Project Coordinator, Legal Pathways that Work Initiative

Please submit applications by Tuesday, October 15, 2024 for first consideration.

About the Presidents’ Alliance

The nonpartisan, nonprofit Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration brings college and university leaders and campuses together on the immigration issues that impact higher education, our students, campuses, communities, and nation. As the only national organization exclusively focused on the intersection of higher education and immigration, we work to support undocumented, international, and refugee students, and advance forward-looking immigration policies and practices at the federal level, in our states, and across our college campuses. The Alliance is composed of 570+ college and university presidents and chancellors of public and private colleges and universities, enrolling over five million students.

The Presidents’ Alliance is looking for a Project Coordinator to support the new Legal Pathways that Work (LPTW) initiative. The LPTW initiative aims to provide educational resources to colleges, universities, and students about existing employment-based immigration options that may be available to college students and graduates who are in temporary or precarious immigration statuses (e.g. international, undocumented/DACAmented, displaced, humanitarian parole students) and to pilot new programs and services that would support these students and alumni.

The focus of this position is to coordinate the day-to-day operations of our soon-to-launch legal services pilot project, a grant-funded project that provides legal consultations and referrals to DACA recipients and other Dreamers through strategic partnerships with law firms across the country. The goal of the project is to move as many Dreamers as possible into stable status and a pathway to permanent residency, mostly through employment-based immigration options. The program will eventually expand to serve other college students and graduates in temporary or precarious statuses, such as international students. We anticipate launching the pilot project before the end of the year (2024).

The ideal candidate will be organized, detail oriented, professional, thoughtful, and adept at collaboration with law firm partners, non-citizen college students and graduates seeking legal services, and college and university administrators.

PRIMARY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Manage Airtable database and other software to track workflow and history of client consultations, relevant intake information, reminders, and referrals over time.
• Serve as primary point of contact for individuals seeking consultations, partner firms, and other stakeholders involved in the project
• Connect individuals to partner law firms for legal consultations and, where appropriate, further legal services
• Work with the project team on a daily basis to ensure data and workflow steps are current and accurate.
• Independently generate reports, targeted to various audiences.
• Maintain a big picture understanding of the needs of the project as well as granular knowledge of the day-to-day flow of intakes and referrals to advise on improvements to workflow.
• Track project timeline and milestones.
• Assist project members in scheduling outreach events tailored to the needs of the project.
• Help project leaders in various tasks including writing, organization, and event planning.
• Help disseminate promotional/informational materials for the project.
• Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS

Required Experience or Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to prioritize multiple tasks and strategies simultaneously.
• Proficiency with different technology platforms, including database and workflow platforms, and calendar integration software and virtual collaboration tools.
• Project management experience; knowledge of tools like Airtable and Asana is a bonus
• Proficient in Google Workspace (Docs, Google Sheets, etc) and Microsoft Office, Zoom
• Ability/interest in managing complex charts and data.
• Ability to streamline workflows.
• Demonstrated passion for service to the immigrant community.
• Commitment to the project goal of moving non-citizen college graduates in temporary or precarious status, such as DACA recipients and other Dreamers, into long-term immigration status.
• Sound judgment in decision-making, high integrity, and respect for confidentiality.
• Ability to independently move daily tasks forward in support of the project’s larger goals.
• Strong interpersonal skills: ability to interact with individuals at all levels with diverse lived experiences and backgrounds

Preferred Skills or Qualifications:

• Previous experience coordinating large-scale projects at a non-profit organization or law firm.
• Business immigration law experience, particularly as a paralegal or legal project coordinator at a law firm.
• Non-profit experience.
• Experience working with DACA recipients or other non-citizens in temporary or precarious status.
• Experience with stakeholder outreach.
• Experience working with Airtable.

POSITION LOCATION & STRUCTURE

This full-time position is structured as a staff employee of the Presidents’ Alliance, which is a partner project of the National Center for Civic Innovation/Fund for the City of New York (NCCI/FCNY). The salary range for this position is $55,000 to $60, 000. Compensation for the role will depend on several factors, including qualifications, skills, competencies, and experience.