ProBAR - Director of Engagement and Development

ProBAR’s Engagement & Development Department educates, engages, and develops initiatives that amplify the impact of ProBAR’s work to empower immigrants and asylum-seekers.

The Organization

ProBAR empowers migrants through high-quality legal education, representation, and connections to services. ProBAR serves migrants in the Rio Grande Valley border region with a particular focus on the legal needs of adults and unaccompanied children in federal custody. Founded in 1989, ProBAR is a project of the American Bar Association, located in Harlingen, Texas. For more information about ProBAR, please visit our website: https://abaprobar.org/

Job Summary / General Purpose of Job

Responsible for directing communication, business development, and strategic partnerships, and other initiatives to engage diverse audiences in furtherance of ProBAR’s mission to empower immigrants and asylum-seekers through legal information, referrals for connection to services and resources, and legal representation.

Essential Job Functions and Responsibilities (listed in order of importance and/or time spent)

Business Development and Strategic Partnerships – 35%

• Leads development strategy, including efforts to diversify funding sources and to secure resources for unfunded and underfunded areas of work. Participates in strategic planning and adapts strategy to evolving needs.
• Builds and maintains knowledge base about ProBAR’s portfolio of work to serve as an effective representative of the organization to current and potential funders. Responsible for developing effective case statements to support fundraising proposals, as well as other materials needed to position ProBAR favorably with funders.
• Manages efforts to identify new funding sources and evaluate their alignment with ProBAR’s goals.
• Cultivates and develops relationships with new and existing funders.
• Oversees drafting, editing, and submission of competitive funding proposals to a range of funders.
• Collaborates with ProBAR leadership, programs, and finance team to ensure proposals are accurate and impactful.
• Manages a calendar of funding opportunities, including relevant deadlines for prospective funding sources.
• Develops strategy for individual donor engagement. Manages a calendar of touchpoints designed to cultivate new donors and retain existing donors. Identifies and cultivates potential major donors.
• Oversees individual donor communications and other fundraising events or activities based on organizational priorities.
• Leads the development of strategic partnerships to respond to organizational needs and opportunities for growth. Identifies and/or cultivates potential partners based on ProBAR’s strategic goals.
• Leads communication with potential partners to reach mutual agreements for the scope and expectations of any partnership and collaborates with ProBAR leadership and COI team to seek relevant review and approvals. Collaborates with departments to assess needs, make proposals, and track implementation status.
• Leads and facilitates stewardship of existing partnerships.

Public Engagement – 35%

• Directs public engagement and outreach programs that position ProBAR as a leader in the immigration field and in our community. Leads development and oversees the implementation of initiatives that promote ProBAR’s work to diverse audiences, empowers team members to represent ProBAR effectively, and inform and build awareness of the realities of immigration in our region.
• Directs initiatives that build ProBAR’s connections to local and national stakeholders and amplify our contributions in the local community.
• Directs the implementation of outreach strategies to build connections with ProBAR alumni, government and nonprofit stakeholders, law schools, bar associations, and other audiences, as desired, to address ProBAR’s evolving needs. Collaborates with other ProBAR departments, as appropriate.
• Directs outreach and recruiting activities for pro bono attorneys and non-attorney volunteers, in coordination with ProBAR Pro Bono Counsel and COI Director of Pro Bono. Contributes to development of new volunteer initiatives and related roles. Collaborates with various ABA and outside entities, as appropriate.
• Ensures ProBAR’s outreach programs incorporate updated information regarding immigration law and policy and changing trends in our work. As assigned, leads initiatives to support ProBAR managers in tracking trends in accordance with a changing environment.

Communications – 25%

• Directs and oversees ProBAR’s communications strategy, including ProBAR’s digital presence and print materials.
• Consult with the ProBAR Director and other managers to determine goals and opportunities to engage in strategic communication regarding changing immigration laws and detention policies, procedures, and conditions.
• Directs efforts to define ProBAR’s brand and voice. Provides oversight and guidance to content development work, ensuring content and messaging align with ProBAR values and strategic goals. Sets standards for public communications.
• Identifies opportunities to improve or adapt communications portfolio to changing needs.

Leadership and Supervision – 5%

• Seeks and develops opportunities for team building and other staff retention measures.
• Provides coaching, counseling, leadership, performance feedback, and, where appropriate, applies discipline to and through subordinates.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Required Education, Qualifications, Experience

• Possession of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university or equivalent experience and five years of job-related experience in a comparable role.
• Minimum of five years’ experience in strategic communications, outreach, advocacy, or fundraising.
• Minimum of three years of management or supervisory experience.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Intermediate proficiency with Adobe and Microsoft Office products (Word, Excel, OneDrive, teams)
• Must have reliable transportation to travel between office and off-site work locations.
• This position requires the ability to travel to and enter care provider facilities funded by the Office of Refugee Resettlement, Administration for Children and Families, United States Department of Health and Human Services, which provide housing and services to unaccompanied children. In accordance with federal regulations, a background check will be required for this position.
• Commitment to ProBAR’s mission and to communications approaches that elevate the dignity of all people.

Preferred Education, Qualifications, Experience

• Fluency in English and Spanish in written and spoken forms.
• Advanced degree in a job-related field and/or six or more years of job-related experience.
• Prior experience writing, editing, or producing publications.
• Prior volunteer, community, or work experience regarding immigration or detention.
• More than two years of experience in strategic communications, advocacy, or volunteer management.
• Prior experience engaging with a diverse range of stakeholders, including funders, partner organizations, and other external stakeholders.
• Prior non-profit management experience.

Physical Requirements

Typical office setting, working with computer and other office equipment.

Travel

As a normal course of business, this job will typically require travel up to 15% of the time.

The Location

ProBAR is located in the Rio Grande Valley, a thriving region that boasts a rich culture, affordable cost of living, subtropical climate, and beautiful natural areas to enjoy. Recent growth has brought the RGV unprecedented investments in higher education and scientific research. Three local airports connect RGV residents to destinations around the country while Mexico is only a short drive away. The region’s delicious food, world-class nature parks, and the beaches of South Padre Island provide ample opportunities to relax and recharge!