Program Associate Jobs in Bethesda, MD (NOW HIRING)

About Acacia Center for Justice:

The Acacia Center for Justice (“Acacia”) provides legal support and representation to immigrants facing deportation through the development, coordination, and management of national networks of legal services providers serving immigrants across the country. Acacia’s goals are twofold: to support immigrant legal services and defense networks to provide exceptional legal services to immigrants; and to advocate for the expansion of these programs and the infrastructure critical to guaranteeing immigrants access to justice, fairness, and freedom. Acacia ensures accountable, independent, zealous, and person-centered legal services and representation to protect the rights of all immigrants.

Job Summary:

Acacia and its partners operate and manage multiple nationwide programs that provide critical services to immigrant adults, children, and families in immigration detention and/or in removal proceedings. With federal immigration policy and priorities constantly changing, these programs are regularly called upon to pivot and shift with little to no notice. The Program Planning, Services, and Support (PPSS) team was established to respond to evolving requirements and priorities. The Associate Director (AD) of PPSS will provide specialized and targeted support throughout Acacia as program demands change. This may include situations such as: drafting proposals in response to procurement opportunities from the government; new and/or urgent program requests from the government for new initiatives or expansion; new and/or urgent developments in the field that have significant impact on program operations; and filling in when there is limited staffing capacity in other programmatic units as a result of unfilled positions and/or extended leave. The AD, drawing from their experience in immigration law and in program management and development, will be flexible and cooperative in their approach to work, confident and competent in moving projects and achieving deliverables in a timely manner, and resilient in the face of change.

Primary Duties/Responsibilities:

Project leadership and management

• As needed, support the early implementation of new programs by translating established program designs into concrete, time-bound practicable steps, and coordinating day-to-day launch activities. This includes interim staffing coordination, creation of program-specific workflows, working with other units as appropriate to execute defined plans, and refining approved plans in collaboration with Program Design and Development teams when implementation realities require adjustment. Engage in thought partnership with Director of PPSS and other leadership as appropriate to support implementation decision making, surface operation risks or gaps and inform refinements to program designs to promote sustainability, scalability, and responsiveness to legal needs of immigrants.
• During project incubation phase, design and oversee systems for day-to-day operations and scalable program management, ensuring alignment with organizational and strategic goals and the project’s scope, until permanent staffing is in place.
• Collaborate in the development of secure information-sharing systems and protocols in coordination with Legal, IT, and Compliance teams, ensuring alignment with organizational data security standards and best practices.

Support for proposal development for government procurements

• In close collaboration with Program Directors and other subject matter experts, lead and coordinate drafting of technical responses and narrative sections of proposals responsive to government solicitations, including renewal bids. This responsibility encompasses composing and editing language for clear and compelling descriptions of program operations; articulating staffing structures, workflows, and cross-unit collaboration; and describing Acacia’s relevant experience, operational approach, and organizational strengths in a manner that positions the organization competitively.
• Maintain familiarity with Acacia’s established procurement practices, proposal voice, and positioning across bids, and support high-quality, consistent proposal development efforts as procurement opportunities arise.
• Support and collaborate with cross-functional teams to respond to government procurement opportunities, including in project management of submission of Acacia’s proposal.

Staffing support

• Develop and maintain sufficient familiarity with Acacia’s programs and operations to contribute effectively with minimal ramp-up, and demonstrate comfort with frequent change, shifting priorities, and evolving day-to-day responsibilities.
• Provide short-term, flexible staffing support across programs and initiatives by stepping in as needed to address capacity gaps, transitions, launches, or periods of increased demand. Assignments may vary in length, scope, and subject matter and may shift frequently based on organizational needs. The AD will need to remain agile to be able to adapt and shift focus as called by the situation.

Other responsibilities

• Provide direct supervision to staff members at varying levels of experience and expertise, supporting their development of project management, program implementation, and planning skillsets with a culture of flexibility, support, problem-solving, and resilience.
• Delegate and assign work, providing clear and concise project plans and deadlines.
• Provide guidance and support to staff on shifting priorities to enable nimble responses to new and urgent programmatic needs.
• Review and develop resource materials (e.g., guidance on creation of materials in compliance with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, training materials on new policies, etc.); conduct trainings where appropriate.
• As appropriate, work with various units or programs to determine areas where processes can be improved, including soliciting and synthesizing feedback from Acacians, subcontractors and other stakeholders, proposing solutions, and closing feedback loops. Based on capacity and expertise, may manage process improvements and solutions and identify and problem-solve areas of need for increased efficiency or effectiveness in coordination with relevant units/teams.
• As needed, conduct site visits in accordance with the policies and procedures set out by the relevant program, with support of relevant Program Director and/or Associate Director.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Skills, Knowledge, Abilities:

• 9+ years of relevant work experience in immigration legal services (including legal access or representation services). Experience in immigration policy, government contracting or contract/grant administration, or comparable work and educational experience will also be considered, particularly where the candidate has direct experience with the immigration legal system and has been personally impacted by it
• Uncompromising commitment to immigrants’ rights, racial equity, and person-centered approaches, with a demonstrated understanding of how systemic inequities shape access to legal information and representation
• Exceptional project management, stakeholder management, and communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to support the implementation of new or unestablished programs by making informed, practical judgments about staffing, resources, and operational needs, anticipating risks or downstream impacts, and proactively coordinating with units such as Finance, IT, Legal, and Compliance to address issues early
• Demonstrated high-level adaptability, willingness to take initiative, and ability to problem-solve in a fast-paced environment
• Solid organization skills; attention to detail with the ability to work quickly and manage multiple projects simultaneously, effectively, and efficiently; and strong writing and research skills 
• Strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to work with people of diverse experiences and backgrounds from government funder to legal service provider to impacted community member 
• Experience supervising and supporting staff of different experience levels and navigating peer-level relationships across teams to advance shared work
• Ability to successfully balance travel responsibilities with office-based responsibilities when necessary 

Additional eligibility requirements:

• Juris Doctorate (J.D.) degree required
• In accordance with federal contracts, a National Crime Information Center (NCIC) check and security clearance is required for this position (for additional information: https://irp.fas.org/agency/doj/fbi/is/ncic.htm).
• This position may need a U.S. Government Tier 1 background investigation to handle secure datasets (for additional information: https://www.dcsa.mil/is/eqip/).
• Acacia is unable to provide H1B sponsorship at this time; candidates must have U.S. citizenship or LPR status.
• Acacia cannot accept applicants that live outside of the U.S.; all Acacia employees must reside within the United States.

Preferred Skills, Knowledge, Abilities:

• Knowledge of and experience with government contracting and procurement processes
• Knowledge of the immigrants’ rights field and demonstrated capacity to engage in strategic planning and innovation, especially to remove barriers to, expand, and strengthen legal access for all immigrants
• Experience building partnerships with legal services providers to meet the needs of people in jails, prisons, and/or immigration detention 
• Program management experience, especially of legal service or representation programs that contain a training and technical assistance component  
• Strong knowledge of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act and ensuring accessibility of electronic materials
• Demonstrated ability to navigate and implement new technologies
• Demonstrated ability to promote team/coalition cohesion, to build staff morale, and to function as an equitable team member 
• Fluency in Spanish or other non-English language

Compensation and Benefits:

Acacia has established an internal compensation philosophy that centers equity and pay transparency. The salary for this position is set at $126,000. The salary listed is just one component of Acacia’s total compensation package for employees. Supporting Acacia staff—both personally and professionally—is our priority.

• Medical/Dental/Vision- Some plans at $0 cost to the employee
• Employee Assistance Program
• 20 days per year of vacation time
• 12 days per year of sick time
• 5 personal days
• 4 organization-wide Wellness Days
• 11 observed holidays, including the last week of December
• First time home office set-up stipend
• Internet Stipend
• 401k with 5% employer contribution, no employee participation required.

People of color and those who have been impacted by the criminal system and immigration system are strongly urged to apply. Acacia is deeply committed to race equality, inclusion and belonging and strives to create a work culture that recognizes everyone's unique lived experience.

To Apply:
Submit your resume and cover letter through the Acacia Careers site. If you encounter technical issues or have accessibility needs, email your resume and cover letter to hiring@acaciajustice.org with Subject: ATTN: Human Resources / [Job Title], Acacia Center for Justice

PLEASE ONLY SUBMIT THROUGH ONE METHOD.

Equal Opportunity Employment:

Acacia is an equal opportunity employer and seeks to recruit persons of diverse backgrounds and support their retention and advancement within the organization. We are committed to fostering a workplace culture inclusive of people with respect to their race, ethnicity, national origin, gender/gender identity, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, veteran status, marital status, age, disabilities, political affiliation, religious beliefs, or any other characteristic. Our commitment to justice and diversity also means providing a work environment that is welcoming, respectful, and engaging.

This job description is not meant to be an all-inclusive list of duties, responsibilities and requirements but constitutes a general definition of the position's scope and function within our organization.

Acacia Center for Justice is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without unlawful discrimination based on race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, prior record of arrest or conviction, citizenship status, current employment status, or caregiver status.

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