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 Senior Program Associate (SPA) plays a crucial role in programmatic functions. The SPA is usually the first and primary point of contact between legal service providers and Acacia. The SPA is primarily responsible for providing oversight and program management expertise to subcontractors carrying out the EOIR Legal Access, Orientation, and Representation Services (LARS) work. Depending on the expertise and experience demonstrated during the hiring process, an SPA will be assigned to work on the following team:
Operations and Quality Assurance (OPQA)- Legal Orientation Program (LOP) Primary Duties/Responsibilities:
Subcontractor management
Oversee program management for assigned subcontractor sites by conducting site visits of program sites across the country (expect to conduct up to 9* trips a year), drafting site visit evaluations, monitoring completion of resulting action items and updating internal trackers on a rolling basis, with the aim to stay rooted in the issues facing network providers. Assess and update program management technology platforms, support communication with program stakeholders via the legal service provider (LSP) listservs, facilitate monthly LOP check-in conference calls with LSP network and governmental stakeholders, and maintain and provide program management troubleshooting for providers on listserv and resource repository platforms. With the Technical Compliance team, perform, assess, and strengthen program operations, including continuous review and revision of Program Guidance Documents. Review and update on-boarding process for new providers (both for new sites and new staff at on-going sites). With Research Evaluation and Data Analytics (REDA) team and Technical Compliance team, improve accuracy and timeliness of monthly and annual data reporting, respond to ad hoc data requests, and assist with program data collection, analysis, management, and reporting tasks. Review and maintain provider data entry. Support of technical assistance provision
In coordination with the Learning & Development (L&D) team, continuously identify promising practices among the network and devise ways to disseminate information about such practices to encourage implementation elsewhere. Provide support to the L & D team to create future technical assistance (TA) resources based on identified needs of the network, which may require conducting background research on immigration court, immigration detention, and related issues, and distilling key findings into written communications and resources. Coordinate regularly with the L & D team to assess network TA needs and develop responsive TA resources. Brainstorm project ideas to build upon past and current work in the area of immigration law and court proceedings. Assist in the provision of TA to legal service providers in the form of discrete sessions at on-site training programs. In collaboration with the L & D team, support the delivery of webinars and interactive workshops about best practices, immigration law, and detention trends to provider networks. Assist with migration of resource materials onto shared websites for public consumption. Support of organization strategy and team functioning
Support Acacia executive leadership in strategy and program innovation, and develop and maintain relationships with project partners, including other stakeholders, in order to foster further collaborations. Act as thought partner to Program Directors, Budget and Resource Management team, and REDA team regarding implementation and assignment of discrete tasks among members of the team, and monitoring progress toward goals. Ad hoc projects
Complete other projects as assigned by supervisor, such as participating in new Acacia staff interviews and on-boarding, and discrete contract assignments, supervision of interns as relevant/available. Required Skills, Knowledge, Abilities:
Spanish language fluency; A demonstrated interest in program administration and public policy; A desire to effectuate change in partnership with government; Ability to successfully balance travel responsibilities with office-based responsibilities; Strong interpersonal and communications skills; Ability to manage work on multiple projects simultaneously, efficiently, and effectively; Ability to work collaboratively on a team and manage projects independently; Strong writing and research skills; Ability to work with people of diverse experiences and backgrounds; Demonstrated commitment to legal access, representation of people in deportation proceedings and detention; Deep commitment to race equity and inclusion List of Required Software applications:
Zoom, Slack, Microsoft Office, Outlook, Samsung/iPhone cellular phone, Adobe, SharePoint, VPN, Smartsheet access, and other software applications as the need arises. Preferred Skills, Knowledge, Abilities:
Experience with "know your rights" and other community education initiatives is a plus. Education and Experience:
Law degree; Valid driver's license; Removal defense experience or experience in immigration advocacy; and At least four years of relevant immigration representation, legal, government, policy, or budget management work experience, such as experience in immigration advocacy or experience defending people in removal proceedings, criminal defense experience, or a comparable adversarial litigation setting. Comparable work and educational experience will also be considered, particularly where the candidate has direct experience with the immigration legal system and has been personally impacted by it. Compensation and Benefits:
Acacia has established an internal compensation philosophy that centers equity and pay transparency. The salary for this position is set at $96,000. 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 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.
