Program Director – Workers’ Rights

Location: Hybrid work schedule (Oakland or San Francisco, CA).
Due Date: Applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible, and applications will be considered on a rolling basis. Applications are due by June 30, 2024.
Start date: As soon as possible.
Type: Regular, Full-Time, Exempt, Management Position.
Compensation: The annual compensation depends on years of relevant experience and ranges from $130,000 to $174,709.

Benefits
The Asian Law Caucus’ (ALC) comprehensive benefits package includes generous vacation and paid holidays; medical, dental, disability, and life insurance coverage (ALC pays 100% of premiums for employees and 75% for qualified dependents); a flexible spending account (FSA); and a 401K retirement plan with employer non-elective contribution and match.

The Opportunity
ALC currently seeks an experienced attorney to assume the pivotal role of Program Director of our esteemed Workers’ Rights Program. This position offers a unique opportunity to lead a dynamic team dedicated to advocating for the rights of low-income immigrant workers.

The selected candidate will spearhead our efforts to address a broad spectrum of workplace issues, including, but not limited to, race and national origin discrimination, retaliation, wage and hour disputes, and unemployment insurance benefit appeals. Integral to this role is the cultivation and maintenance of strategic partnerships with worker centers to support workplace organizing and foster worker-led campaigns.

The Program Director will lead a team comprising two staff attorneys, a community advocate, and a paralegal. The ideal candidate will possess significant legal expertise in immigrant workers’ rights and demonstrate an essential understanding of the nuanced challenges our clients face. ALC’s Director of Programs supervises this position.

In assuming this leadership role, the Director will play a vital role in shaping the strategic direction of the program, leveraging their expertise to propel ALC’s mission forward. This entails formulating and executing strategic goals designed to advance the welfare of immigrant workers and safeguard their rights within the workplace. We invite qualified candidates who are driven by a commitment to social justice and immigrant workers’ rights to join us in this critical work.

The Organization
ALC is the nation’s first legal organization focusing on advancing and defending the civil rights of Asian American and Pacific Islander (API) communities, including Arab and Middle Eastern communities (AMEMSA). Since 1972, ALC has ensured access to affordable housing in San Francisco’s Chinatown, litigated high-profile civil rights cases, advocated for the passage of landmark policy changes, and provided an array of services, including community education, advocacy, and direct client representation to further the rights of low-income immigrants and communities of color. Current program areas include Workers’ Rights, National Security & Civil Rights, Housing Rights, Immigrant Rights, Community Safety, and Voting Rights.

Responsibilities

External

• Develop and engage in public policy advocacy, impact litigation, and direct representation to advance a workers’ rights agenda on the local, state, and federal levels
• Develop and consistently maintain technical expertise on workers’ rights issues that impact our clients and communities
• Establish and deepen relationships with grassroots partners, advocacy and legal organizations, and government agencies to address immigrant workers’ rights issues
• Provide legal support for worker-led and/or worker-center-supported campaigns
• Develop community engagement, strategies, education, and outreach strategies in collaboration with the Community Advocacy Manager, and ensure successful execution
• Be an ambassador for the program and the organization, and effectively communicate ALC’s breadth of work in various fora, including conferences, coalitions, and community meetings
• In partnership with the Executive Director and Development Director, engage with funders, including providing regular written analyses and identifying new opportunities

Internal

• Develop and oversee the implementation of program goals and strategies in collaboration with the Senior Leadership Team, including the Director of Programs, Legal Director, Policy Director, and Communications Director
• Create a strategy screen to vet new opportunities and work with the Legal Director and Senior Counsel to develop and oversee ongoing impact litigation and the provision of direct legal services
• Recruit, hire, supervise, and mentor program staff, including staff attorneys and Community Advocates
• Identify intersecting work with other programs; lead, model, and promote a healthy culture of collaboration and accountability for the organization and for the team
• Develop and monitor a budget in partnership with the Finance Director that aligns with the program’s goals and the organization’s mission
• Work closely with the Development staff on grant proposals, reporting, and fundraising events
• Perform other duties as needed

All ALC staff are expected to participate in regular check-in meetings with their supervisor/supervisees, staff meetings, team meetings, and other organization meetings, as required. This includes two (2) annual retreats, an anniversary celebration dinner, and meetings as needed in the San Francisco Bay area.

The above statements are not intended to encompass all functions of the position; rather, they are intended to provide a general framework of the requirements of the position. Job incumbents may be required to perform other functions not specifically addressed in this posting.

Qualifications

• J.D. degree and California bar membership, required
• Minimum of eight (8) years relevant experience in employment/workers’ rights law, with a legal services, policy advocacy, or state/federal court litigation approach; ideally with familiarity in practicing in a nonprofit organization
• Excellent legal skills, taking and defending depositions, law and motion work, and discovery
• Excellent research, analytical, written, and oral communication skills with the ability to tailor the message to the audience
• Three to five (3-5) years of experience managing and supervising staff, and managing a team
• Familiarity with the intersection of workers rights and other issues, such as immigration, national security and civil rights, and housing, a plus
• Ability to conduct long-term visioning and strategic planning, both for the program and the organization
• Demonstrated leadership and ability to work independently and in collaboration with other attorneys, community advocates, and community-based organizations
• Demonstrated commitment to building power for and with grassroots communities
• Experience working with AMEMSA and API community members impacted by the immigration and/or criminal legal system is highly desired
• Problem solver and team player with a sense of humor
• Non-English language skills in AMEMSA and/or Asian languages are a plus, but not required

Application Process
Interested candidates should apply by June 30, 2024, including the following as PDF attachments: Program Director Application

• Cover letter explaining your interest in the position
• Resume
• Writing sample (no more than ten (10) pages)
• Three (3) professional references

Senior Staff Attorney or Staff Attorney – Workers’ Rights

Type: Regular, Exempt, Full-time, position
Location: Hybrid Work Schedule, Based in San Francisco or Oakland, CA
Deadline: Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until filled.
Compensation: This is a full-time, Exempt position. The annual compensation depends on years of relevant experience.
● The Staff Attorney’s salary range is $98,538 -$121,190 (for 5 to 12+ years of experience)
● The Senior Staff Attorney’s salary range is $106,000 -146,729 (for 7 to 18+ years of experience)
ALC offers an additional $1,000 annual compensation for proficiency in a language other than English and an additional $1,000 annual compensation for graduate degree(s).
ALC’s comprehensive benefits package includes the following: generous vacation and paid holidays; medical, dental, disability, and life insurance coverage (ALC pays 100% of premiums for employees and 75% for qualified dependents); a flexible spending account (FSA); and 401(k) retirement plan with employer non-elective contribution and match. This position is included in the collective bargaining unit represented by CWA Local 9410.

The Opportunity
Advancing Justice – Asian Law Caucus (ALC) is hiring a Senior Staff Attorney (with a minimum of seven years’ experience) or Staff Attorney (with a minimum of five years’ experience) to work in ALC’s Workers’ Rights Program to advocate for low-income immigrant workers. Following ALC’s multi-pronged approach, the Senior Staff or Staff Attorney’s work will include handling direct service cases on a wide range of workplace issues, including wage and hour, race and national origin discrimination, retaliation, health and safety, and unemployment insurance benefit appeals; providing legal support for worker center partners to promote and support workplace organizing and worker-led campaigns; working on related impact litigation that grows out of our direct service or community work; and assisting with community outreach and education about workplace rights. Senior Staff Attorneys are expected to develop and lead direct service and impact litigation cases, mission-aligned policy initiatives and/or other advocacy projects for low-income workers. Both positions report to the Workers’ Rights Program Manager.

The Organization
ALC is the nation’s first legal organization focusing on advancing and defending the civil rights of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Since 1972, ALC has litigated high-profile civil rights cases, advocated for the passage of landmark policy changes, and provided an array of services, including community education, advocacy, and direct client representation to further the rights of low-income immigrants and communities of color. Current program areas include Workers’ Rights, Immigrant Rights, Housing Rights, Community Safety Program, National Security & Civil Rights, and Voting Rights. A growing staff of 50+ provides strong collegial support and opportunities to learn about and collaborate with other program areas. ALC is a founding member of the national Asian Americans Advancing Justice affiliation with partners in Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, and Washington, D.C.
ALC is based in San Francisco, a hub of the Asian American rights movement, progressive politics, and social justice activism. Our location in Chinatown is the first mixed-use, affordable housing co-op in San Francisco, serving as a model for preserving affordable housing in the city and protecting tenants’ rights.

Responsibilities
Day-to-day activities include the following:
● Manage direct service caseload representing low-wage workers and provide high-quality legal representation to clients
● Provide legal support for worker-led and/or worker-center-supported campaigns
● Build, work in, and maintain strategic community partnerships with grassroots organizations to address immigrant workers’ rights issues collaboratively
● Identify systemic problems through direct services work and participate in resulting litigation and advocacy efforts to advance pro-worker agenda on local, state, or federal levels
● Develop and litigate impact cases, including class actions, in state and federal court
● Participate in community education and outreach efforts
● Collaborate with Communications staff to develop stories with ALC clients and their communities and execute narrative-shifting strategies
● Supervise community advocates, paralegals, law clerks, and other volunteers on legal cases

All ALC staff are expected to participate in regular check-in meetings with their supervisor/supervisees, staff meetings, team meetings, and other organization meetings, as required.
Note: This job description is subject to change and is not intended to constitute a contract.

Desired Qualifications
● B.A./B.S. and J.D. degrees. California bar membership required
● Demonstrated commitment to advancing the rights of low-income, people of color, immigrant, or worker communities
● Substantive legal experience in labor and employment law
● Experience in providing legal services and/or conducting state/federal court litigation; a minimum of five (5) years of experience for Staff Attorney and a minimum of seven (7) years of  experience for Senior Staff Attorney.
● Excellent research, analytical, written, and oral communication skills
● Demonstrated ability to manage multiple cases and projects in a timely manner
● Highly motivated self-starter
● Demonstrated leadership and ability to work independently and in collaboration with other attorneys, advocates, and community-based organizations
● Bilingual skills are a plus but not required

Application Process
Interested candidates should submit via email to jobs@advancingjustice-alc.org (as PDF attachments).
(1) cover letter explaining your interest in the position
(2) resume
(3) writing sample (no more than 10 pages)
(4) three professional references
Please indicate which type of position you are applying for, using either “Senior Staff Attorney, Workers’ Rights Program” or “Staff Attorney, Workers’ Rights Program” in the subject field. ALC reserves the right to suggest that your qualifications are better aligned with the other position and invite you to be considered for that one instead. Advancing Justice – Asian Law Caucus is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified persons are encouraged to apply, regardless of race, color, religion, religious creed (including religious dress and grooming practices), national origin, ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition (including HIV, cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, marital or domestic partner status, reproductive health decision-making, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions) gender (including gender identity and gender expression), age (40 years and over), sexual orientation, veteran and/or military status, protected medical leaves (requesting or approved for leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act or the California Family Rights Act), domestic violence victim and survivor status, political affiliation, height, weight, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local laws.