Director of Immigrant Rights Policy

Director of Immigrant Rights Policy

Team: Policy

Reports to: Senior Director of Policy

Employment Status: Full Time/Exempt (40 hours/ week)

Salary: $98,400/ year

Location: Position is based in New York City and will require occasional travel to other parts of New York State and Washington DC. The position is hybrid with a requirement to work 4 days a week from the office and one day remote.

About The Organization

The New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC) is an umbrella policy and advocacy organization for nearly 200 groups in New York State. We envision a New York State that is stronger because all people are welcome, treated fairly, and given the chance to pursue their dreams. Our mission is to unite immigrants, members, and allies so all New Yorkers can thrive. We represent the collective interests of New York’s diverse immigrant communities and organizations and devise solutions to advance them; advocate for laws, policies, and programs that lead to justice and opportunity for all immigrant groups; and build the power of immigrants and the organizations that serve them to ensure their sustainability, to improve people’s lives, and to strengthen our state.

Our organizational values: Inclusive & Representative; Fair & Just; Accountable & Trusted.

Position Overview

Reporting to the Senior Director of Policy, the Director of Immigrant Rights Policy will lead the Immigrant Rights portfolio to end state support for detention, deportation and mass incarceration within the organization’s Policy department. The Director will drive work at the municipal, state, and federal levels to counter anti-immigrant policies within their portfolio, fight against out-of-control immigration enforcement agencies, strengthen immigrants’ fundamental rights and access to counsel and expansions of status, and end collusion between federal and local law enforcement.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Core responsibilities:

• Provides policy vision and leadership for a portfolio focused on immigrant rights and protection, including but not limited to:
  
  • Ending State support for detention, deportation, and mass incarceration;  
  • Protecting immigrant communities from mass criminalization and hostile enforcement tactics;
    
  • Increasing access to immigration legal services and working towards a future where every immigrant in immigration proceedings has legal representation; and
    
  • Building systems that prioritize human rights, dignity, and community well-being.
    
• Service as the NYIC's policy lead to develop, and implement effective legislation at the state and local levels to protect to protect immigrants' rights and to end support for detention, deportation and mass incarceration.
• Support annual New York State advocacy campaigns by providing policy support, including but not limited to:
  • Representing the NYIC with partners and champions on coalition calls;
  • Developing policy briefs, legislative analyses, fact sheets, and other policy resources to educate policymakers, agency officials, and other campaign decision-makers; and
  • Developing policy recommendation in support of campaign priorities.
• Monitors federal, state, and local developments within their portfolio area including:
  • Effectively interpreting New York legislation, regulation, and policy;
  • Leading rapid-response work to provide timely and accurate information for NYIC member organizations and the New York immigrant community when developments occur;
  • Implementation of policy 
  • Monitoring legislative efforts in other states.
    
• Contributes to the development and implementation of the campaigns that follow the organizational Blueprint
  to achieve immigrant-friendly legislation and win crucial policy victories.
• Writes policy memos, Op-Eds, , one-pagers, Federal Register comments, and reports that move forward the NYIC’s policy priorities.

Additional Duties:

• Support the Policy VP's federal work and analysis and track broader federal developments within the portfolio area to identify needs for rapid response and opportunities to move initiatives forward.
• Represent the NYIC with external coalitions, electeds, and media, and support engagement by NYIC member organizations on issues related to the portfolio.
• Make regular presentation and represent the NYIC in the press, at conferences, workshops, meetings, committees, coalition spaces, and advisory bodies.
• Provide subject matter expertise for hearings, testimonies, briefings, draft executive actions, and other initiatives, at the state and municipal level.
• Support the fundraising efforts of the NYIC's Development team by providing content expertise, and meeting grant requirements.
• Work with Development to oversee budgets, and develop and maintains realistic project budgets, as necessary.
• May supervise staff, interns, or fellows, as necessary.
• May occasionally carry or move materials weighing 50 pounds or less.

Qualifications:

• Education: J.D. or Master's degree preferred.
• At least five (5) years of relevant experience in the immigration sector.
• Strong knowledge of New York (state and local) and national political landscapes.
• Demonstrated experience working with diverse coalitions and facilitating meetings with diverse stakeholders.
• Demonstrated experience working with elected officials, staffers, and government agencies at the state, local or federal level.
• Ability to identify systemic problems and define strategies for change.
• Ability to multi-task, work quickly, and manage competing deadlines
• Strong oral and written communications skills for a wide variety of audiences, to include both policymakers and people directly impacted by the U.S. immigration system.
• Prior supervisory experience preferred.
• Fluency in one of the top six languages spoken in New York State is preferred. (Spanish, traditional Chinese, Haitian-Creole, Korean, and Bengali)
• Computer skills: G-suite/Microsoft Word, Google Sheets/Excel. PowerPoint, Asana, and social media skills.
• Must be legally authorized to work for any employer in the U.A.

Salary: $98,4000.00/ year*

In addition to a competitive salary, the NYIC offers a full benefit plan, paid sick time, unlimited vacation leave after 90 days of employment, commuter benefits and a comprehensive retirement plan.

**The NYIC has a transparent and equitable salary structure. Starting salaries for each position are set in advance with no room for negotiation.

To apply: Interested candidates should submit a resume, and a cover letter outlining their interest in the position, relevant experience, and how they can contribute to our organization's mission. Applications should be sent to BREEZY.

Deadline to Apply:  Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and we are looking for someone to begin as soon as possible.

All qualified applicants will be afforded equal employment opportunities without discrimination based on race, creed, color, national origin, immigration status or citizenship, sex, age, disability or marital status.