Job Overview:

The Asylum Seekers & Families (ASF) Policy and Advocacy Manager will oversee and coordinate IRC’s efforts to maintain and expand high quality humanitarian reception and humane border policy for asylum seeking families and individuals in Arizona. This position has statewide and cross-border related scope. As such, they will remain in close communication with IRC staff in both Phoenix and Tucson and with other involved entities to ensure strong collaboration and coordination and to minimize duplication and overlap of efforts. They will stay fully informed of all developments related to asylum seeker patterns across the state and represent IRC in interagency discussions and efforts. They will support development and advocacy efforts to grow IRC’s services for asylum seekers in Arizona and development of human and financial resources to sustain the program for the future to continue to strive to raise the bar for services provided to asylum seekers in the Arizona.

Major Responsibilities:

• Develop and maintain strategic community partnerships with other service providers, government agencies, international aid agencies, local community organizations, faith-based groups, foundations, employers, and other key stakeholders.
• Identify potential partner, community resource, and donor support for advocacy, policy analysis, and asylum programming statewide, as well as opportunities for internal collaboration to expand services, in close partnership with the ASF Director.
• Advocate at the city, state, and national levels on behalf of asylum programming, policy, and support needs, in line with IRC HQ approved talking points and policy strategy.
• Create and oversee ASF content online (website, social media platforms) in line with IRC standards.
• Coordinate regularly with the ASF Director and IRC Director of Asylum Policy to maintain coordinated public messaging.
• Facilitate donor engagement at the Welcome Center in coordination with Welcome Center Senior Program Manager, including coordinating site tours and presentations in the community.
• Under the direction of the ASF Director, work closely with Development Director and Welcome Center Senior Program Manager to create a long-term fundraising strategy for the Welcome Center that is part of the office-wide Development strategy.
• Support partnerships and communication channels with community organizations, service providers, government entities, and faith-based groups.
• Represent IRC in community forums and stakeholder meetings, with transparency and accountability to local and HQ Communications and Advocacy departments.
• Work closely with the Welcome Center Senior Program Manager and other ASF program leads to ensure high quality IRC asylum seekers client data across all programs in Arizona is tracked and utilized to inform business development and advocacy activities.
• Support the ASF Director in identifying programming gaps for Asylum Seekers in Arizona and support in design of the Arizona ASF strategy.
• Comply with all IRC policies, procedures and protocols including adherence to the IRC Way and Child Safeguarding.​
• Other related duties as assigned.

Key Working Relationships:​

Position Reports to: ASF Director

Indirect Reporting to: Development Director
Position directly supervises: None at this time
Other Internal and/or external contacts:

Internal: Work in tandem with Development and Community Engagement & Advocacy Team for resource development and community engagement, Welcome Center Senior Program Manager and program leads of Arizona ASF Programs, Grant Manager, IRC RAI TAs and Policy + Advocacy leads on asylum and cross-border work, IRC staff, interns, and volunteers.

External: Local, state, and federal government agency counterparts, partner organizations for advocacy and policy analysis and community entities also involved in asylum seeker services.

Job Requirements:

Education:

Undergraduate and graduate degree preferred ideally in a social work, immigration, or international related field of study.

Work Experience:

Five or more years of related professional experience; preferably with a non-profit or social service organization.

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

• Demonstrated understanding of the U.S. immigration system and stakeholders, particularly the U.S. asylum system; awareness of and commitment to the rights and realities of immigrant communities in the U.S. and the overall region with a special focus on the Southwest and Arizona, particularly along the U.S.-Mexico border.
• Demonstrated understanding of fiscal management and reporting.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to communicate with limited-English speakers in a multi-cultural environment.​
• Advanced computer proficiency with an emphasis on Microsoft Office applications and desktop publishing. (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Teams, Outlook).
• Highly organized self-starter with proven success prioritizing multiple tasks, making critical decisions, and delivering results in a fast-paced environment with tight deadlines.
• Strategic, creative, problem solver capable of working well independently and as a part of a team.
• Strong attention to detail with the ability to prioritize and manage time effectively.
• Flexibility with demonstrated ability to maintain responsibility for multiple tasks in the context of a diverse, fast-paced work environment.
• Strategic, creative, problem solver capable of working well independently and as a part of a team.

Language Skills:

Fluency in written and spoken English, bilingual ability preferred in Spanish, Portuguese or other refugee/immigrant language used in Arizona. Strong cross-cultural understanding and excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.

Certificates or Licenses:

• Must have a valid driver’s license, active insurance policy, access to reliable transportation and the ability to travel regularly throughout the service delivery area.
• In accordance with Arizona State Law, must possess or be eligible to receive a fingerprint clearance card.

Working Environment:**

Standard office working environment with the possibility of partial remote work. Some travel throughout service delivery area. Working some evenings and weekends may be required.

Posted pay ranges apply to US-based candidates. Ranges are based on various factors including the labor market, job type, internal equity, and budget. Exact offers are calibrated by work location, individual candidate experience and skills relative to the defined job requirements.

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusivity: IRC is committed to building a diverse organization and a climate of inclusivity. We strongly encourage applications from candidates who can demonstrate that they can contribute to this goal.

Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances.

Professional Standards: The IRC and IRC staff must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Global Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti-Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

Equal Opportunity Employer: We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

US Benefits: We offer a comprehensive and highly competitive set of benefits. In the US, these include: 10 sick days, 10 US holidays, 20-25 paid time off days (depending on role and tenure), medical insurance starting at $145 per month, dental starting at $7 per month, and vision starting at $5 per month, FSA for healthcare, childcare, and commuter costs, a 403b retirement savings plans with up to 4.5% immediately vested matching contribution, plus a 3-7% base IRC contribution (3 year vesting), disability & life insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program which is available to our staff and their families to support counseling and care in times of crisis and mental health struggles.