Managing Attorney

Overview

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities.

A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

This job posting was opened on 4/10/25. Please note that we will be prioritizing candidates who are current IRC (and recently employed by IRC) staff before other applicants. If necessary, we will extend the opportunity to external candidates.

IRC BACKGROUND:

The IRC’s Resettlement, Asylum and Integration (RAI) department creates opportunities for refugees and other vulnerable migrants to survive and thrive in the US. RAI serves nearly 50,000 individuals each year in the US through a diverse portfolio of programs aimed at achieving outcomes in five impact areas:
Health, Safety, Economic Wellbeing, Education, and Power.

IRC seeks a Managing Attorney to lead and supervise a team of attorneys and Department of Justice (DOJ) accredited representatives based in Oakland, Sacramento, and Turlock. All attorneys and DOJ accredited representatives provide affirmative services. In addition, removal defense services are provided in Turlock and Sacramento. IRC in Northern California also has a team comprised solely of Department of Justice Accredited Representatives, who are supervised by the Senior Immigration Program Manager.

The two teams work closely together.

The Managing Attorney will oversee immigration legal services being provided by attorneys and DOJ accredited representatives in Northern California (Sacramento, Oakland, and Turlock). Legal services include asylum, removal defense, and low-cost services to refugees, immigrants, and other community member seeking adjustment of status, family reunification, naturalization, and other immigration benefits. The Managing Attorney will work closely with the Senior Immigration Program Manager on funding and strategy for legal services in Northern California.

The Managing Attorney will bring not only legal expertise and a passion for this area of work, but also the ability to motivate and mentor a team of legal professionals in a dynamic and fast-paced environment. The position will work in close collaboration with a range of community partners and the Legal Services Technical Unit (TU) at IRC’s headquarters, which oversees IRC’s 24 legal service programs across the US, including four offices that have removal defense programs.

• Oversee legal strategy through daily direct supervision of a team of legal practitioners, including attorneys and Department of Justice-accredited representatives.
• Employ adaptive management techniques to provide regular individual supervision and support; mentor staff, set clear performance expectations and goals, give regular performance feedback, help prioritize workloads, help troubleshoot challenges, and maintain appropriate professional development plans.
• Develop and monitor intake procedures, case acceptance policies, and caseload targets and limits.
• Provide direct legal representation to a limited caseload of individuals in immigration court, before the Board of Immigration Appeals, and/or before USCIS,
• Actively co-facilitate and support grant opening, grant review, and grant closing meetings, and lead all aspects of grant cycle, including developing/implementing monitoring & evaluation plans.
• Ensure program data is collected consistently, managed appropriately and reported timely, using IRC’s legal case management database and other relevant case management systems.
• Ensure effective integration of…