Associate Program Director, Learning and Development

About Acacia Center for Justice:

The Acacia Center for Justice (“Acacia”) provides legal support and representation to immigrants facing deportation through the development, coordination, and management of national networks of legal services providers serving immigrants across the country. Acacia’s goals are twofold: to support immigrant legal services and defense networks to provide exceptional legal services to immigrants; and to advocate for the expansion of these programs and the infrastructure critical to guaranteeing immigrants access to justice, fairness, and freedom. Acacia ensures accountable, independent, zealous, and person-centered legal services and representation to protect the rights of all immigrants.

Job Summary:

The Associate Program Director (APD) is responsible for overseeing and addressing the substantive training and technical assistance needs of Acacia’s Unaccompanied Children Program (UCP) network in collaboration with colleagues at Acacia and UCP’s technical assistance subcontractors. This role requires the APD to have a deep understanding of the legal and programmatic issues faced by subcontractor legal service providers and to collaborate with internal teams and external stakeholders to identify and develop training, resources, and other technical assistance opportunities that are responsive to the needs of the network.

Primary Duties/Responsibilities:

• Oversee UCP Learning & Development team’s strategy and implementation
• Liaise with UCP’s operations, technical compliance, research, and fiscal teams to ensure cohesion, cross-collaboration, and integrated provision of services
• Strategically and creatively brainstorm solutions for challenges experienced by expert technical assistance providers in the network
• With assistance from the larger UCP L&D team, plan in-person and virtual trainings
• Contribute to Acacia’s policy efforts as they relate to issues affecting unaccompanied children and noncitizens; build relationships, communicate and collaborate regularly with partners to advance immigration advocacy
• Manage a team of six employees, at least two of which are direct reports
• Attend meetings with government stakeholders and serve as main point of contact for all technical assistance related inquiries
• Oversee the recruitment and training, including creating and updating onboarding materials
• Other duties as necessary

Required Skills, Knowledge, Abilities:

• At least 7 years of legal, government, or policy work experience
• A demonstrated knowledge of immigration, child welfare, and/or criminal systems at the federal and/or state levels
• Experience with common defenses to removal, such as affirmative and defensive asylum, special immigrant juvenile status, U-visas, T-visas, voluntary departure, and family-based petitions
• A desire to effectuate change in partnership with the government
• Experience in management
• Strong writing, research, and communication skills
• Strong public speaking and presentation skills
• Ability to travel 3-6 times a year with advance notice

Preferred Skills, Knowledge, Abilities: 

• License to practice law in the United States is strongly preferred, though candidates with experience working as non-lawyers in the immigration context may be considered
• Experience working with detained immigrants, particularly children
• Experience providing non-representational legal services, such as Know Your Rights presentations
• An understanding of immigration detention systems as they relate to the Office of Refugee Resettlement’s Unaccompanied Children Program
• Proficiency in Spanish and/or another language widely spoken by unaccompanied children is a strong plus

Education and Experience:

• A law degree and/or license to practice law in the United States is required 

Compensation and Benefits:

Acacia has established an internal compensation philosophy that centers equity and pay transparency. The salary for this position is set at $126,000. The salary listed is just one component of Acacia’s total compensation package for employees. Supporting Acacia staff—both personally and professionally—is our priority.

• Medical/Dental/Vision- Some plans at $0 cost to the employee
• Employee Assistance Program
• 20 days per year of vacation time
• 12 days per year of sick time
• 5 personal days
• 4 organization-wide Wellness Days
• 11 observed holidays, including the last week of December.
• $2000 Professional Development Stipend
• Home office set-up stipend
• Internet Stipend
• 401k with 5% employer contribution, no employee participation required.
• Student loan repayment assistance.
• Gym Reimbursement

People of color and those who have been impacted by the criminal system and immigration system are strongly urged to apply. Acacia is deeply committed to race equality, inclusion and belonging and strives to create a work culture that recognizes everyone's unique lived experience.

To Apply:

Submit your resume and cover letter through the Acacia Careers site. If you encounter technical issues or have accessibility needs, email your resume and cover letter to hiring@acaciajustice.org with Subject: ATTN: Human Resources / [Job Title], Acacia Center for Justice

PLEASE ONLY SUBMIT THROUGH ONE METHOD.

Equal Opportunity Employment:

Acacia is an equal opportunity employer and seeks to recruit persons of diverse backgrounds and support their retention and advancement within the organization. We are committed to fostering a workplace culture inclusive of people with respect to their race, ethnicity, national origin, gender/gender identity, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, veteran status, marital status, age, disabilities, political affiliation, religious beliefs, or any other characteristic. Our commitment to justice and diversity also means providing a work environment that is welcoming, respectful, and engaging.

This job description is not meant to be an all-inclusive list of duties, responsibilities and requirements but constitutes a general definition of the position's scope and function within our organization

Acacia Center for Justice is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without unlawful discrimination based on race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, prior record of arrest or conviction, citizenship status, current employment status, or caregiver status.

Powered by JazzHR