OVERVIEW OF HILSC
The Houston metropolitan area has one of the highest concentrations and fastest-growing populations of immigrants and refugees in the country. More than 1.6 million immigrants and 70,000 refugees call Greater Houston home and 63% of them are non-citizens; more than 500,000 Greater Houston residents are undocumented. Houston Immigration Legal Services Collaborative (HILSC) grew out of a 2013 conversation among Greater Houston immigrant-serving organizations and funders seeking to grow legal services capacity in this region. Launched to expand legal resources to help DREAMers apply for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), HILSC convened working groups to identify gaps in service and incubated new programs such as the Immigrant Resource Hotline, Deportation Defense Houston, Forensic Evaluations, Disaster Justice, Connect for Healthcare, Strategic Learning, Holistic Immigrant Services, Give Citizenship A Bost, and fund fellowships to build a pipeline of immigration lawyers and advocates to meet community needs. The vision of HILSC is to co-create, with our allies, a vibrant and resilient ecosystem where all immigrants, migrants, and refugees belong.
HILSC strives to create a collaborative, respectful, humble, transparent, and equitable work environment so that each person can bring his or her best self to the job. HILSC is committed to a collaborative culture. Our work is challenging; it requires great emotional intelligence and resilience. Having a sense of humor and optimism is highly valued.
POSITION OVERVIEW
Since January 2025, the new administration swiftly and systematically bulldozed the immigrant world. The drastic shrinking of government funding to non-profit legal services left a huge vacuum of free and low-fee legal services for our vulnerable neighbors in times of crisis. Invasive tactics from government entities to discredit immigrant-serving non-profits have also shaken the immigrant-serving non-profit ecosystem in Greater Houston and beyond.
The Managing Director will join the HILSC team to address this vacuum and position HILSC to begin rebuilding the immigrant-serving ecosystem beyond the current times. This is a full-time, exempt position. Working under the supervision of the Executive Director, the Managing Director acts as a strategic partner and right-hand person to the Executive Director, focusing on aligning organizational activities with mission and goals, managing strategic projects, and enhancing efficiency and communication across the organization. Responsibilities include supporting fundraising, facilitating board and leadership meetings, managing across projects, and acting as a sounding board for the leader.
The role requires a broad skill set, including strategic thinking, strong communication, relationship-building, and an ability to manage complex, confidential tasks. The Managing Director plays a leadership role together with the Legal and Advocacy Director at HILSC and serves as an ambassador for HILSC by liaising with HILSC partners to cultivate strong collaborative relationships in addition to augmenting the capacity to provide holistic services to the immigrant community.
The ideal candidate is knowledgeable about the immigration system; possesses deep understanding of the immigrant community and non-profit capacity in Greater Houston and beyond; and is motivated, passionate, creative, self-starting, meticulous, with good project management, interpersonal, and organizational skills. Flexibility and commitment to serving the immigrant communities in Greater Houston are key competencies.
PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
• Strategic Leadership - Serve as a thought partner to the Executive Director, driving organizational strategy and ensuring alignment with the nonprofit's mission.
• Project Management - Lead and oversee strategic, cross-functional projects and initiatives from conception to implementation.
• Operations and Efficiency - Improve internal processes and systems to boost operational efficiency and effectiveness.
• Board and Stakeholder Relations - Coordinate with the board of directors and key stakeholders, managing communication and preparing materials for meetings.
• Communications - Manage internal and external communications, serving as a liaison between leadership and different program staff or constituencies.
• Human Resources & Culture - Support HR functions, contribute to a positive and collaborative team culture, and may manage direct reports.
• Financial & Fundraising Support - Assist with financial management and support the organization's fundraising and grant management efforts.
QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS
• Strategic & Analytical: Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a strategic mindset.
• Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, able to adapt to different audiences.
• Interpersonal & Relationship Building: Ability to build strong, trust-based relationships and effectively influence others.
• Organizational Skills: A systems-thinker adept at creating order and managing multiple responsibilities.
• Confidentiality & Discretion: Proven ability to handle highly confidential information.
• Cross-Functional Experience: A "jack-of-all-trades" with diverse professional experience, comfortable in various domains.
Minimum Education Requirement
• A bachelor's degree from an accredited university in the U.S. is required, an advanced degree is preferred.
Minimum Skills and Experience Requirements:
• Demonstrated experience working with low-income immigrant and refugee communities.
• Significant nonprofit experience of at least ten years, five of which in upper-level management.
• Strong project management expertise, with experience managing complex projects and multiple teams.
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills.
• The ability to consistently create and deliver on job responsibilities in a timely manner; and to manage multiple schedules and project timelines.
• Superb written and oral communication skills, including solid presentation abilities and the ability to foster productive relationships.
• Trustworthy and dependable, with the ability to work with confidential information.
• A deep-rooted personal commitment to working in a diverse and inclusive work environment and fostering a positive and respectful workplace culture.
• A team player who is comfortable working in a fast-paced, growing organization that sometimes requires “all hands-on deck.”
• Excellent attention to detail and the ability to perform a substantial number of tasks independently.
• Strong technology skills and comfort with digital platforms and data systems. Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint required; and familiarity with Adobe Creative Suite and data management systems is preferred.
• Reliable transportation, valid Texas Driver’s License, and evidence of insurability.
COMPETENCIES
• Commitment to racial equity and social justice.
• Skillful listener with a high degree of self-awareness, humility, and diplomacy.
• Empathy and ability to understand and relate to the other’s situation.
• Strong organizational skills. Demonstrated ability to manage complex projects, prioritize conflicting demands, and meet deadlines.
• Resourceful with creative critical thinking skills.
• Bicultural and bilingual fluency in the top languages spoken by Houston-area immigrants required (Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese, or Arabic).
HOW TO APPLY
This is an extraordinary opportunity for an individual to have a meaningful impact through their professional contributions to advance immigrant rights and racial justice. Interested candidates should email a cover letter explaining how your skills and background fit this position and a resume [email protected], with subject headline: Application for Managing Director position.
This position is open until filled.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
The Houston Immigration Legal Services Collaborative offers an excellent benefits package and a starting salary of $95,000 commensurate with experience and qualifications. Generous fringe benefits that include employer-sponsored health benefits; long-term and short-term disability, life insurance, and a 401(k) defined contribution retirement plan. HILSC also provides generous leave benefits inclusive of vacation, sickness, and holidays, as well as office closure the week between Christmas and New Year’s.
NLADA Mutual Insurance Co., RRG
