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 Governance Department supports AILA’s leadership and decision-making structures, including the Board, Chapters, Regions and key committees. It leads efforts related to leadership cultivation and recognition, manages committee selection processes, and ensures governance activities are inclusive, transparent, and aligned with AILA’s values.

Position Summary

The Volunteer Engagement Manager is responsible for managing AILA’s leadership cultivation and recognition processes, including committee assignments, elections, and member recognition programs. This role ensures consistency, transparency, and operational excellence across complex annual cycles and serves as a central coordinator for governance timelines tied to AILA’s new regional and national governance structure.

Essential Job Functions

Volunteer Selection and Recognition Programs - 50%

• Oversee the annual committee assignment process, including timelines, volunteer and staff communications, facilitating committee selection meetings with Officers, and maintaining relevant webpages, in collaboration with Governance Coordinator
• Manage and maintain AILA’s talent database, ensuring data integrity and accuracy of members’ interests, skills, experience, and demographics to support leadership cultivation and selection
• Staff and support the Awards Committee including agenda development, writing minutes, and follow-up on action items
• Oversee and monitor the Volunteers shared inbox throughout the year, serving as the first responder to inquiries from members and staff and escalating issues as needed
• Lead member recognition initiatives, including awards nomination and selection processes at the Chapter, Regional, and National level from call for award nominations through final recognition

Nominations & Elections - 50%

• Staff and support the Elections Judges and Nominating Committee including agenda development, writing minutes, and follow-up on action items
• Serve as back up to the Elections shared inbox, responding to elections-related inquiries and escalating complex or sensitive issues as needed
• Administer and manage AILA’s annual nominations and elections process in accordance with established bylaws, election rules, and governance policies, elevating matters requiring policy interpretation or exception as needed
• Oversee ballot configuration and testing processes and prepare materials for final certification
• Manage candidate coordination throughout the election lifecycle, including eligibility verification, nomination and petition workflows, communications, deadlines, and procedural guidance
• Coordinate and support candidate forums and election-related informational sessions, including scheduling, logistics, technology support, and alignment with election rules
• Manage all election-related communications, including coordination with the website and communications teams on candidate materials, timelines, voting instructions, and member-facing announcements
• Ensure accurate documentation, auditability, and record retention for all election activities, including ballots, candidate materials, and official results

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.

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in volunteer engagement, association management, or related fields
• Experience managing complex timelines and multi-stakeholder processes
• Strong understanding of association best practices for working with volunteer leaders
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build trust-based relationships with volunteer leaders and internal staff
• Proven project management and organizational skills, including the ability to manage multiple deadlines and coordinate logistics for calls, meetings, and resource updates
• Attention to detail and follow-through in a fast-paced, remote or hybrid environment
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, SharePoint); familiarity with tools such as Zoom, Teams, and project management systems, such as Smartsheet to track deadlines, manage workflows, and coordinate across teams

Occasional travel is required related to job responsibilities. Participation in the AILA annual conference and quarterly in-person board meetings is a job requirement. 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.