Esperanza Immigrant Rights Project, a program of Catholic Charities of Los Angeles, Inc., is a non-profit law firm which provides community education and legal representation to immigrant adults, families, unaccompanied minors, individuals with mental health issues, and in cases involving crimmigration. Esperanza has proudly provided legal services to immigrants and their families in Southern California for over 15 years. More information is available at www.esperanza-la.org.

Esperanza seeks a Director for Youth Immigration Services to oversee its Community Education programs for unaccompanied minors facing removal. The immigration court system does not provide court-appointed counsel to individuals facing deportation who cannot afford an attorney, so this vulnerable population relies on our community education programs to obtain critical information about the process, understand their legal options and access assistance. Esperanza’s community education programs were established to more effectively meet this need and to guide pro se immigrants through the increasingly complicated and strained immigration system. Core services of the programs include legal orientations regarding removal proceedings and legal relief; intake and follow-up services; self-help workshops; and referrals for pro bono assistance or social services.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The Director for Youth Immigration Services will supervise all work and personnel conducting community education activities and related services for unaccompanied minors under the Legal Orientation Program for Custodians (LOPC), the Call Center West, and the Opportunities for Youth (OFY) program. Main responsibilities include:

Designing services to respond effectively to changing needs while ensuring consistency of services;
Being able to create and recreate services with a holistic approach;
Building strategic partnerships and maintaining relationships with key stakeholders, including funders, legal service providers and social service providers;
Fostering teamwork and collaboration, welcoming creativity, and promoting a wellness culture;
Overseeing data reporting and program budgets, program planning and implementation;
Overseeing the delivery of services including legal orientations, screenings, workshops, referrals and resources to unaccompanied minors;
Training and supervising a team including managing attorneys, staff attorneys, accredited representatives, a resource coordinator, call counselors, social service support staff; administrative staff and volunteers, and helping them to realize their full potential.
Collaborating with the Esperanza’s other programs and other non-profits to share and secure resources for unaccompanied minors;
Collaborating with Esperanza’s Pro Bono team to increase resources available for unaccompanied minors and amplify the experiences of clients served;
Performing related duties as required.

Education and/or Experience:

Juris Doctor preferred, or Master Degree in related field;
Five years of supervisory/managerial programs experience: preparing reports, working with multiple stakeholders, designing, implementing and managing projects, and supervising staff;
Minimum of seven years providing immigration support services or in similar legal services management;
Fluency in English and Spanish in written and spoken forms with excellent communication skills;
Experience in immigration law or public interest law;
Experience in conducting popular education, Know Your Rights presentations, or teaching;
Passage of the Catholic Charities background clearance check and any other background clearance check that may be needed to perform the duties assigned, including a U.S. Department of Justice background check and a Los Angeles County.

Knowledge:

Prior leadership or management experience at a non-profit;
Prior work experience in the field of unaccompanied minors;
Prior work experience immigration, program evaluation or social work;
Prior work experience with children or families, particularly from Central America and including Mayan language speaking populations;
Prior experience working in diverse settings with a demonstrated capability for cultural awareness, strong adaptability skills, and keen stakeholder focus;
Prior volunteer, community, or work experience regarding immigration;

Skills and Abilities:

Direction, evaluation, training and supervision of staff;
Design and implement effective programs;
Handle stake holder relations effectively;
Communicate effectively in written and oral form;
Display sensitivity, tact and responsiveness in various situations and needs;
Develop and maintain effective working relationships;
Use independent judgment and initiative;
Maintain high level of confidentiality;
Plan short and long range goals;
Strong typing and computer skills including MS Word, Excel, Mail Merges, etc.; and
Passion for social justice for immigrants and vulnerable communities.