U.S. Litigation – Senior Director
New York, DC, Remote
Litigation /
Full-Time /
Remote
Opportunity
The U.S. Litigation Senior Director will lead and support the U.S. litigation team and the organization.
IRAP’s U.S. litigation department is dedicated to bringing innovative court challenges to address systemic issues affecting refugees, asylum seekers and others in need of a safe home. We leverage IRAP’s relationships with thousands of clients, and connections to advocates around the world to advance the rights of all people to safe passage and to the opportunity to thrive. Since we launched in 2017, we have won court victories that have benefited tens of thousands of people, including by re-opening pathways that have been shut down or restricted, and by ensuring that the government is processing applications promptly and fairly.
Responsibilities
- Develop, in collaboration with the Vice President for U.S. Legal Department, a strategic vision and work plan for the U.S. litigation department that includes alignment with and support of IRAP’s strategic plan and programmatic priorities.
- Oversee the U.S. litigation department’s work, including by ensuring that team members have the resources, mentorship and support to succeed and to reach their goals; that opportunities and workload are distributed equitably and meaningfully; and that the work product serves the clients well and is aligned with IRAP’s vision and mission.
- Maintain an infrastructure, in collaboration with the Vice President for U.S. Legal Department, including policies, procedures, and training programs, that supports the U.S. litigation department’s work and promotes efficiency, equity, accountability, and transparency.
- Represent IRAP’s U.S. litigation department with external stakeholders, including peer organizations, potential plaintiff/client organizations, coalitions, and similar groups, and be a mentor to the U.S. litigation team to develop and cultivate external communications and skills.
- As needed, serve as the department’s liaison and spokesperson to the Board, funders.
- Represent the U.S. litigation department in IRAP’s Programmatic Leadership Committee and other relevant internal cross-departmental meetings, especially with the policy, communications, legal services, pro bono and other program teams.
- Manage the hiring, orientation, supervision, and departure of Supervising Attorneys, and support their work.
- Fulfill the roles of a Supervising Attorney and a Senior Staff Attorney in the U.S. litigation department as needed.
Qualifications
- Education
- Law degree and license to practice law in the U.S. state from which the duties of this position will be performed.
- Experience
- 10+ years of relevant legal experience after law school, including strategic litigation experience.
- Experience with, and commitment to, integrated models of advocacy that combine the power of legal aid, litigation, policy, and communications advocacy.
- Experience with supervision and managing teams or programs.
- Values, Competencies and Skills
- Knowledge of and experience with various models of advocacy, including federal court litigation and the U.S. policy and media landscape; creativity in approaching litigation and its relationship to other advocacy strategies; and sound judgment regarding ethical issues that arise in the work.
- Ability to work collaboratively with a variety of people, including U.S. litigation department staff members, IRAP staff in other departments, IRAP’s leadership team and the Board, clients, other advocates, law firms, vendors, media, and funders.
- Strong project management, organizational, and facilitation skills and process orientation; ability to think at a systems-level.
- Ability to identify new opportunities involving various models of advocacy and successfully integrate new initiatives and partnerships into existing work.
- Commitment to building, supporting and centering the principles of diversity, equity, access, and inclusion.
- Experience with, and commitment to, integrated models of advocacy that combine the power of legal aid, litigation, policy, and communications advocacy.
- Be creative, adaptable, and nimble.
Location: The candidate will work in the New York office or the DC office. US remote candidates can apply but must be available to work East Coast hours and accessible to visit the New York or DC office regularly.
Compensation
The salary for this position will be approximately $150,000 annually.
Reasonable Accommodations
IRAP is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, IRAP will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact Alexia Lawrence at alawrence@refugeerights.org or 516-838-1166
Benefits
IRAP’s benefits vary across office locations, and IRAP seeks to offer equitable and generous benefits to all employees. IRAP’s U.S. benefits include:
● Fully paid family health insurance
● Retirement options
● Extensive PTO (20 or more vacation days & 19 org-wide holidays)
● Comprehensive leave time for sickness
● Disability and parenting (4 months of parental leave)
● Reimbursement for work from home equipment
● Generous opportunities for professional development
