Co-Interim Legal Program Manager

This is an internal opening only. This is a temporary assignment projected to start 10/30/2023  and end 02/02/2024.

The Organization:
The Florence Project was founded in 1989 to respond to a representation crisis for indigent non-citizens detained at the rural Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Detention Center in Florence, Arizona. Through our programs today, we provide services to thousands of adults, youth, and children detained in Eloy, Florence, Phoenix, and Tucson, Arizona on any given day. In 2001, the Florence Project implemented our Integrated Social Services Program, one of the first of its kind in this field. The Florence Project provides high quality legal and social services and supports initiatives for national changes in immigration law and policy.

Primary Purpose of the Job:

For a term subject to extension, the Co-Interim Adult Legal Program Manager maintains their current full-time position’s duties and additionally shares in the oversight, with the Deputy Director, Legal Director, and/or the Co-Interim Legal Program Manager, of the organization’s work serving both adult detainees held in the remote facilities in Florence and Eloy, Arizona, and migrants in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico. The Co-Interim Legal Program Manager will contribute to programmatic leadership and provide supervision of the Adult Program’s delivery of legal services. The Co-Interim Adult Legal Program Manager will directly supervise Managing Attorneys in the Adult Program and provide coverage for Managing Attorneys as needed. The Co-Interim Legal Program Manager will also support the Deputy Director, Legal Director, and Executive Director in leadership and oversight of program development as well as contribute to the design and implementation of organization-wide developments.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

Maintain essential duties and responsibilities of current full-time position in addition to the following duties and responsibilities:

• Supervise Managing Attorneys and support staff for the Adult Legal Program.  This includes overseeing and being responsible for the quality of services provided before the courts, conducting case reviews with supervised staff as needed, and providing training, mentorship, and support to Managing Attorneys.  The Interim Program Manager will work closely with the Managing Attorneys to ensure that they are also providing proper supervision and oversight to their legal staff.

• In conjunction with the Deputy Director and Executive Director, oversee the hiring of legal staff and interns and follow the process and procedures required for these efforts.

• Facilitate and lead programmatic meetings with legal staff.

• Provide coverage for Managing Attorneys as needed.

• Oversee collection of data by the legal staff, complete quarterly reporting for funders, and participate in Legal Orientation Program calls, meetings, and trainings.

• Support Florence Project outreach and development activities as needed.

• Other administrative duties as needed.

Minimum Requirements:

• J.D. and admission to any state bar.

• Must have proven experience supervising staff or interns providing immigration legal services to detained adults and demonstrated ability to inspire confidence in others and play a supportive role.

• Must have a commitment to diversity and inclusion.

• Demonstrate commitment to advocating for indigent immigrant clients in a respectful and empowering way.

• Demonstrate a zealous support of the Florence Project’s mission.

• Must be passionate about access to justice for all and serving people who have come into contact with the criminal justice system.

• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work with diverse populations.

• Highly organized with ability to be an innovative thinker and work in a high volume setting with limited resources.

• Excellent problem solving, research and analytical skills, and able to effectively manage multiple projects and meet deadlines.

• Hardworking, flexible, respectful team player that can work effectively in a collaborative, innovative, and client centered work environment.

• Ability to work independently, be adaptable and reliable in the face of conflict, pressure, crisis or changing priorities.

• Exhibit high ethical standards and the ability to maintain confidentiality.

• Must be able to pass federal and state background checks.

• Fluency or advanced proficiency in Spanish required.

• Travel is required for this position.

• Must have a valid driver license and reliable transportation.

• Proven computer skills.  Advanced understanding of basic office applications.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Managing attorney experience strongly preferred.
• 2+ years of minimum experience providing direct representation to adults in detained removal proceedings, and extensive knowledge of immigration law, specifically deportation defense, asylum, and criminal-immigration law issues is strongly preferred.
• Be a proactive and engaged supervisor without micromanaging and being a clear and thoughtful decision maker.
• If no supervisory experience, must have leadership potential and excellent communication and interpersonal skills, as well as ability to learn a variety of job descriptions and capacity to be trained to be an effective manager.
• Prior experience working with trauma survivors or individuals with mental health issues is a plus.

Working Conditions/Physical Demands:

• Operate in a professional office environment and requires the ability to sit for long periods of time with intermittent walking, standing, bending, squatting, pulling and pushing.
• Ability to use standard office equipment such as scanners, computers, keyboards, phones, shredders, photocopiers, and filing cabinets.  Requires the ability to lift up to ten pounds.  Accommodations may be available.
• Travel regularly between offices, and secondary work locations.
• Frequent time in detention facilities and immigration courts located in Florence and Eloy.
• Effective September 1, 2021, FIRRP has implemented a mandatory COVID-19 vaccine policy.   To comply with this policy, active employees must be fully vaccinated by October 15, 2021.  Employees seeking an exemption due to a medical condition or sincerely-held religious belief should contact our Human Resources Department at humanresources@firrp.org.

Salary & Benefits

This is a full-time, temporary assignment. The incumbent's annual base salary will be increased by $10,000 during the period of the interim managerial role.  This increase will take effect at the beginning and will cease at the end of the temporary assignment.

We strive to create and uphold a positive, supportive, and inclusive work environment for all staff. We offer excellent benefits, including:

• Medical plans including health, dental, vision coverage, subject to plan terms

• Short Term Disability

• Eligibility for group benefits such as voluntary life insurance, subject to applicable waiting periods

• Retirement plan, subject to plan terms

• Paid Time Off earned on a biweekly accrual basis- Twenty-five (25) Days of Vacation Time, annually

• Five (5) Days of Medical/Sick Time, annually

• One (1) Day of Personal Time, monthly

• Eight (8) Week Paid Sabbatical, after three years of employment

• Bereavement leave.

• Fifteen (15) Organization-paid holidays, all observed

• Eligible for Parental Leave which includes Twelve (13) paid weeks

• Mileage reimbursement for travel between offices and places of work.

• Relocation Assistance for out of state new hires available for some positions.

Application Process:

This is an immediate opening. Salary is commensurate with experience. The position will remain open until we receive enough qualified applicants. To apply, please submit a cover letter detailing your interest in the position as well as your resume, three professional references. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and candidates are encouraged to apply early. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted. The Florence Project values diversity in the workplace and strongly encourages applications from people of color, LGBTQ individuals, persons with disabilities, and members of underrepresented communities.

At FIRRP, we recognize that people come with a wealth of experience and talent beyond just the requirements of a job.  If your experience is close to what you see listed in our current job opportunities, please still consider applying.  Diversity of experience and skills combined with passion is a key to innovation and excellence, which is very much valued at FIRRP.  Therefore, we encourage people from all backgrounds to apply to our positions.  Please let us know if you require accommodations during the interview process.

This job announcement is for informational purposes only and is subject to change and modification without notice. This job announcement includes a non-exhaustive list of responsibilities, qualifications and requirements of the position, but does not necessarily include all the job functions of the position.