National Immigrant Justice Center
208 S. LaSalle St., Suite 1818, Chicago, IL 60604
Careers
LGBT Immigrant Rights National Project Coordinator
The National Project Coordinator helps implement and support NIJC’s nationwide advocacy and litigation efforts in response to heightened immigration enforcement. As part of this program, the Coordinator, along with NIJC attorneys, will work with NIJC clients and diverse national partners to challenge human rights violations and wrongful immigration enforcement initiatives to promote fairness in our nation’s immigration system. The overall objectives of the position are to: 1) coordinate effective documentation of international and domestic human rights violations; 2) strengthen the systemic impact of NIJC’s casework through identification of trends and emerging human rights issues; 3) respond and document national calls from immigrants in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody; 4) coordinate advocacy efforts in immigration proceedings and federal court; and 5) respond and document the needs of partner organizations, including conducting issue-based training on legal relief available to detainees, detention conditions and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and ICE policies; and facilitate meetings. Travel may be required to carry out the program objectives.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree and two years of experience in human rights field, legal and/or communications work required. Experience working with LGBT population is preferred;
- Fluency in English and Spanish is required;
- Ability to effectively interview clients and engage in fact-gathering for advocacy or litigation in a fast-paced environment;
- Ability to design and maintain program website with minimal training;
- Fluency in Microsoft Office especially Word and Excel;
- Ability to maintain and organize large quantities of information in an electronic database;
- Attention to detail and accuracy;
- Ability to competently and effectively communicate orally and in writing for a variety of audiences;
- Ability to manage multiple tasks efficiently;
- Demonstrated commitment to immigrants’ rights/human rights; and
- Ability to train interns, to assist with projects, supervise work, and assign additional tasks on an as needed basis
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Obtain, maintain, and update information in NIJC database;
- Monitor websites to gather current information regarding country conditions abroad and legal developments around the United States;
- Respond to telephonic and written correspondence from detained immigrants for purposes of addressing potential human rights violations;
- Assess whether individuals have legal remedies;
- Investigate immigrant detainee complaints regarding detention conditions;
- Present findings, orally and through written memos, to members of legal team;
- Work with staff to identify appropriate response to inquiries (i.e. provide pro se materials to the individual, coordinate pro bono representation, file administrative complaints, or initiate litigation);
- Coordinate and attend periodic meetings;
- Gather data, analyze human rights violations, and develop materials for national advocacy efforts;
- Oversee database entry to track responses to inquiries and outcomes;
- Perform administrative functions relating to management of website materials and other matters; and
- Perform other job-related duties as assigned.
TO APPLY: Please visit Heartland Alliance's job board at www.heartlandalliance.org/careers.

