Senior Program Associate, Advancing Universal Representation

Vera’s Advancing Universal Representation initiative (UREP) is dedicated to promoting due process in the immigration system by establishing a universal right to representation for immigrants facing deportation and promoting an end to civil immigration detention. While people accused of crimes are entitled to government-funded counsel to assist in their defense, immigrants facing deportation are not. As a result, most immigrants criminalized by the criminal legal and immigration systems go unrepresented and face detention and the prospects of deportation alone. For people in immigration detention, the challenges of accessing counsel and navigating the complexities of immigration court are especially harsh. 

UREP promotes sensible, humane policy advancements that promote fairness in our immigration system and envisions a future in which people at risk of deportation can understand their legal rights and navigate their cases with the support of their families and loved ones, free of detention or surveillance. UREP advances this work through partnership, program implementation, research, and integrated federal and state campaigns that build upon Vera’s more than 20 years of immigration work. UREP’s Safety and Fairness for Everyone (SAFE) Network forms a powerful cohort of jurisdictions supported by Vera to advance this work at the local and state level. The Fairness to Freedom Campaign, which seeks to pass legislation establishing a statutory right to government-provided representation for people at risk of deportation, forms the team’s long-term policy goal.  

The senior program associate will support UREP’s programmatic and policy goals of advancing publicly funded universal representation programs at the state and local level and UREP’s advocacy to secure these investments. The senior program associate will engage in policy and advocacy to support efforts to address the criminalization of immigrants and eliminate civil immigration detention. 

• Serve as a subject matter expert to team in developing resources, policy drafting and analysis, legislation, and advocacy.  
• Support policy and advocacy efforts that advance access to counsel as a policy tool, and, where applicable, policies that reduce the pipeline between the criminal legal and immigration systems and end immigration detention. 
• Manage the preparation of information and/or lead background research and literature reviews for reports. Write up results and integrate into public-facing products including reports, advocacy documents, or other publications  
• Create and advise on accessible explainers, fact sheets, briefings, and testimony that distill complex legal and policy analyses for various audiences. 
• Provide legislative support, research, or testimony in support of existing coalitions or allied organizations. 
• Research, develop and draft technical assistance products, model policies, fact sheets, and other educational materials. 
• Present on Vera’s work at conferences, on webinars, and other external events. 
• Present at internal Vera events (department meetings, “brown bag” discussions, etc.) 

• Support hiring and recruitment of associates, analysts, assistants, and/or interns, as needed, and assist in their onboarding to the initiative 
• Supervise and/or mentor associates, analysts, assistants, and/or interns 
• Invest in the professional development of team members 
• Collaborate with internal departments (advocacy, communications, legal, finance, people, place, and culture, IT, etc.), when necessary 

Required: 

• Bachelor’s degree and 4 plus years of relevant experience.  In lieu of degree requirement, applicable work or life experience may be considered 
• At least four years of legal, government, advocacy, or policy work experience. 
• Recent experience representing immigrants in removal proceedings as an attorney or Department of Justice Accredited Representative.  
• Strong familiarity with the immigration legal system and/or immigration policy through lived or work experience.  

Preferred:  

• A JD or graduate degree in public policy or another relevant field  
• Subject matter expertise in the topics relevant to the project’s area of focus 
• Experience analyzing federal and state legislative and regulatory policy, or experience with legislative drafting  
• Experience engaging local governments and broad coalitions to build consensus on policy reform issues  

• Strong writing and legal analysis skills. 
• Strong public speaking and facilitation skills. 
• Strong inter-relational skills and experience working effectively in a large organization with multiple stakeholders  
• Diplomacy.  
• Flexibility, adaptability, and productivity in a changing political environment.  
• Ability to consider multiple perspectives, think critically, provide an analysis, evaluate risk, and implement solutions to complex problems.  
• An uncompromising commitment to immigrants’ rights and racial equity.  
• Attention to detail, excellent organizational skills, and the ability to manage work on multiple projects independently and efficiently. 

Please note this role will report to our Brooklyn, NY; Washington, DC, or Los Angeles, CA office. Vera employees adhere to a hybrid schedule and are in-office on an alternating schedule that generally amounts to 10 days per month.

ATTN: People, Place, and Culture / [JOBTITLE]
Vera Institute of Justice
34 35th St, Suite 4-2A, Brooklyn, NY 11232
Fax: (212) 941-9407
Please use only one method (online, mail or fax) of submission.
No phone calls, please. Only applicants selected for interviews will be contacted.

Vera is an equal opportunity 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. 

Vera works to advance justice, particularly racial justice, in an increasingly multicultural country and globally connected world. We value diverse experiences, including with regard to educational background and justice system contact, and depend on a diverse staff to carry out our mission. 

For more information about Vera, please visit www.vera.org.