality and observe all ethical practices/obligations as outlined in IRC’s Immigration Program Policies Manual.

Program and Staff Supervision

- Provide daily direct supervision to immigration staff employing adaptive management techniques to provide regular individual supervision and support; mentor staff, set clear performance expectations and goals, give regular performance feedback, help prioritize workloads, help troubleshoot challenges, and maintain appropriate professional development plans. - Ensure all cases have high-quality legal review and that clients are counseled appropriately on their immigration options and potential risks and consequences of applying for certain immigration benefits. - Ensure immigration staff adhere to the IRC Immigration Program Policies Manual, including through regular mentorship, direct observations of key client service activities (e.g., client intakes), and by ensuring staff receive frequent, ongoing relevant (internal and external) legal training, including on legal ethics, and have the most up-to-date guidance regarding immigration adjudication trends and policies. - Ensure all staff, interns, and volunteers have a clear understanding of what activities constitute the unauthorized practice of law and how these boundaries should be applied in IRC’s legal service model. - Develop and monitor case acceptance policies and caseload targets and limits. - Promote and develop a high functioning, collaborative team and ensure effective integration of internships and volunteers within programs.

Data Management & Reporting

- Responsible for accurate and timely completion of all program reports as required by funding sources, IRC HQ, and other partners. - Track monthly and quarterly performance and ensure all client work is documented in IRC’s legal case management database and other relevant case management systems. - Track budget spending for immigration, including grants as well as progress of revenue against goals. - Regularly consolidate immigration fees with finance colleagues.

- · Oversee and/or conduct regular internal case file reviews (paper files and electronic case files) to ensure compliance with IRC Immigration Program Policies as well as any donor requirements.

- · Ensure program data is collected consistently, managed appropriately, and reported timely, using IRC’s legal case management database and other relevant case management systems.

Job Requirements:

- Undergraduate degree required. - At least 3 years of professional experience representing individuals before USCIS as a DOJ accredited representative. - Demonstrated experience providing supervision in a legal services context. - Program management experience strongly preferred.

- · Demonstrated ability to develop and cultivate partnerships in furtherance of program development goals.

- · Demonstrated understanding of fiscal management and reporting required. Proven track record in business development, including proposal writing and development, grant management, and budgeting, highly desired.

- · Excellent English written and oral communication skills, including presentation skills.

- · Proficiency in a language spoken by refugee or immigrant populations a plus.

- Proven understanding of legal ethics standards and ability to instruct others on core principles of legal professional conduct. - Excellent organizational and time management skills. - Ability to be flexible and work well under pressure in a fast-paced team environment. - Previous multi-cultural experience and proven ability to communicate well with people from diverse backgrounds strongly preferred.

- · Proven ability to work effectively as a member of a team and to exercise independent judgment responsibly.

· Trauma-informed client communication skills and experience working with vulnerable populations.

- · Ability to travel frequently in and around the service area to engage with clients and community.

Certificates or Licenses:

· Department of Justice accreditation with the IRC required. If current DOJ accreditation is not held at the IRC, must be willing/able to pursue and obtain timely accreditation through the IRC.

Working Environment:

- Standard office environment with occasional participation in community outreach and legal assistance events. - May require occasional weekend and/or evening work.

Compensation: 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. 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. 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