Position Overview
Succeeding a passionate and dedicated Executive Director who ensured the
organization’s solid foundation for years to come, the new Executive Director will step
into an exciting opportunity to lead Las America’s efforts to restore humanity to the U.S.
asylum and immigration systems. The Executive Director will lead and be supported by
a dedicated and diverse team fiercely committed to advocating for justice for immigrants
and asylum seekers. From staff to volunteers to its board of directors, Las Americas
boasts a team that is fully onboard with its mission. The Executive Director will be part
of this mission while working at the forefront of the challenges of our current immigration
system and experiencing firsthand the realities at the U.S.-Mexico border. Since Las
Americas is grounded in El Paso, the Executive Director will have an opportunity to
work on local border policy and practices as well as national.
The Board of Directors shall hire the Executive Director.
The Executive Director will be responsible for the following:
● Being on the forefront of advocacy- The Executive Director will participate in
public presentations (written/verbal), build coalitions and collaborative
relationships with other organizations interested in helping immigrants, engage in
communication (verbal/written) with multiple stakeholders including elected
officials and their staff in a bipartisan way, maintain open, transparent, and
trauma-informed communications with the public, the media, potential donors,
and any other stakeholders. The Executive Director will also facilitate client
relations in problematic/high-profile cases.
● Maintaining financial health of the agency- The Executive Director will participate
in grant writing and grant report writing, including the search for new, potential
funding sources. The Executive Director may outsource grant writing, if the
budget allows for it, but will still maintain oversight over grant writing.
Fundraising, including the coordinating of at least one annual fundraising event,
other fundraising campaigns and keeping in touch with donors. The Executive
Director can outsource fundraising, if the budget allows for it, but will maintain
oversight of fundraising. The Executive Director must ensure that funds are
growing on an annual basis. Financial Management, including oversight of
bookkeeping, tax paying, and overseeing the independent annual accounting
audit. The Executive Director can outsource bookkeeping, if the budget allows for
it. The Executive Director will also maintain appropriate insurance coverage for
the organization, contract with vendors, service providers, and/or equipment
distributors, and safekeep and dispose of records properly.
● Fostering a diverse, supportive, positive, and inclusive work environment - The
Executive Director will be responsible for staff hiring and management of Human
Resources. The Executive Director will promote a trauma-informed, diverse, and
positive socio-cultural climate within the workplace to ensure that all staff
members feel valued, supported, and are thriving. The Executive Director will
engage in quality control on Las Americas’ staff productivity through regular
qualitative review.
The Executive Director works with Las Americas’ Board of Directors to enable the
Board’s governance function and ensure its long-term sustainability through fundraising
efforts both in the community and nationwide. The Executive Director will act as a
liaison between the Board of Directors and staff.
The Executive Director must have experience relevant to the needs and specific
challenges of the migration, refugee, and/or asylum process, combined with an
empathetic understanding of the root causes of migration. He/she/they must be able to
navigate on-the-ground needs in the El Paso-Juarez border community with the
far-reaching challenges of this current political environment. Because of the diverse
challenges of the political landscape and its effects on immigration and the asylum
process, the Executive Director must have excellent judgment, be able to negotiate
effectively, communicate with a bipartisan stance, and build relationships in all arenas.
Since the organization thrives on donations and grants, effective fundraising experience
is also necessary.
The ideal candidate will possess the following:
● Demonstrated commitment to serve / background in advocacy
● Working knowledge of immigration law
● Leadership / management experience in the nonprofit sector
● College degree or equivalent experience
● Financial management knowledge/experience (taxes, budget, payroll)
● Grant-writing and/or fundraising experience
● Experience in legal services
● Strong organizational and administrative skills
● Knowledge of trauma-informed communication
● Technology literacy in software and databases
● Strong written, oral communication / public speaking skills
● Community outreach ability
● Spanish fluency required
A salary range of $90,000-$120,000 will be provided to the successful candidate,
commensurate with experience. The applicant must be willing to relocate to El Paso,
Texas.
● Health Insurance Benefits paid at 75%
● Flexible work environment
● Paid time off, includes personal, sick, vacation, and all federal holidays.
To Apply: Submit resume, cover letter, and 3 references.
We encourage applications from women, people of color, and bilingual and bicultural individuals, as well as members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities. Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center is an equal opportunity employer and offers equal employment opportunities in recruitment, selection, and advancement with no regard to race, cultural heritage, nationality, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, or any other status protected under the law.