Managing Director, Representation

Major Duties And Responsibilities

• Leadership.
  • Lead and manage Human Rights First’s Refugee and Immigrant Rights (RIR) Representation work.
    • Engage in direct representation or pro bono mentorship of asylum cases.
      • Guide the Representation team in engaging in zealous, creative, and high-quality and cutting edge legal representation of clients.
        • Liaise with senior management of the RIR department to develop and manage strategic vision of the organization’s representation work, to set team goals, and achieve these goals.
          • Ensure effective systems to track progress and regularly evaluate program components.
            • Develop and retain a high-performance staff.
              • Ensure close coordination with the policy wing of the RIR department.
• Operational Planning and Management.
  • Manage national team of lawyers and legal services coordinators.
    • Working with managing attorneys, oversee and manage the team’s caseload and ensure the sustainability of our representation work.
      • Assess and review team’s offices and programs, and lead initiatives to streamline caseload, in order to effectively respond to urgent protection needs of current or new clients.
        • Quantitatively and qualitatively measure effectiveness of team’s work, including effectively tracking and communication case data.
          • Oversee grant reporting tied to case data.
            • Working with department leadership, recruit and retain a diverse team of empowered, valued, knowledgeable, and experienced professionals, including interns and fellows.
              • Ensure that Human Rights First maximizes fellowship opportunities.
• Community Outreach and Advocacy.
  • Develop and strengthen Human Rights First’s partnerships with the legal community.
    • Serve as ambassador in articulating the Refugee Representation team and Human Rights First’s mission and key message points.
      • Create new and nurture existing partnerships with community stakeholders, including the vast network of pro bono partners across the country.
        • Regularly communicate with current and past Human Rights First volunteers and other stakeholders.
          • Cookinate pro bono opportunities for Human Rights First supporters.
            • Strengthen Human Rights First’s networks with the legal community.
• Fundraising and Resource Development.
  • Collaborate with the Development team to raise money to support legal programs and initiatives.
    • Work closely with the VP for RIR and the Development team to secure public and private funds to support Representation team’s work, including helping prepare foundation reports and proposals.
      • Conduct outreach to current and prospective donors, including law firms, foundations, governmental entities, and individuals.
        • Support donor campaigns, including award dinners and other events.
          • Other duties as requested based on department and/or organizational need.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility Competencies (DEIA)

• Support adoption of best practices to create a more diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible work experience for colleagues and external partners.
  • Strive to consider the people, places, and cultures that might be missing from your work and look for opportunities to increase inclusivity in all the work you do.
    • Support the mission of Human Rights First in all interactions with colleagues and stakeholders.
      • Dedicate efforts to enriching DEIA consciousness throughout our office-wide interactions.
        • Foster a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility by promoting adherence to the standards delineated in the Culture of Respect and Teamwork statement in the Employee Handbook.

Supervisor Responsibilities

• Performance Management.
  • Set clear performance goals at the start of each annual performance period.
    • Meet with direct-report(s) on a weekly basis to discuss progress on projects, priorities, and goals.
      • Assist direct-report(s) with workflow/bandwidth management and ensure that direct-report(s) understand their duties and delegated tasks.
        • Provide timely and ongoing constructive feedback, including soliciting feedback from colleagues from other departments with whom direct-report(s) collaborate.
          • Document progress of individual direct-report(s) goals that maps performance goals by administering an annual performance review and mid-year review of performance goals.
            • Support and assist in planning direct-report(s) professional development activities; assist with finding professional growth opportunities.
• Administration.
  • Maintain a safe and healthy work environment by establishing and enforcing organization standards and adhering to legal regulations.
    • Develop and update employee job descriptions, as necessary.
      • Approve timekeeping records in a timely manner.
• Leadership.
  • Aid direct-reports with ongoing coaching and counseling.
    • Provide quick and appropriate resolution of all challenges, discrepancies, and miscommunications.
      • Share, support, and carry out decisions made by the organization’s management.
        • Ensure adherence to Human Rights Firsts’ personnel policies and practices.
          • Focus on creating a culture where accountability and fairness are present in every situation.
            • Support an innovative workplace that fosters creativity, encourages new ideas, and supports examining different approaches to existing initiatives.
              • Recognize the contributions of your direct reports in ways that are meaningful to them.

Required Knowledge, Skill, And Experience

• A law degree from an accredited law school and at least 10 years of legal experience, including managing nonprofit legal programs and handling complex immigration and asylum matters.
  • Active member in good standing of a state bar, ideally California, New York, or the District of Columbia.
• Five or more years of supervisory capacity at increasingly high levels of supervisory responsibility.
  • Excellence in organizational management with the ability to coach staff, develop and manage high-performance teams, set and achieve strategic objectives, and manage budgets.
• A proven track record of increasing revenue through generation of leads is desirable.
  • Strong interpersonal skills demonstrated by a history of positive working relationships with peers, staff, and supervisors.
• Experience in budgeting and resource allocation at a departmental level.
  • Demonstrated ability to make timely decisions, evaluate results, identify problems or obstacles in a timely manner, and redirect when necessary to ensure best outcomes.
• Superior oral and written communication skills.
  • Strong conflict management, resolution, and negotiation skills.
• Ability to travel, primarily among HRF offices.