Senior Policy Counsel

Summary

Join the National Immigration Law Center (NILC) as a Senior Policy Counsel and become a subject matter expert driving NILC's policy work through innovative and equitable policy analysis, development, and improvement. You will execute the organization's policy agenda, including drafting regulatory comments and legislation, conducting research, and developing reports. This role involves collaborating with cross-functional teams, partner organizations, and stakeholders to advance NILC's policy and advocacy goals, focusing on immigrants' access to health benefits, safety net programming, and economic justice. You will also mentor less experienced team members and serve as a spokesperson for NILC. The position requires a Juris Doctor degree, active bar admission, and 7-9+ years of relevant experience. NILC offers a competitive compensation and benefits package.

Requirements

• Juris Doctor degree and active admission to a State Bar Association (Counsel) and/or master’s degree in public policy, law degree, or similar advanced degree
• Deep expertise in one or more areas of NILC’s policy work, with a preference for expertise in the intersection between immigrants’ rights and health and economic justice
• 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
• Experience researching and producing legislative advocacy materials, including reports, one-pagers, fact sheets, issue briefs, and/or white papers
• 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
• 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, 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

Responsibilities

• 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
• 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, with a focus on health and economic justice access, 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 and lead other Programs team members to develop policy materials and analysis, respond to administration initiatives and proposed regulations, and provide relevant policy recommendations to key officials, partners, and legislators
• In collaboration with and support of 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 health, education, and economic inequalities
• 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
• Conduct research and draft reports and other materials 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
• Travel to Washington D.C. or other states as needed to work on legislative, policy, or advocacy needs that cannot be fulfilled with an email or phone call
• 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
• 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
• May be a part of or lead a larger cross functional project using the MOCHA framework/methodology
• Champions NILC & IJF’s mission of advancing the rights of immigrants with low income 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

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

Benefits

• 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)
• Additional voluntary insurance packages