Position Title: Program Assistant, Immigrant Legal Rights Program

Organization: Jewish Family Service of San Diego

Department: Immigration Legal Services

Position Type: Full-Time (37.5 hours/week), Non-Exempt

Work Setting: Onsite

Reports To: Lead Paralegal

Pay Range: $19 to $20/hour

Total Compensation:

In addition to standard pay, compensation for this position includes:

• Comprehensive, low-cost healthcare coverage for employees
• Generous employer 401(k) contributions
• Employer-covered life insurance

Time Away from Work:

Being able to take time away from work is critical in bringing your best self to work. Time off benefits for this position include:

• Paid vacation time and sick leave
• 15 paid holidays, including Federal and Jewish holidays (as long as the holiday lands on a normal scheduled work day), and floating holidays
• 2 Wellness Days to be taken any time during the year to support employees’ mental wellness

Position Overview:

Jewish Family Service of San Diego (JFS) is one of four refugee resettlement agencies in San Diego County, a Department of Justice Recognized organization, and a core partner of the San Diego Rapid Response Network (SDRRN) - a group of 40 immigrant rights and social service organizations, attorneys and community leaders who educate, protect and assist immigrant individuals and families – including refugees and asylum seekers – with legal support and social services. JFS has a large Immigration Legal Services Department (ILSD) where it not only coordinates the legal services for SDRRN, but also has a large team of lawyers, DOJ accredited representatives, and support staff working on a wide range of services for low-income and vulnerable immigrants in San Diego and Imperial counties. This position will work within the ILSD team at JFS. The ILSD team specializes in removal defense, family-based petitions and applications, administrative relief, naturalization, and humanitarian relief. The ILSD team has experience and regularly practices immigration law before Department of Homeland Security (DHS), such as with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Border Patrol (BP) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), as well as before the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) at the San Diego, Otay Mesa and Imperial Immigration Courts and Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA), and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. The ILSD team also represents clients in relevant immigration matters before San Diego Superior Court on simple post-conviction relief and probate guardianship matters. The ILSD is also the legal service provider which coordinates the Higher Education Legal Services (HELS) program at 2 CA State Universities – San Diego State and CSU San Marcos, in addition to 9 community colleges in San Diego and Imperial counties.

Under the supervision of the Lead Paralegal, the Program Assistant will be responsible for providing direct support to the Immigrant Legal Rights Program (ILRP) staff to support legal representation to ILRP clients in immigration cases, including support for representation before EOIR, DHS, federal circuit courts, and state courts, while helping to support the broader efforts of the ILSD team.

Responsibilities:

Under the supervision of the Lead Paralegal, the Program Assistant will be responsible to

• Assist in the management of our immigration phone lines and requests for services via postal mail and email
• Coordinate the scheduling of immigration legal screenings for attorneys and DOJ accredited representatives and communicate effectively with potential clients
• Conduct immigration legal intakes, as needed
• Support paralegals, attorneys, and DOJ Accredited Representatives with case tasks, which may include interpretation/translations and form preparation
• Assist with organization of client’s physical and electronic files, which includes scanning documents to e-files and filing case documents in case files
• Assist in the preparation and mailing of immigration filings
• Assist with postal mail organization and filing in the appropriate e-files and physical files
• Route client messages to team members handling case and assist in responses to client inquiries as needed
• Perform and manage data entry for all ILRP cases, and assist with program planning, database management and quality and grant reporting
• Provide additional administrative support to paralegals, attorneys and DOJ Accredited Representatives, as needed
• Become familiar with other JFS and community services available to immigrant and vulnerable populations in San Diego
• Support ILRP team members with referrals to other JFS and community programs

Skills/Experience/Abilities That Are a Must-Have:

• High School Diploma
• A passion for social justice for immigrants
• A passion for providing culturally competent, trauma-informed, services to noncitizens and newcomers in San Diego County, Imperial County, and generally in the San Diego border region, including but not limited Tijuana/Mexicali, Mexico
• 1 year of work experience in a nonprofit setting and immigration law
• A willingness to undergo extensive immigration law-focused legal training and complete required bi-annual ethics trainings
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including good communication and active listening skills
• Detail oriented and self-directed with strong oral and written communication skills in English
• An ability to record accurate data
• Strong relational skills and professional attitude
• Strong case management and writing skills
• Ability to work from different JFS locations, including the San Diego Rapid Response Network’s Migrant Shelter, operated by JFS
• A demonstrated ability and willingness to zealously defend the rights of immigrants
• A demonstrated ability to take initiative and work under pressure
• An ability to work both independently and in a group and with a team
• An ability to work flexible hours, including some evenings and weekends
• Ability to prioritize, multi-task and organize in a fast paced and fluid environment
• Proficient in Microsoft software including Excel, Word, and Outlook
• A passion for our mission and work
• Multilingual English/Arabic, Spanish, Farsi, Haitian Creole, and/or Portuguese – desired
• Experience working with immigrant populations and in multi-cultural settings
• Experience working with marginalized populations and survivors of trauma
• Dedication to serving immigrant communities with a sincere commitment to working on behalf of low-income immigrants
• Valid driver’s license, access to an automobile, insurance, and willingness to drive off-site, and possibly to Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico

Skills/Abilities We’d Like You to Have:

• Prior experience working in a nonprofit setting
• Someone who thrives on helping others and following through on every detail
• Willing to adjust work schedule and occasionally work evenings depending on staffing needs.

Important Notice:

Incomplete submissions will not be considered. Please, no phone calls. Please, principals only. Please, local candidates only (relocation is not provided).

About Jewish Family Service of San DiegoJewish Family Service of San Diego is a client-centered, impact-driven organization working to build a stronger, more resilient community. For over 100 years, Jewish Family Service has been a trusted resource for the entire community, offering an array of services that are always life-changing, and often life-saving. At Jewish Family Service, we believe our employees are the backbone of our Agency. We strive to ensure that each employee is treated with dignity and respect. Our goal is your success. Come work at JFS and be our partner in Moving Forward Together. To learn more about JFS, please visit jfssd.org. 

*Jewish Family Service is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.