Program Coordinator, K-12 School Project

Jewish Family Service of San Diego • San Diego, CA

7h • $23 - $30 • Onsite

About The Position

The Program Coordinator supports day-to-day operations for Jewish Family Service of San Diego’s school-based immigration legal services program serving immigrant families in San Diego K-12 schools. The role coordinates clinic scheduling, school-partner logistics, referrals, and program data, and supports interpretation during client meetings at walk-in clinics and detention center visits. The coordinator is often the first point of contact for families and school staff, including people experiencing urgent and distressing situations, and is expected to respond calmly, warmly, and promptly while ensuring they receive a clear next step.

The position also supports attorneys, paralegals, social workers, and other Immigration Legal Services programs through communication, administrative coordination, data management, interpretation, translation, and practical assistance coordination. With capacity and under attorney supervision, the coordinator may assist with immigration case preparation, supporting documents, and forms. The position is full-time, at least 37.5 hours per week, and fully onsite. It reports to the Staff Attorney.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• At least 1 year of administrative, scheduling, front desk, or customer service experience; experience in a social service, school, healthcare, or legal setting is ideal.
• Valid driver’s license, access to a reliable vehicle, and auto insurance for travel to school sites.
• Calm, warm, and professional presence when working with people who are frightened or in crisis.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple calendars, deadlines, and competing priorities.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English, and fluency in at least one language spoken by program clients, with ability to interpret accurately in legal settings; Spanish is strongly preferred.
• Ability to accurately enter and maintain data and protect confidential client information.
• Ability to take initiative, use good judgment about urgency, and work effectively under pressure.
• Ability to work independently and as part of an interdisciplinary team.
• Ability to obtain the fingerprint-based background clearance and TB screening required by partner school districts after a conditional offer of employment.
• Ability to meet security and visitor clearance requirements of immigration detention facilities.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook) and Zoom/Teams, and comfort learning case management and scheduling systems.
• Physical ability to regularly sit, stand, and walk; handle documents; type; use a mouse and telephone; and communicate in person and by phone, including in potentially noisy school environments.
• Physical ability to occasionally lift, push, or pull up to 25 pounds, such as clinic materials and supplies.

Nice To Haves

• Additional language fluency, including Haitian Creole, Spanish, Ukrainian, Russian, Arabic, Farsi/Dari, French, or Portuguese.
• Associate’s degree or some college coursework.
• Experience working with immigrant families, children, or schools.
• Experience interpreting in legal, medical, or social services settings.
• Experience in a nonprofit or legal services setting.
• Experience coordinating events, workshops, or community programs.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the first point of contact for program phone, email, and walk-in inquiries, responding with patience, cultural sensitivity, and a trauma-informed approach.
• Receive and log referrals from partner schools and route urgent matters, such as a parent's detention, to the program attorney the same day.
• Schedule legal consultations, intakes, follow-up appointments, and family meetings across school clinics, the JFS office, phone, and video; manage shared team calendars.
• Coordinate logistics for weekly school-based clinics and parent workshops, including room reservations, materials, sign-in, interpretation needs, reminders, and communication with school liaisons.
• Maintain the school partner contact list and serve as the day-to-day logistics contact for school staff and administrators.
• Provide general program information and screen for basic eligibility, routing legal questions to the attorney or paralegal without providing legal advice.
• Send appointment reminders and follow-up communications in families’ preferred languages and prepare mailings and correspondence.
• Enter and maintain accurate client, referral, and service data in the case management system, and compile data for funder and internal reports.
• Support program social workers in coordinating practical assistance for families, including food, diapers, and referrals to other JFS services.
• Maintain organized physical and electronic files, office supplies, and clinic materials in accordance with confidentiality and record-keeping policies.
• Interpret during client meetings at walk-in clinics and detention center visits, ensuring accurate, confidential, and culturally responsive communication; translate program materials as needed.
• As capacity allows, support immigration legal cases under attorney supervision, including case preparation, gathering supporting documents, and completing forms.
• Provide general administrative support to the Keeping Families Together team and other Immigration Legal Services programs as needed.

Benefits

• Comprehensive, low-cost healthcare coverage for employees.
• Generous employer 401(k) contributions.
• Employer-covered life insurance.
• Paid vacation time and sick leave.
• 15 paid holidays, including Federal and Jewish holidays when they fall on a normal scheduled work day, and floating holidays.
• 2 Wellness Days per year to support employees’ mental wellness.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED