Lead Immigration Supportive Services, Migrant Shelter

 Position Title: Lead Immigration Supportive Services Specialist

Organization: Jewish Family Service of San Diego

Department: Immigration Services

Position Type: Full-Time (40 hours/week), Non-Exempt

Work Setting: Onsite

Reports To: Lead Border Advocate

Pay Range: $27.81/hour

Total Compensation:  

In addition to standard pay, compensation for this position includes:

• Comprehensive, low-cost healthcare coverage for employees


• Generous employer 401(k) contributions


• Employer-covered life insurance

Time Away from Work:

Being able to take time away from work is critical in bringing your best self to work. Time off benefits for this position include:

• Generous paid vacation time and sick leave


• 17 paid holidays, including Federal, Jewish, and floating holidays


• 2 Wellness Days to be taken any time during the year to support employees’ mental wellness

Position Overview: 

JFS is looking for a compassionate, mission-driven individual to join the Immigration Services and Migrant Shelter teams as the Lead Immigration Supportive Services Specialist. In this role, you have the opportunity to use your direct client service skills and experience with detail-oriented work to make a meaningful difference in your community and help change lives across San Diego. The Lead Immigration Supportive Services Specialist] plays an integral role on the team and supports the entire agency by guiding the team aiding asylum seekers at the port of entry and with legal support.  This position reports directly to the Lead Border Advocate and works closely with their fellow Immigration Supportive Services Specialists and the rest of the Shelter and Immigration Legal teams.

Responsibilities:  

• Guide Immigration Supportive Services Specialists in implementing and adhering to established processes


• Guide Immigration Supportive Services Specialists in answering guests’ questions and supporting guests with special cases


• Delegate responsibilities and create a shift plan for the Immigration Supportive Services Specialists team


• Actively participate in leadership meetings


• Coordinate and communicate with shelter and legal leadership to ensure that guests needs are addressed in a timely and professional manner


• Coordinate with shelter leadership and transportation partners on transportation logistics


• Take ownership of team cohesion


• Mentor and direct staff in supporting the needs of shelter guests


• Support the SDRRN Migrant Shelter team near the port of entry and any other location where staff needs to travel to offer shelter services to migrants released from custody by DHS


• Being willing to travel to different sites during most of the work shift


• Provide support at the Migrant Shelter’s Travel Center and any other locations with Legal Empowerment Presentations, legal screenings, and pro se legal services.


• Assist attorneys and DOJ-accredited representatives with tasks related to immigration legal needs of Migrant Shelter guest


• Support in the organization of paperwork and data entry for all guests of the SDRRN Migrant Shelter


• Support scheduling immigration legal screenings for SDRRN Migrant Shelter guests who need to meet with our attorneys and DOJ-accredited representatives


• Support preparing pro se requests submitted to DHS and EOIR for review by attorneys or DOJ-accredited representatives


• Stay in communication with SDRRN Migrant Shelter team members to provide additional support


• Interpret during meetings and translate documents if you speak another language


• Assist with program planning, data entry in case management database, and support Immigration Services Division with tasks to improve data quality


• Provide additional administrative support to SDRRN Migrant Shelter team, attorneys, DOJ Accredited Representatives that work with Migrant Shelter guests


• Complete all required training


• Be flexible to perform other duties as assigned

Skills/Experience/Abilities That Are a Must-Have:

• Associate degree and/or at least 2 years experience


• Multilingual English/Arabic, Spanish, Farsi, Dari/Pashto, Haitian Creole, and/or Portuguese – desired


• A passion for social justice for immigrants


• Strong leadership skills


• Strong team player


• Practiced in supervising and mentoring a team


• A passion for providing culturally competent, trauma-informed services to noncitizens and newcomers in San Diego border region


• Excellent interpersonal skills, including good communication and active listening skills


• Detail-oriented and self-directed with strong oral and written communication skills in English


• The ability to record accurate data


• Strong relational skills and professional attitude


• A demonstrated ability and willingness to zealously defend the rights of immigrants


• A demonstrated ability to take initiative and work under pressure


• An ability to work independently, in a group, and with a team


• This position requires a flexible work schedule and the ability to work nights, weekends, and holidays


• Ability to prioritize, multi-task, and organize in a fast-paced and fluid environment


• Proficient in Microsoft software, including Excel, Word, and Outlook


• A passion for JFS Immigration Services Division mission and work


• Experience working with immigrant populations and in multi-cultural settings


• Dedication to serving immigrant communities with a sincere commitment to working for low-income immigrants


• Flexibility and patience to pivot to operational changes


• Proven ability to function in a fast-paced environment


• Strong sense of judgement in communicating with federal and other community partners


• Reliable transportation to and from worksites

Skills/Abilities We’d Like You to Have:

• Experience working in a nonprofit setting is a plus but not required


• Experience with immigration law is a plus but not required

Additional information required Upon Hire:  

• CPR/First Aid & AED Certification, will be provided if not already obtained


• Valid driver’s license, access to an automobile, insurance, and willingness to drive off-site


•  A willingness to work with our Human Resources Department to complete a background check

Physical Requirements of this position:

Must be able to

• Stand, walk and use hands and arms to use a keyboard, handle papers, and reach for the phone   


• Extended work with computer    


•  Close, distance and peripheral vision  


•  Occasionally climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl  


•  Concentration and good hearing are required  


•  Balancing – Maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling and walking and standing


•  Stooping – Bending downward and forward by bending spine at the waist 


•  Kneeling – Bending legs at knee to come to a rest on knee or knees  


•  Crouching – Bending the body downward and forward by bending leg and spine


•  Crawling – Moving about on hands and knees or hands and feet


•  Reaching – Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any directions


•  Standing – Particularly for sustained periods of times


•  Walking – Moving about on foot to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances or moving from one work site to another


•  Pushing – Using upper extremities to press against something with steady force in order to thrust forward, downward or outward


•  Pulling – Using upper extremities to exert force in order to draw, haul or tug objects in a sustained motion


•  Lifting – Raising Objects from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontally from position to position


•  Grasping – Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm 


•  Hearing – Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction. Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication 


•  Repetitive Motion – Substantial movements (motions) of the wrists, hands and/or fingers   

Conditions the worker will be subject to in this position

• The worker is subject to varied environmental conditions. Work activities occur inside and outside


• The worker could be subject to extreme cold and heat.  Consideration should be given to the effect of other environmental conditions, such as wind and humidity


• The worker is subject to noise. There is enough noise to cause the worker to shout in order to be heard above ambient noise level


• The worker is subject to hazards. Includes a variety of physical conditions, such as proximity to moving vehicles, or exposure to chemicals  


• The worker will be in an environment with possible communicable illnesses (including COVID) and must be comfortable performing the duties in this type of environment

Important Notice:

Incomplete submissions will not be considered. Please, no phone calls. Please, principals only. Please, local candidates only (relocation is not provided).

About Jewish Family Service of San Diego
Jewish Family Service of San Diego is a client-centered, impact-driven organization working to build a stronger, more resilient community.  For over 100 years, Jewish Family Service has been a trusted resource for the entire community, offering an array of services that are always life-changing, and often life-saving.  At Jewish Family Service, we believe our employees are the backbone of our Agency.  We strive to ensure that each employee is treated with dignity and respect.  Our goal is your success.  Come work at JFS and be our partner in Moving Forward Together.  To learn more about JFS, please visit jfssd.org. 

*Jewish Family Service is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.