Deputy Program Director, Children's Program

Amica Center for Immigrant Rights; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 105,000 - 128,000; Full time

Job summary

Amica Center for Immigrant Rights is seeking a Deputy Director for the Children’s Program to guide a team of ~30 staff, shaping strategy, supervision, and budget. The role advances culturally competent client services and ensures contract and grant compliance across program operations.

The Deputy reports to the Program Director, contributes to organizational leadership, and fosters mentorship, staff development, and cross-program collaboration in a dynamic, hybrid work environment.

Qualifications

• JD and at least five years’ relevant experience in immigration law.
• Written and oral Spanish working proficiency.
• Management and supervision experience.
• Licensed to practice law in Maryland or Virginia, eligible to waive in, or willing to sit for the next bar exam.

Responsibilities

• Provide supervision and mentorship to attorneys handling-child immigration cases.
• Oversee program operations including strategy, budgeting, hiring, and professional development.
• Coordinate with Leadership Team to ensure equity, compliance, and cross-program collaboration.
• Represent the program in trainings, stakeholder meetings, and audits.

Skills

Spanish proficiency

Staff supervision

Mentoring

Policy development

Education

JD (Juris Doctor)

Licensed to practice law in MD or VA

Job description

Amica Center for Immigrant Rights fights for the rights, safety, and unity of immigrant communities, standing with those trapped in our nation’s fundamentally flawed immigration system. We engage in unwavering legal defense and strategic litigation for immigrant children and adults facing detention and deportation in the Capital Region and beyond, because everyone has the right to be free, safe, and supported.

The Children’s Program provides legal orientation and screening to detained migrant children in the Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia region. We also offer free legal services to children released from Office of Refugee Resettlement custody to the greater capitol region.

Amica Center’s Children’s Program is a highly collaborative work environment. We are committed to providing high-quality, trauma-informed legal and social services and a culture of professional growth and support for staff. Although aspects of our work are completed in smaller teams, we work towards integrated and client-focused services across the program by embracing interconnectivity. We strive to create systems that provide structure while fostering innovation and adaptability. Supervisors in our program share a commitment to teaching, mentorship, and work life balance.

Position Summary

The Deputy Director of the Children's Program helps the Program Director manage and lead a program of about 30 staff. This includes contributions to the: strategic vision; legal supervision and training; administration; budget; hiring and program structure; and personnel development. The Deputy supports the Program Director in ensuring that the program operates in an efficient, effective and equitable manner so as to (i) provide high-quality, culturally competent client services, (ii) meet all contract and grant requirements, (iii) ensure the professional development of all staff, and (iv) cross-work effectively with other programs. The Deputy Director will also serve as a member of the organizational Leadership Team and help set organization-wide policies.

General Duties and Responsibilities

In coordination with the Program Director and leadership team, provides oversight and management of core program functions:

• Ensure that the program is kept abreast of new developments in the law and that staff are adequately trained and supported in their case work.
• Provide supervision and training to attorneys in direct representation cases, including (i) case strategy, (ii) trial preparation, and (iii) caseload management.
• Work to enhance staff efficiency and effectiveness in all aspects of their work.
• Work with other Amica Center programs to align legal, litigation, and advocacy efforts and strategies.
• Strategic planning for the organization and implementation at the team level.
• Administrative responsibilities including, but not limited to: grant reporting, budgeting, time and expense reports, and recordkeeping/data management.

Representation:

• Manage small caseload of direct legal representation of clients in removal proceedings before local immigration courts, USCIS, and state courts in the following non-exhaustive types of cases: Asylum, Withholding of Removal, Protection under the Convention Against Torture, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), U-Visas and T-Visas.
• Contribute to supervision of team-wide representation processes, including provision of legal information to children and screening for legal relief, the development and maintenance of samples, and case placement decisions.
• Supervise attorneys in case work and caseload management, including co-counseling, as appropriate, with junior staff.
• Provide expert mentoring to pro bono attorneys from area law firms handling children’s cases.
• Handle own administrative tasks for casework (e.g., preparation and submission of filings, file maintenance, and recordkeeping).

Stakeholder Services:

• Work with Program Director and the Acacia Center for Justice (Acacia) to ensure contract compliance and stakeholder relationship management at all levels.
• Engage with stakeholders including community groups, governmental bodies and representatives, and other legal service providers to ensure that Amica Center stays abreast of new developments and maintains an active involvement in discussions about children’s detention and legal services.
• Represent Amica Center in trainings and public engagements.

Program Management Services:

• Contribute to the creation, implementation, and evaluation of structures and policies for the team.
• Contribute to the direction of equitable and inclusive hiring, professional development, and performance evaluation of staff.
• Contribute to the administrative functioning of the program, including grant compliance and reporting, time and expense reports, budgeting, and data management, as assigned by the Program Director.

Organization-wide Services:

• Represent the Children's Program as a member of several organization-wide leadership teams.
• Interface with leadership of other programs to ensure cross-program information and strategy sharing.
• Participate in Amica Center committees and working groups, as needed, to lend a voice to the growth and strategy of the organization.

Qualifications Required:

• JD and at least five (5) years’ relevant experience in immigration law. Family law experience a plus.
• Experience working with child clients, preferred.
• Management and supervision experience.
• Written and oral Spanish working proficiency.
• Must be licensed to practice law in Maryland or Virginia, eligible to waive in, or willing to sit for the next scheduled bar exam.
• The candidate is expected to travel for work-related business. As a result, the candidate must possess a valid driver's license and be comfortable operating a vehicle upon hiring. This role requires travel, but qualified individuals with disabilities may be accommodated in a reasonable manner under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
• Favorable results on background checks including driving record, Child Protection Registry, and state and federal criminal records.
• Commitment to principles of equity and inclusion.
• Ability to work in a hybrid work environment and fulfill job responsibilities in-person as required.

Legal Proficiency

The Deputy Program Director utilizes their expertise in immigration law to provide high-quality supervision and mentorship in children’s immigration cases and to develop creative approaches to novel legal issues and challenges. The employee works to develop new initiatives at the organization to increase efficacy, efficiency, and cultural competency of legal services. The employee is a thought-leader in the provision of client services and advocacy.

Client and Programmatic Proficiency

The Deputy Program Director contributes to the effective management of service provision to ensure that child clients receive zealous and culturally competent legal information and screenings while in shelter and representation in their legal cases. The Deputy Program Director further helps ensure that the program meets its funding obligations and that the children’s program collaborates effectively within the organization and with peer groups. The Deputy Program Director skillfully supervises and mentors junior staff, ensures that staff members are supported in their professional growth, and manages performance issues, as needed.

Administrative

The Deputy Program Director ensures that all administrative aspects of their and their supervisee’s work are responsibly completed and looks to streamline and improve administrative systems at the team-wide level.

$105,105-128,031+ – a higher salary may be offered to candidates with 10+ years of directly relevant experience.