Chief Operating Officer & General Counsel (Non-Profit) - Immigrant Defenders Law Center

Brief Description

Immigrant Defenders Law Center (“ImmDef”) is a next-generation, social justice law firm that provides high-quality representation, advocacy and legal services to immigrants in Southern California and beyond. ImmDef was founded on the belief that no immigrant should be forced to face an unjust immigration system alone. Learn more about us at www.immdef.org.

ImmDef seeks a dynamic and experienced Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel (COO/GC) with a strong commitment to social justice, proven leadership capabilities, and extensive legal expertise. As a key member of ImmDef’s executive leadership team, the COO/GC will provide oversight of administrative operations and legal functions while ensuring compliance and risk mitigation. Reporting directly to the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the COO/GC will play a critical role in advancing ImmDef’s mission and ensuring operational excellence.

Key responsibilities include:

Leadership and Strategy:

1. Serve as a key advisor to the CEO and executive leadership team, providing strategic legal and operational guidance to advance ImmDef’s mission and ensure that ImmDef continues to operate as a dynamic and forward-thinking organization.
2. Oversee administrative departments, including Human Resources (HR), Operations (Ops), Information Technology (IT), and other organizational functions.
3. Lead organizational initiatives related to compliance, risk management, and strategic planning to ensure smooth operational execution.
4. Act as a spokesperson for ImmDef on legal and operational matters when delegated by the CEO.
5. Take on additional responsibilities as ImmDef evolves, adapting to new challenges and initiatives, and as assigned by the CEO to support the overall growth and success of the organization.

Legal Oversight:

1. Provide general counsel services, ensuring compliance with nonprofit regulations, labor laws, and other legal obligations.
2. Oversee risk management initiatives, including addressing legal matters, reviewing contracts, and managing liability insurance.
3. Serve as the organization’s primary liaison for legal negotiations, including contracts with government agencies, funders, and vendors.
4. Lead efforts related to union relations, including collective bargaining and compliance with labor agreements.

Operational Management:

1. Oversee day-to-day administrative operations, promoting interdepartmental communication and collaboration for efficiency and effectiveness.
2. Ensure organizational policies and procedures comply with California and federal laws and industry standards.
3. Oversee risk management initiatives, including reviewing and managing liability insurance, addressing legal matters, and ensuring organizational readiness for audits.
4. Provide leadership for IT infrastructure to support organizational growth and enhance data security.
5. Collaborate with Finance and Development departments to implement grant and contract requirements effectively.

External Relations:

1. Represent ImmDef in meetings with funders, donors, government agencies, and other stakeholders.
2. Attend Board of Directors meetings and provide updates on organizational operations, legal matters, and progress toward goals.

Human Resources and Organizational Compliance:

1. Provide guidance on HR policies, including recruitment, compensation, benefits administration, and professional development.
2. Ensure compliance with employment law, particularly California labor laws, and conduct risk assessments for organizational compliance.
3. Inspire the development of robust plans that elevate recruitment, performance management, benefits administration, compensation, and professional development initiatives.

Requirements

1. Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school and active membership in the California State Bar (or eligibility to register as in-house counsel in California).
2. Minimum of 10 years of experience in senior leadership roles, including oversight of operations, compliance, and legal functions in nonprofit organizations, law firms, or similar settings.
3. Ideal candidate has experience working in non-profit legal services or in a law firm environment counseling non-profit organizations.
4. Strong understanding of California labor laws, nonprofit compliance, and risk management practices.
5. Demonstrated success in strategic planning, organizational growth, and leadership of diverse teams.
6. Experience in union relations, collective bargaining, and employee relations.
7. Proficiency in technology management, including systems security and scalable infrastructure solutions.
8. Passion for immigrant rights and commitment to advancing social justice.

Summary

1. Starting salary range for this position is $160,000 - $180,000 DOE.
2. The COO/GC will be based primarily in ImmDef’s Los Angeles office, but occasional travel to other Southern California offices will be required.

Schedule:

1. As a member of ImmDef’s management team, you are expected to schedule your hours and on-site attendance to maximize your availability to your team, serving as a role model for effective work habits and professional conduct.
2. ImmDef’s business hours are Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., but our office reception hours are 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. As an exempt employee you will be expected to work a minimum of 35 hours per week, or 70 hours per pay period. You will be required to work from an ImmDef worksite during business hours at least 3-days per week, and 2-days per week you will have the flexibility work from home or take a day off in accordance with ImmDef’s Flexible Work Schedule policies, subject to supervisor approval.

Professional Memberships:

1. ImmDef provides attorneys and other licensed professionals with $150 towards the professional association of their choice, and opportunities to attend conferences, trainings and seminars/webinars hosted internally and by partner organizations.
2. ImmDef covers California Bar Dues (or equivalent in another jurisdiction) for all attorneys.

Holidays and Paid Time Off:

1. 13 paid holidays
2. 1-Week paid winter break between Christmas and New Years
3. 15 vacation days per year
4. 15 Sick Days per year

Health, Dental and Vision Insurance:

1. ImmDef offers health coverage on the first of the month following 30 days on the job.
2. We cover 100% of premiums for our base dental and vision plans for our staff members and 75% of base plan dental and vision premiums for their dependents. ImmDef also covers 89% of the base plan medical premiums for our staff and 69% of the base plan medical premiums for their dependents.

FSA and Dependent Care FSA:

1. ImmDef offers FSA plans to help offset the costs of eligible health care expenses for you, your spouse, and your eligible dependents using pre-tax dollars.
2. We also offer Dependent Care FSA to pay for eligible dependent care services, such as preschool, summer day camp, before or after school programs, and child or adult daycare.
3. Upon meeting eligibility, we offer Parental Leave which includes six (6) weeks of ImmDef Paid Parental leave.

401(k) Retirement Savings Plan & Employer Matching:

1. ImmDef staff are eligible to enroll in our 401(k) plans immediately upon hire, contributing pre-tax dollars towards their retirement goals.
2. After six months of employment, ImmDef will match 100% of contributions up to 3% of the employee’s salary.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness:

1. As a 501(c)3, full-time ImmDef staff with qualifying student loans are eligible for the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness.

Parking and Public Transportation Stipends:

1. Staff members assigned to an office without free on-site parking are eligible to receive a parking stipend of up to $105 per month in actual accrued parking or transportation costs.
2. Staff in all offices are eligible to receive a public transportation stipend of up to $100 per month in actual accrued public transportation costs.
3. Funds are paid directly into a pre-tax Commuter Benefits Account.

Cell Phone Stipends:

1. ImmDef provides a $15 monthly cell phone stipend to staff members whose job duties require them to consistently work at sites outside of ImmDef offices, or travel between ImmDef worksites, and whose jobs require use of their personal cell phones or communications that cannot be accomplished with ImmDef-issued equipment.

We encourage all qualified applicants to apply for a position fighting for our immigrant communities!

Immigrant Defenders Law Center is an Equal Employment Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer. We value diversity in the workplace and strongly encourage applications from all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, gender, sex, age, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, ethnic group identification, citizenship, marital or familial status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, medical condition, including pregnancy, military and veteran status, gender identity or expression, genetic information, arrest or conviction record, or any other protected characteristic.

ImmDef will communicate via email with applicants who are invited to interview for the position.