About the Organization
Founded in 1979, the National Immigration Law Center (NILC) is a leading non-profit organization (501(c)3) in the U.S. exclusively dedicated to defending and advancing the rights and opportunities of low-income immigrants and their loved ones. NILC’s mission is grounded in the belief that everyone living in the U.S. regardless of race, gender/gender identity, immigration status, or economic status — should have equal access to justice, resources, and educational and economic opportunities that enable them to achieve their full human potential. Together, NILC and the affiliated NILC Immigrant Justice Fund (IJF), a 501(c)4 organization, work to advocate more directly for federal immigration reform policies. NILC is committed to advancing its mission — which intersects race, immigration status, and class — through racial, economic, and gender justice and equity orientation.
NILC is at an exciting moment in its organizational trajectory, supporting our five-year strategic framework and scaling the organization and its work through influencing systems, policy advocacy at the federal and state levels, engaging in movement and power building, and narrative and culture strategies in addition to continuous improvements to our operational model. We are looking for entrepreneurial, results-driven, relationship builders who are committed to NILC’s mission and values of racial justice & equity, valuing diversity, fostering partnerships & collaboration, encouraging respect & personal well- being, and striving for transparency, integrity, and honesty.
About the Role
The Senior Policy Counsel at NILC is a subject matter policy expert who will play a lead role in driving NILC’s policy work through innovative and equitable policy analysis, development, and improvement. The Senior Policy Counsel will work via NILC’s cross-functional Programs workgroup structure to execute the organization's policy agenda, including drafting regulatory comments and legislation, conducting research, developing reports and other materials in support of NILC’s policy and advocacy agenda, providing counsel and strategic advice to support immigration advocates’ work, both within NILC and in collaboration with partner organizations and coalitions. In addition to managing a larger portfolio of policy issues, the Senior Policy Counsel serves as a mentor and teacher for less experienced members of the Policy and/or Programs team, working with them to develop their skills as related to NILC’s policy work.
This role is a member of the bargaining unit.
The Senior Policy Counsel will be responsible for providing leadership and driving success in the following key areas:
Specific Position Responsibilities
Strategy and Expertise
- Support Programs leadership in the creation of federal, state, and local policy agendas with priorities designed to expand and defend the rights of low-income immigrants and their loved ones & advocate to enact that agenda.
- Serve as subject matter expert in one or more of NILC’s priority campaigns/ issues such as access to status for undocumented immigrants, including DACA, Immigrants’ Health and Economic Supports and economic justice; Workers’ Rights; Access to Education ; and/or Enforcement (Asylum/Border/Interior Enforcement)
- Participate in or lead part of or lead a larger cross functional project using the MOCHA framework/methodology
- Provide subject matter expertise to NILC’s Legal team in court cases and assist with research and drafting of amicus briefs and other legal filings where appropriate as determined by the Legal team.
Research, Analysis, and Publications
- Conduct and lead work in the areas of policy, regulatory, and legislative analysis to promote and protect the rights of low-income immigrants, at the local, state, and federal level, including drafting, commenting on, and revising proposed legislation; providing expert technical analysis and advice on pending legislation for stakeholders including state and federal agency staff and allied organizations; participating in oversight activities & rapid response efforts; supporting NILC staff and external partners testifying at legislative hearings and briefings; and reviewing and drafting comments on federal rule making and executive action.
- Work closely with colleagues to develop policy materials and analysis, respond to administration initiatives and proposed regulations, and provide relevant policy recommendations to key officials, partners, and legislators.
- Conduct research and draft reports and other materials, including but not limited to one-pagers, white papers, fact sheets/FAQs in support of NILC’s policy and advocacy agenda and collaborate with the Strategic Communications team to publish NILC and/or partner publications by providing feedback on and proposing revisions to draft materials.
- Adapt and tailor both oral and written communication for multiple diverse audiences, including policymakers, other advocates, funders and the general public.
Partnerships and Coalitions
- In collaboration with the Strategic Partnerships and Advocacy Department, coordinate and facilitate meetings and collaborate with key stakeholders, ally organizations and coalition partners to strategize on areas such as immigration, workers’ rights, health, education, immigration enforcement, and economic justice.
- Within NILC’s priorities and consistent with the Strategic Framework, communicate with partners to address their needs and direct them to resources to assist in their work, present on various calls, webinars, in-person trainings, and other external communications.
Leadership
- Provide senior-level guidance, mentorship and teaching to other staff including reviewing work, providing feedback (directly and indirectly via supervisors), overseeing work via workgroups, and other guidance as needed.
- Serve as a spokesperson with the media, present at national conferences, and engage in other public speaking that advances NILC’s mission and policy strategies.
- May manage and lead projects, teams, and coalitions /networks, with support and guidance from senior staff and managers.
- Partner with and support the Development and/or Finance Departments as requested to support NILC subgrants as well as NILC grant applications.
- Travel as needed to advance work, including testifying at legislative hearings.
Supervisory Responsibilities
- May manage interns and fellows as needed.
- May manage or supervise outside consultants, third party administrators, and vendors as needed.
Shared Organization Responsibilities
- Champions NILC & IJF’s mission of advancing the rights of low income immigrants with by demonstrating a commitment to human rights, and racial, economic, and social justice
- Attends and actively participates in NILC meetings at the organization, department, project, and individual level
- Develops relationships and supports NILC and IJF colleagues across all teams, recognizing that each individual brings a unique background and perspective to the work and assuming good intent from each other.
- Follows through on commitments acting with a clear sense of ownership individually and collectively by taking personal responsibility for decisions, actions, and failures, establishing clear responsibilities and processes for monitoring work and measuring results, and designing feedback loops into work.
- Learns quickly when facing new situations by experimenting to find fresh solutions, taking on the challenge of unfamiliar tasks, and extracting lessons learned from failures and mistakes.
- Acts with integrity by following through on commitments, being direct and truthful, keeping confidences, and showing consistency between words and actions.
- Commits to centering NILC’s values of racial justice & equity, valuing diversity, fostering partnerships & collaboration, encouraging respect & personal well-being, and striving for transparency, integrity, and honesty in all decisions and actions.
In recognition of the fluidity of the work and ecosystem that NILC operates in, other duties may be assigned depending on organizational need.
What We’re Looking for in This Role
- Commitment to NILC & IJF’s mission of advancing the rights of immigrants with low income and a demonstrated commitment to human rights, racial, economic and social justice, and equity,, inclusion, and justice for all.
- Collaborative, proactive, and action oriented working style with a strong service mentality promoting mutual accountability and inspiring trust and confidence from colleagues, other NILC team members, and NILC leaders alike.
- Demonstrates sound judgment in decision-making, high integrity, and utmost respect for confidentiality.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills: ability to read, analyze, and interpret as well as draft documents such as reports, correspondence, and presentations for various audiences.
- Self-starter with a strong ability to move daily tasks forward in alignment with NILC’s broader organizational needs and goals.
Qualifications Required
- Juris Doctor degree and active admission to a State Bar Association (Counsel) and/or master’s degree or Ph.D in public policy or similar advanced degree (Analyst).
- Deep expertise in one or more areas of NILC’s policy work.
- 7-9+ years of experience in public policy and experience understanding and communicating complex governmental policies and procedures with external stakeholders.
- Significant experience working with relevant stakeholders on developing legislation, regulations, and other policy.
- Demonstrated ability to produce high-quality policy analysis and content for use in range of advocacy with diverse audiences, including drafting legislative testimony, comments, know-your-rights materials, one-pagers, white papers, blogs and other social media, and reports.
- Demonstrated experience working with coalitions and advocacy partners.
- Proficiency with in-office and virtual environments and software such as MS Office, internet research, and virtual collaboration tools.
Preferred Qualifications
- Policy experience for an advocacy non-profit organization is preferred.
- Proficiency in non-English languages spoken by Latinx, Asian, Pacific Islander, African, Caribbean, and Arab communities preferred. Fluency in more than one language desirable.
At NILC, we know that talented people may have different backgrounds or experiences, and if your education and experience doesn’t exactly align with the above that’s okay! NILC believes that diversity in all dimensions of the organization supports and bolsters the innovative thinking essential to its success and is committed to providing equal employment opportunity to all qualified applicants.
NILC’s goal is for our people to reflect the communities in which we live and serve and to ensure representation of people of color, women, veterans, and individuals with disabilities in our organization. We encourage you to apply and let us know in your cover letter why you are qualified and the right fit for this role and NILC.
Location & Travel:
NILC's office is located in Washington, D.C. For this role, up to 25% of overnight interstate travel may be required; generally, travel is quarterly to the NILC Washington, D.C. office or another location within the US for 3-5 nights.
Compensation & Benefits:
NILC’s compensation and benefits philosophy is to provide a competitive offering in the nonprofit sector and ensure equity across the organization. The salary range for this role is $111,800 – $139,800.
NILC's benefits package includes medical, dental, vision, life and AD&D, STD, and LTD insurance, healthcare and dependent care FSA, stipends and/or reimbursements for wellness, phone, and internet, generous paid time off, a robust holiday schedule, an employee assistance program (EAP), along with additional voluntary insurance packages.
Physical Demands:
- Remaining in a stationary position, often standing or sitting for prolonged periods.
- Communicating with others to exchange information.
- Repeating motions, like typing or answering a phone, that may include the wrists, hands and/or fingers.
