Make the Road New York (MRNY) builds the power of immigrant and working-class communities to achieve dignity and justice through organizing, policy innovation, transformative education, and survival services. Make the Road New York operates community centers in Bushwick, Brooklyn; Jackson Heights, Queens; Port Richmond, Staten Island; Brentwood, Long Island and White Plains, Westchester County. With a membership of over 24,000, MRNY tackles the critical issues facing our communities, including workplace justice, tenants’ rights, immigrant and civil rights, public education, health care access, policing, and TGNCIQ justice. (TGNCIQ = transgender, gender non-conforming, intersex and queer)
MRNY is a multi-service organization. Our member-led organizing committees - which work on the issues named above - implement strategies to combat shared problems and develop leadership and the capacity for civic participation. We also provide an array of high-quality bilingual services: English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), Spanish-language literacy, computer literacy, citizenship preparation, and in-school and after-school youth programs. Our health department offers facilitated enrollment into health insurance programs and SNAP benefits, a community health worker home visit program, nutrition education and emergency food pantries, health care navigation, and more. We have a robust legal program that offers direct representation across a spectrum of practice areas, including employment law, immigration law, housing and benefits, and TGNCIQ civil rights; we also take on impact litigation as a strategy for achieving broad change.
Legal and Support Services at Make the Road New York:
The Department of Legal and Support Services at MRNY works to strengthen the organization’s organizing work by (1) helping to envision and implement strategies (including strategic litigation) that support our organizing campaigns; (2) providing technical legal support for policy work; and (3) providing legal and support services to meet the immediate needs of the community members who MRNY serves. The Department currently employs approximately 45 attorneys and advocates. Our legal team is integrated into all aspects of the organization’s work.
Current Opening:
We are hiring an Immigration Intake Specialist to join and support our dynamic immigration team. The Intake Specialist will focus on managing and facilitating internal and external referrals, troubleshooting general inquiries, escalating complex legal questions as needed, and offering general information about our services and practice areas to clients and community members. MRNY staff are currently working under a hybrid model, which requires a minimum of three days per week in their designated home office. While a home office is assigned after hire, there may be a need for in-person work, such as but not limited to joining staff meetings, meeting with clients and members in person, or other tasks outside of your home office. The home office may be any of our community centers: Brooklyn, Queens, Westchester, Staten Island, Long Island (Suffolk).
This position is included in a Union-represented collective bargaining unit, and specific employment terms and conditions are subject to collective bargaining.
Job responsibilities will include:
Manage and review incoming referrals to the immigration team and facilitate internal and external referrals based on client’s needs
Conduct preliminary consultations with potential clients and gather necessary information to determine eligibility for our legal services
Troubleshoot general inquiries, escalating complex legal questions as needed
Serve as a resource to individuals referred to our team by offering information about our services and practice areas
Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of client interactions and referrals
Schedule appointments for individuals to meet with the immigration team
Entering and tracking client information in databases and grant management systems, including completing relevant intake forms according to funder requirements.
Requirements:
High school diploma or equivalent experience
2 years of experience working in a legal or customer-facing setting
Spanish language proficiency
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
Strong organizational and time management skills
Experience with populations that make up major portions of Make the Road’s membership is a plus – such as documented and undocumented immigrants, individuals facing domestic violence, members of TGNCIQ communities, those who have experienced the criminal legal system, and youth
Desire to work collaboratively
Preferences:
Relevant lived experience, including, but not limited to, having been a member of a low-income, immigrant community
Experience working in a community-based organization
Facility using Salesforce or a similar case-management system, calendar software, and cloud-based storage systems
Knowledge of immigration law and processes
Prior experience as an accredited representative is a plus
Salary and Benefits:
Starting salary is calculated on a step scale based on years of experience. Generous package of vacation, personal and sick days. Excellent health and dental coverage and family leave policies. The salary range for this position will be from $61,808 to $63,960
How to Apply:
Please attach your resume and cover letter and submit all documents to the Make the Road New York career center.
MRNY is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse staff. Women, TGNCIQ people, people with disabilities, and BIPOC strongly encouraged to apply. All qualified applicants will be afforded equal employment opportunities without discrimination because of race, creed, color, national origin, sex, age, genetic information, disability or marital status.
