The Immigrant Legal Resource Center is Hiring!

Policy Strategist – Washington, DC

The Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) is seeking a full-time Policy Strategist based in our Washington, DC office. We will also consider applicants located in cities where we have our other offices (see below). This is an exempt position that reports to the Policy Director.

The ILRC is a national nonprofit legal support center with offices located in San Francisco, California; the Central Valley of California; San Antonio, TX; Austin, TX; Houston, TX  and Washington D.C. Founded in 1979, the ILRC is regarded as one of the foremost experts on engaging immigrants and developing their leadership in the democratic process, providing expertise on complex issues of immigration law, procedure and policy, and engaging in advocacy and educational initiatives on policies that affect immigrants. We are a team-based organization that makes decisions in a collaborative fashion that allows for significant staff input.

The Policy Strategist will play a leading role in advancing the ILRC’s policy agenda before federal policy makers and focus on the following key issues: ensuring that immigration benefits and relief are more accessible for immigrants, defending immigration policies that are of key interest to the ILRC and its partners, such as naturalization and family immigration for poor and low-income immigrants, and combatting policies that systematize the criminalization of immigrants within the immigration system.  The Policy Strategist will meet regularly with policy makers in the executive and legislative branch and coalition partners, speak publicly about ILRC’s priorities, represent ILRC in collaborative efforts with partner organizations, and draft written materials that explain complex immigration policy matters for policy audiences. The staff in the San Francisco and Texas offices will support the DC Policy Team in the ILRC’s policy work.

Job Responsibilities: The specific job responsibilities of the Policy Strategist include:

• Lead the ILRC’s engagement on federal executive branch actions on immigration by developing strategic recommendations and critical analysis to advance ILRC’s policy priorities;
• With other members of ILRC’s policy team, convene partners to develop a coordinated strategy on administrative advocacy, regulations, immigration benefits, and other immigration-related issues as needed;
• Monitor and track the federal government’s administrative agenda including, regulations, policy memos, other immigration-related policy documents issued by federal agencies;
• Represent the ILRC in advocacy meetings, collaboratives, and other settings to advance ILRC’s policy priorities and recommendations on immigration enforcement, immigration consequences of crimes, naturalization, family immigration, DACA and other immigration legal issues as needed. Work with partners to develop and implement creative and collaborative advocacy strategies;
• Cultivate effective relationships with policy makers and coalition partners to advance ILRC’s policy priorities;
• Develop advocacy materials (fact sheets, talking points, proposed policy language, statements, letters, comments, etc.) for policy makers, and other audiences as needed;
• Support, as needed, ILRC’s policy team in educating congressional policy makers on immigration issues through actively engaging legislative offices, providing technical assistance, and sharing information; and
• Work with ILRC’s policy team to develop and maintain relationships with organizations led by immigrants or significantly composed of immigrants and provide ways to collaborate with them and elevate their priorities in DC advocacy efforts.

Qualifications: The qualifications for the Policy Strategist include:

•  A master’s, or juris doctorate degree plus at least four years of relevant advocacy experience is preferred;
• Experience with immigration law and policies stemming from advocacy workor from practicing law;
• If the candidate possess a law degree, current bar membership in good standing of any US state or the District of Columbia;
• Deep knowledge of immigration advocacy issues, especially pertaining to immigration enforcement, immigration consequences of crime, naturalization, family immigration and DACA, and familiarity with processes pertaining to federal agencies, former government experience helpful but not required;
• Interest in partnering with and supporting organizations led by and/or comprised of immigrants and/or limited English speakers;
• Exceptional time management skills and the ability to manage multiple projects;
• A willingness to travel to the ILRC’s offices in San Francisco and throughout the S;
• Ability to maintain and nurture collegial relationships with the full range of partners including executive branch officials, coalition partners, and immigrant rights organizations;
• Excellent writing skills with the ability to write quickly and accurately for a variety of audiences including policy makers, the general public, attorneys, immigration advocates, and others in the progressive community;
• Ability to think quickly and creatively to solve unique problems, willingness to push policy makers to adopt ILRC’s visionary policy priorities;
• Skills in big picture thinking, applying an intersectional analysis and commitment to racial justice; and
• A strong work ethic, including the following qualities: organized, flexible, reliable, goal-oriented, and dependable, with the ability to be an independent worker and handle several projects simultaneously while thriving in a team-based collaborative decision-making environment.

Compensation/Benefits:

Pay is very competitive for the field and commensurate with experience.  The ILRC offers excellent benefits, medical/dental/vision insurance, a flexible spending account for medical and dependent care, vacation, and sick leave. The ILRC also sponsors a retirement plan option upon fulfillment of eligibility.

Applications:

This position will remain open until filled. To ensure consideration, please submit a cover letter explaining your qualifications for and interest in the position, a resume, one writing sample, and the names of three references.

Online applications are preferred. As an alternative, you can mail your application to:

Policy Strategist Hiring Committee
Immigrant Legal Resource Center
1458 Howard Street
San Francisco, CA 94103

No phone calls please.

The ILRC is an equal opportunity employer and does not make hiring or employment decisions on the basis of race, color, religion or religious beliefs, ethnic or national origin, nationality, sex,  gender, gender-identity, sexual orientation, disability age, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by applicable local, state or federal laws.   

 
Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance and other similar state laws and local ordinances, ILRC will also consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records.