Program Associate, Detained Adult Program

Description

Who We Are

The Capital Area Immigrants’ Rights (CAIR) Coalition is now Amica Center for Immigrant Rights (“Amica Center” for short). Click here 

to learn more about our new name. Since our founding in 1999, we have grown significantly and added new services to support immigrants in detention. Recently, Amica Center has outgrown our name, expanding beyond our initial services and geographic boundaries.

“Amica” is the Latin word for “friend,” and that echoes the way we approach what we do. Just as friends stand with one another, Amica Center stands with our clients to achieve the safety, stability, and opportunity we all deserve. 

We are the only non-profit organization in the Washington, D.C. area that is exclusively focused on providing legal assistance to adult and child immigrants detained by the government in the Capital Region and beyond.

Our Work Environment 

The Detained Adult Program (DAP) works with hundreds of adults who are detained by ICE each year, providing information, support, and legal representation. We provide trauma-sensitive, person-centered services, and deeply value the autonomy of the people we work with in detention as they navigate the fundamentally inhumane immigration system.

Amica Center’s Detained Adult Program is a highly collaborative work environment. Each team lead works directly with a focused team, but all colleagues are interconnected through, for example, case workshops or staff-run committees.

DAP staff is a source of expertise in the highly complex and ever-changing immigration system. They have persisted through administration changes, policy shifts, and attacks on the rights and freedoms of immigrants through project-focused cohorts that arise to address challenges or to brainstorm and implement affirmative strategies.

Position Summary

A Program Associate in the Detained Adult Program works collaboratively with staff and leadership to:

• Contribute to the program’s provision of services, including administrative tasks such as database maintenance and reporting to funders. 
• A Program associate in the Detained Adult Program works with attorneys on legal and non-legal administrative tasks and assists with programmatic and operational tasks with the DAP program.
• The Program associate ensures all systems are up to date, finances are reconciled on time, and that purchases for staff are documented as well as for funders.

General Duties and Responsibilities [1] 

Administration: 40%

• Work with Development and DAP leadership in carrying out tasks including database maintenance and reporting to funders, including training staff on reporting requirements.
• Effectively communicate with invoicing and data points of contact for major grantors. 
• Actively engage in CAIR Coalition’s training efforts, as needed. 
• Ensure the timely and accurate entry of data and case information into shared databases.
• Assist program leadership in planning and implementation of program goals. 

Finance: 30%

• Primary Point of Contact for DAP Credit Card usage and reconciliation.
• Creating and maintaining programmatic systems to support finance coordination.
• Ensure internal finance reporting complies with the reporting requirements of various funding streams.
• Effectively communicate with invoicing and data points of contact.
• Travel coordination for DAP staff, including hotel and airline bookings for jail visits and conferences.
• Organization of data.
• Monitoring small budgets and communicating with staff regarding budget status and availability of funds. 
• Coordinating legal service provider subcontractors, ensuring contracts and payments are organized and timely. 
• Support emergency client needs outside normal working hours on occasion or as departmental needs arise.
• Discrete projects as needed. 

Educate Funders 15%

• Attendance at in-person events as required by program. 
• Arrange speaking engagements with impacted people, logistical support.

Organizational Services: 15%

• Assist other program staff in completion of their workload during high work/low bandwidth periods. 
• Actively participate and contribute to stakeholder relationship activities as needed for grant management. 
• Discrete projects as required by program leadership.

[1] This list is illustrative and not intended to be a complete classification of all job functions or tasks.

Additional Role-Specific Details: 

Position Type

Full-time, non-exempt

Reports To

Deputy Program Director or Co-Program Director

Supervisory Responsibility

N/A

Hiring Timeline

Priority will be given to applications submitted by February 23, 2025. After this date, applications will be reviewed continuously until the position is filled.

Salary [2]

$47,500-$54,500

[2] In 2018 Amica Center implemented a compensation framework to be more straightforward, transparent, and provide assurance of internal equity. The compensation model we use is based on an individual's position and years of relevant work experience to avoid salary discrepancies and to reduce the risk of racial, gender, or other forms of bias affecting a candidate's salary.

Location and/or Travel Requirements

This position can be based in either the Washington, DC or Baltimore, MD office. Due to business related travel expectations, it is recommended candidates live within 30-miles of their assigned primary office.

Telework

Amica Center operates a hybrid work environment. Most staff are required to work at least one day per week in-office, but some roles require more office/on-site attendance or travel.

COVID-19 Vaccination

All employees are required to be fully vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19. To be fully vaccinated means having completed the full dosages required for the type of vaccine obtained as designated by the CDC. If boosters are subsequently recommended by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) then employees will be required to receive the booster within thirty (30) days of their eligibility to access the boosters.

Benefits 

Amica Center’s benefits package includes: 

• Free gym access located in Washington, D.C or Baltimore, MD (dependent on employee’s primary office).
• Flexible working hours after successful completion of trainings and with approval of supervisor.
• Pre-tax commuter benefits for those living in the DMV.
• Subsidized health, dental insurance, and vision insurance (Amica Center pays a very high rate of the insurance package, for which we can provide additional information).
• Work issued cell phone. 
• Life Insurance valued at $50,000, as well as long- and short-term disability.
• The option to set up a Flexible Spending Account.
• High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) with a one-time employer contribution of $350 to the Health Savings Account (HSA).
• The option to set up a 403(b) account (the equivalent of a 401(k) account for non-profits) which the organization has the option, for all employees on an annual basis, to match at a certain percentage after one year of continuous employment.

Paid time off includes: 

• 23 personal days per calendar year
• Up to 20 days of sick time per calendar year
• 7 hours of volunteer time off
• Federal holidays
• Paid winter break closure
• 12 weeks of parental leave 

At Amica Center, we embrace the fact that talented individuals come from diverse backgrounds and life experiences. We believe that diversity in all dimensions of the organization supports and bolsters the innovative thinking essential to our success. Amica Center values your unique perspectives, skills, and potential, and we are committed to providing equal opportunities for growth and development. If you are passionate about Amica Center's mission and are excited to contribute your talents to our team, we encourage you to submit your application. Candidates from traditionally underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply. If you are a candidate with a disability and require accommodations to apply for this position, please contact us at HR@amicacenter.org. 

EEO Statement

Amica Center for Immigrants’ Rights is an equal opportunity employer. In accordance with anti-discrimination law, it is the purpose of this policy to effectuate these principles and mandates. Amica Center prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type and affords equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Amica Center conforms to the spirit as well as to the letter of all applicable laws and regulations.

Our Anti-Racism Statement:

To learn more about our anti-racist statement click here. 

How to Apply

Submit your resume, a cover letter that explains your interest in this role, and a writing sample with your Paylocity application.  

Requirements

Competencies Required:

Substantive Proficiency 

The Program Associate is able to understand the basic requirements of DAP’s various contracts and grants such that they are able to provide meaningful support to team leads and the Grants and Programs Manager, in internal tracking and external reporting. The Program Associate will maintain systems of internal reporting and will liaise with legal and social services regarding complying with systems requirements. The PA will implement new systems when areas for improvement are identified. The Program Associate will demonstrate a growing understanding of CAIR Coalition’s practices in the culturally competent provision of legal services and will support the Grants Manager and other staff in formal and informal advocacy for grant opportunities.

The Program Associate demonstrates a growing understanding of financial, operational, and grant management concepts at a level that allows them to function with moderate supervision. The Program Associate will be required to interact with internal staff and external stakeholders in regard to expenses, invoicing, and other administrative functions related to the day-to-day expenditures of the DAP team, The program associate will put into practice newly learned concepts and techniques. 

Programmatic Proficiency

The Program Associate properly prioritizes tasks and projects with minimal oversight and carries out tasks and projects effectively and efficiently. These tasks include including depositing funds on detention center accounts for legal and social service needs; engaging in group bookings for conferences and other functions; streamlining access to DAP Credit Card for ad hoc client and staff purchases; and timely reconciling the same. The Program Associate demonstrates a firm understanding of contractual obligations and self-sufficiency in program management responsibilities. 

Administrative

The Program Associate ensures that all administrative aspects of their position are carried out with limited supervisory support, including file and database upkeep, reporting requirements, and facility visit preparation and breakdown, etc.

Qualifications Required:

• Strong ability to plan and prioritize tasks, time management skills with the ability to prioritize and maintain deadlines. 
• Competency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and database management. 
• Basic bookkeeping experience. 
• Detail-oriented with excellent problem-solving, organizational, and time-management skills. 
• Favorable results on background check including driving record, and state and federal criminal records. 
• Ability to work independently. 
• Ability to handle and prioritize a large volume of requests. 
• Excellent written and spoken communication skills. 
• Strong desire to contribute to a team environment.
• The candidate must possess a valid driver's license and be comfortable operating a vehicle upon hiring. This role requires travel, but qualified individuals with disabilities may be accommodated in a reasonable manner under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Preferred Qualifications

• Written and oral Spanish fluency preferred. 
• No experience necessary but prefer 1-3 years of relevant experience in program management support or at an immigration legal services organization. 
• Prefer some experience working in an office setting, but not required.

Salary : $47,500 - $54,500