Immigration Unit Program Director Req - 5141

Organization Overview:

BronxWorks helps individuals and families improve their economic and social well-being. From toddlers to seniors, we feed, shelter, teach, and support our neighbors to build a stronger community. In all aspects of our work, we strive for the highest ethical and performance standards and are guided by the belief that people are to be treated with dignity and respect regardless of their present situation or past experiences.

Across our 60+ locations, we provide programs in a variety of service areas, including workforce development, children, youth, families, seniors and homeless prevention. 

BronxWorks Legal Services

The BronxWorks model aims to break the cycle of poverty through a holistic approach, helping individuals and families transition from crisis to self-sufficiency. A key component of this continuum of support is BronxWorks Legal Services, which provides free legal assistance to those facing eviction, seeking immigration stability, and survivors of domestic violence and other crimes.

Practice Areas:

• Immigration Law Unit: Assistance with citizenship applications, family petitions, and green card renewals; DACA applications and renewals; immigration relief, including U Visas, T Visas, and VAWA petitions; legal services provided through the Neighborhood Development Areas (NDA) program.
• Domestic Violence Law Unit: Legal assistance for survivors of domestic violence in matters related to physical, emotional, sexual, economic, and psychological abuse; assistance with orders of protection and immigration relief; holistic advocacy to ensure survivor safety and stability.

Position Overview

BronxWorks seeks a Program Director to provide direct supervision and support staff attorneys specializing in immigration and domestic violence. Each staff attorney is supported by a team of paralegals, and the Program Director will oversee legal casework, professional development, and quality assurance. The ideal candidate is passionate for social justice, brings extensive experience in immigration practice, and excels at leading and inspiring a team to deliver exceptional legal assistance and client service.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide direct supervision to staff attorneys across Immigration practice areas, ensuring high-quality client advocacy and legal assistance.
• Foster a collaborative team environment that prioritizes holistic client advocacy.
• Conduct regular case reviews, provide feedback, and assist attorneys with complex legal strategies.
• Ensure assigned programs operate in compliance with applicable contractual, legal, and ethical requirements.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of relevant laws and best practices in domestic violence advocacy, and immigration law.
• In collaboration with the vice president of legal services, help to set the strategic direction for BronxWorks Legal Services programs, with a particular focus on a designated portfolio consisting of the immigration and domestic violence legal services programs. Responsible for program development, operation, and quality within the assigned portfolio and as directed by the vice president of legal services with respect to other programs within the department.
• Supervise all staff attorneys within the assigned portfolio. Provide appropriate and timely training, coaching, mentoring, regular supervision, evaluation, and feedback.
• Implement processes to ensure high standards of legal representation, client advocacy and effective supervision of all aspects of legal assistance. Ensure required program deliverables are timely met.
• Develop and maintain practice guidance and templates, staff training, and ongoing professional development.
• Develop and implement policies and procedures for best practices and service quality.
• Develop metrics, reports, and dashboards to evaluate and communicate program performance against contract deliverables. Timely submit all required grant reporting. Timely address requests and recommendations from the continuous quality improvement specialist for the legal services department.
• As needed, represent the legal services department and organization with funding agencies, provider networks and coalitions, and internal leadership groups.
• Build relationships with BronxWorks programs, community organizations, advocates, government agencies, elected officials, and provider networks. Attend meetings, participate in networks and coalitions, and build partnerships to promote organizational, department, program, and client interests.
• Ensure legal services personnel effectively collaborate with other BronxWorks programs and external resources to comprehensively address client needs.
• May engage in direct client casework and legal representation, as may be appropriate and needed due to case complexity, legal importance, staffing vacancies, or other factors.
• Oversee creation of program materials, such as reports, proposals, website content, annual impact report, social media, and similar content.
• Collaborate with the vice president to co-facilitate department meetings, including setting agendas and leading discussions.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Admission to the New York State Bar in good standing or eligible for admission through reciprocity.
• A minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible practice experience as an admitted attorney, including at least 2 years of experience supervising attorneys and paralegals.
• Experience in immigration practice including citizenship applications, DACA, family petitions, adjustment of status to permanent resident, green card renewals, temporary protected status, petitions to remove conditions on permanent residency, U Visas, VAWA relief, and work authorization and renewal. Comprehensive knowledge of immigration law.
• Demonstrated commitment to social justice and working in low-income communities and communities of color to advance equity.
• Ability to effectively communicate with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
• Excellent legal research, oral and written advocacy, analytical, and communication skills.
• Strong leadership skills and a commitment to supporting, training, and mentoring staff.
• Sound judgment, strategic, and driven towards continuous practice improvements and program development.
• Proficiency in computer skills for database tracking, report preparation, communication, and administrative tasks.
• Strong time-management and organizational skills.
• Ability to work well independently and collaboratively in an interdisciplinary setting.
• Fluency in Spanish is highly preferred.

Equal Employment Opportunity

BronxWorks is committed to equal employment opportunity and providing reasonable accommodations to qualified candidates and employees pursuant to applicable law. This commitment applies to all terms, conditions, and privileges of employment, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, compensation, training and employee development, placement, promotion, demotion, upgrading, downgrading, transfer, layoff, and termination. We value and encourage diversity and solicit applications from all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, gender, sex, age, religion, creed, national origin ancestry, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, medical condition, military and veteran status, gender identity or expression, genetic information, status as a victim of domestic violence, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. If you require reasonable accommodation as part of the application process, please contact hrbenefits@bronxworks.org.