Legal Director – Immigration Program

Summary:

The RST Immigration Program provides fee-based and grant-based immigration legal assistance to refugees, asylees, victims of human trafficking, Special Immigrant Visa holders, and other immigrant populations. In FY2022 and Fy2023, a special focus will be placed on serving Afghans. The Immigration Director leads and supervises a team of attorneys, legal assistants, and support staff. The North Texas Immigration Director will oversee staff in Amarillo, Fort Worth, and Dallas. Some USCIS applications the Immigration Program at RST supports include but are not limited to: Naturalization, Adjustment of Status, Employment Authorization Documents, Temporary Status renewal, family reunification (I-730, I-130), Special Immigrant Visa, Humanitarian Parole, and adjustment of status. The Immigration Director is also responsible for supporting legal services across RSTs network.

General Job Responsibilities:

• Provide immigration counseling services to assist clients with applications for adjustment of status to lawful permanent resident, naturalization or citizenship, and assistance with obtaining disability and fee waivers
• Supervise and support the Immigration Legal Assistants to conduct intakes, maintain case files, prepare paperwork, and applications
• Create, maintain, and monitor systems that ensure programmatic and legal compliance
• Provide periodic information sessions/workshops to eligible clients seeking assistance
• Coordinate with available volunteer and contract interpreters that may assist clients with USCIS interviews and other important meetings
• Coordinate outreach to refugee and immigrant communities to ensure potential clients know of the availability of legal services
• Participate in local immigration services coalitions and tasks force
• Maintain database of immigration clients and services provided; ensure that accurate reporting occurs in a timely manner
• Ensure that clients in need of representation in front of USCIS are connected with RST attorneys
• Attend trainings to acquire, develop and maintain skills and knowledge as needed to ensure good standing of BIA accreditation and ability to provide services
• Ensure attorneys complete ESL and civics instruction referrals for clients as needed; maintain a list of available resources and organizations to provide ESL and civics instruction with their enrollment criteria, locations and hours of operation, etc
• Work in collaboration with the Senior Programs Director, Director of RSS/CMA, and Director of Resettlement Programs to ensure grant compliance
• Track grant and fee based service outputs and program income and ensure required reporting is completed with accuracy and in the required timeframes
• Lead team in preparing for and executing yearly monitorings from funders, working to minimize findings and moving quickly post monitorings to make any necessary improvements
• Perform other duties as requested by the Senior Programs Director

General Management and Human Resources:

• Recruit and train staff; ensure that all staff receive new employee orientation in collaboration with Human Resources as well as comprehensive training and orientation for position; oversee hiring process per agency HR policies
• Monitor expense reports and time sheets for staff and any contractors, ensuring they are received in the Finance and HR Departments on a timely basis
• Ensure completion of HR reporting, performance reviews, and other required employee-related documentation
• Maintain open and direct communications with all staff; ensure staff issues and concerns are properly and promptly resolved in partnership with Human Resources; cultivate staff for professional development, retention, and personal growth
• Create a positive, safe, and productive work environment for all staff, aligned with RST HR guidelines; ensure staff time is efficiently managed and in line with job description and duties; coordinate PTO requests, day-to-day activity scheduling, and ensure staff are working within budgetary limitations (ensure part-time staff work specified hours and non-exempt staff do not incur overtime hours)
• Safeguard RST finances through implementation of RST internal controls and policies; ensure check or funding requests meet accounting and program standards and are submitted on a timely basis
• Track and monitor grant performance measures, outputs, and expected outcomes; ensure all program goals are met
• Review and audit case files for compliance on a monthly basis; prevent compliance issues through consistent monitoring, follow-up training, and staff performance reviews and coaching
• Oversee production of all grant reporting; make certain reporting and other requests for information are submitted on time, complete, and of high quality
• Collaborate with Area Directors to provide a complete service model for clients