Immigration Legal Services Coordinator - Harrisburg, PA

Church World Service•Harrisburg, PA

19d

About The Position

Church World Service does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability or veteran status in employment or in the provision of services. About CWS Imagine waking up every morning with the chance to change someone's life. Imagine knowing your efforts will benefit both your career and our neighbors around the world. At CWS, our team knows they are making a difference every day. Whether you're in our U.S.-based offices supporting refugees, asylees or unaccompanied children ... implementing hygiene initiatives in Cambodia or rebuilding projects in Central America ... or even connecting remotely from your home on fundraising campaigns, grant reports, or critical communications - you have the opportunity to work towards a world where everyone has food, a voice and a safe place to call home. Purpose The Immigration Legal Services Coordinator is responsible for oversight of the Immigration Legal Services programs, supervision of staff and casework, and contribution to program development. The incumbent oversees the work of legal and administrative staff, provides training to new staff, and institutes efforts to strengthen program policies and procedures. The incumbent may also provide legal representation on a select caseload before DHS and/or the Immigration Courts.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree required; advanced degree preferred.
Accreditation by the Department of Justice required (CWS will apply on behalf of the incumbent).
Minimum of 5 years previous experience with immigration representation and other areas of immigration law required.
Minimum of 2 years demonstrated experience supervising employees.
Familiarity with US immigration issues and terminology and with DHS documentation as it relates to refugees, Cuban/Haitian Entrants, parolees, asylees, and other immigrants
Program management experience required.
Superior written and verbal communication skills are required.
The successful candidate must be computer literate, with proficiency in MS Office (Excel, Word and Access) and internet applications.
Strong organizational and time management skills are required.
Experience and commitment to working directly with the recipients of immigration services.
Ability to work in a multicultural environment required.
Must demonstrate high level of organization, creativity, and initiative; must be able to handle multiple projects and responsibilities simultaneously while working independently.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of the U.S. Refugee Program desired.
Fluency in Spanish is desired.

Responsibilities

Coordinates immigration legal services provided to clients in the Immigration Legal Services, Afghan Legal Services, and Citizenship & Integration Programs.
Directly supervises program staff, including Immigration Legal Counselors, Paralegals, Administrative Assistants, and program interns/volunteers in the local CWS office.
Implements standards of procedures for Immigration Legal Services programming and supports the Director in on-going development and expansion of legal services.
Manages and completes a select caseload of complex immigration cases, including asylum and cases in removal proceedings, with a variety of family based and humanitarian immigration dynamics, to maintain accreditation and expertise.
Recruits, hires, and trains Immigration Legal Services Program staff.
Ensures on-going training of legal staff on internal program developments, changes in immigration law and policy, and DOJ accreditation requirements.
Provides other CWS programs and staff with support, training, advice, and guidance in immigration legal matters pertinent to their clients.
Keeps informed about immigrant issues and conducts legal research to support filed immigration applications.
Researches changes in immigration laws and procedures, and provides interpretation of those changes to CWS staff and constituency.
Assists the Director in submission of grant applications and proposal letters to potential funders.
Ensures fulfillment of any current grant requirements, including submission of work statements and renewal applications as necessary.
Advocates on behalf of refugees and immigrants and voluntary agencies serving those populations.
Raises awareness about immigration and refugee issues and increases CWS’ visibility in the community through speaking engagements.
Cultivates relationships with external attorneys in private practice and non-profit organizations and contributes to development and coordination of pro bono programming.
Represents CWS in meetings and in interactions with other agencies.
Assists the Director in any related duties deemed necessary.