Supervisory Policy and Practice Counsel at American Immigration Lawyers Association – Washington, Dist. Columbia

We Are

Headquartered in downtown, Washington, DC, the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) is an organization comprised of nearly 17,000 individual attorney members who practice and teach immigration law. For our members, we provide continuing legal education, information, advocacy, professional services, and expertise. Founded in 1946, AILA's mission is to promote justice, advocate for fair and reasonable immigration law and policy, advance the quality of immigration and nationality law and practice, and enhance the professional development of its members.

Department Summary

The Government Relations (GR) team advocates for immigration-related legislative, regulatory, and policy reforms before Congress and the executive branch, consistent with AILA's principles and priorities. The GR team tracks the development of law, policy and practice and prepares resources and information for AILA members.

Position Summary

The Supervisory Policy & Practice Counsel develops and advances AILA's executive branch and congressional policy and advocacy priorities and supports the management of the Government Relations team. The Supervisory Policy & Practice Counsel represents AILA before Congress and with the Administration, engages with press and media, and works with coalition partners, AILA members and committees. The Supervisory Policy & Practice Counsel contributes significantly to AILA's written work product, drafting and editing policy documents, practice pointers, bill text, legislative analysis, analysis of regulations, blogs, and online materials for a wide range of audiences. The Supervisory Policy & Practice Counsel supports the management of various functions of the GR Team including strategic planning, supervision and coordination of national committees, staff projects, and AILA volunteers. The Supervisory Policy & Practice Counsel provides support and assistance to individual AILA members with respect to substantive immigration law questions and information needs, monitors administrative developments, and reports on such developments to the AILA membership. This position will focus primarily on removal defense, enforcement policy, and humanitarian issues. This position supervises other GR Team staff, currently the Grassroots Advocacy Associate.

Essential Job Functions

Congressional and Administrative Advocacy - 25%

Actively participates in the development of AILA's legal and policy positions and overall advocacy strategy. Works with department directors, staff, AILA leadership, and national committees to identify emerging issues and make recommendations on key priorities. Lobbies Congress and executive branch officials. Works with AILA's membership and national committees to engage and build relationships with agency officials and influence government policy and practice. Represents AILA in national or regional coalitions and campaign efforts.

Policy and Legal Analysis - 25%

Shapes AILA's policy positions and makes recommendations on key priorities. Reviews, evaluates, and prepares written analysis on proposed regulations, legislation, and other policies to identify legal and policy issues. Drafts and contributes to the substantive content of AILA's policy and legislative work product.

GR Team management and support - 20%

Supervises Grassroots Advocacy Associate. Supports and supervises GR team programming on key activities such as membership engagement, grassroots, and education and staff programming.

Information Sharing and Education - 15%

Works with AILA's government relations, communications, and online content teams to develop, produce and review GR products. Drafts and reviews products to maximize AILA's impact materials with AILA members and the public. Educates AILA members and the public on AILA's positions at education events, public events, interviews with the media, and social media. Cultivates relations and works collaboratively with organizations that share a common advocacy purpose to advance AILA's priorities

Staff Resource to AILA volunteers and members - 15%

Manages selected AILA national and subject matter expert committees and other volunteer activities on liaison, policy and practice functions. Serves as a resource on policy and legislative matters for AILA committees and members.

The Supervisory Policy and Practice Counsel directly supervises two (2) staff members who assist AILA members on individual cases and specific practice issues. The position is accountable for total performance management of these positions including selection, termination, performance reviews, salary administration, and career development. The position works closely with the Government Relations management team on department matters.

Remote – The role is eligible for Remote work.

Our Remote Work Strategy is designed to ensure connection while minimizing costs and inconvenience. Talent residing within 50 miles of our National Office located in Washington, D.C., located in the nation's capital, will be given preference. For roles outside this, we seek candidates within 50 miles of a major airport. This strategy helps us enhance collaboration, optimize travel costs, and strengthen in-person engagement while ensuring we remain cost-effective and mission-driven. Candidates outside these areas may be considered on a case-by-case basis based on role requirements and organizational needs.

This role requires maintaining a professional demeanor in a hybrid/office work setting. Responsibilities include extended periods of sitting at a desk, frequent use of a PC workstation for prolonged hours, occasional verbal communication with team members and stakeholders via virtual platforms, and the possibility of lifting or moving items up to 25 pounds, though this is not likely to be a frequent requirement.

• Juris Doctor from an accredited law school.
• Five (5) years of immigration policy and/or general immigration law practice experience with an emphasis on removal, enforcement, and humanitarian issues.
• Demonstrated experience in program or project management and supervising professional staff. Capitol Hill experience, or experience working with administrative agencies or coalition organizations. Solid understanding of the legislative and agency policy-making processes. Prior experience in an association, member-service, or customer-service environment is helpful.

Occasional travel may be required based on business needs, including meetings, conferences, site visits, etc., with advance notice provided whenever possible. This travel could involve both domestic and international destinations, with overnight stays and weekend events included.

Compensation and Benefits The salary range provided reflects a reasonable estimate of the annual salary based on AILA's commitment to equitable and market-competitive pay. The actual salary offered will depend on several factors, including, but not limited to, relevant education, qualifications, years of experience, certifications or professional licenses, job-related skills, internal equity, and business needs.

Our compensation structure is based on industry-specific market data for similar-sized nonprofit organizations. Typically, individuals are hired at or near the starting point of the salary range for their role. Compensation decisions are made on a case-by-case basis, considering the unique facts and circumstances of each applicant.

Additionally, full-time and part-time employees working at least 20 hours per week on a regular basis are eligible to participate in AILA's comprehensive benefits program, which includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, an employee assistance program, a 401(k) retirement savings plan with matching contributions after 3 months of employment, generous paid time off, paid parental leave, professional development opportunities, and employer-paid life insurance and disability benefits.

Application Process

To ensure a complete application, all candidates must submit the required materials, including a resume and cover letter, through our application portal. As part of our interview process, candidates may be asked to participate in virtual interviews, which will require on-camera presence.

We are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible interview experience. If you require accommodations due to a disability or sincerely held religious beliefs—such as an alternative format or assistance during the interview—please let us know in advance, and we will make every effort to support your needs.

Eligibility to Work In compliance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, we are required to hire only individuals who are authorized to work in the United States. Applicants selected for employment will need to provide documentation verifying their eligibility to work in the U.S. without the need for employer sponsorship. AILA participates in E-Verify to confirm work authorization. For more information on E-Verify, please visit dhs.gov/E-Verify.

The American Immigration Lawyers Association ("AILA") is an equal-opportunity employer. We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply.