IRIS (Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services, www.irisct.org), a dynamic refugee resettlement agency in New Haven CT, is looking for an Employer Outreach Specialist who will identify and pursue employment opportunities for IRIS clients.

IRIS serves people from all over the world who have fled persecution in their home countries to start new lives and become self-sufficient, contributing members of their new communities. While IRIS has traditionally focused on helping refugees, it is increasingly serving a more diverse immigrant population.

General Description

The Employer Outreach Specialist (EOS) contributes to the effort to help refugees, asylees and immigrants find gainful employment in the greater New Haven, CT area. IRIS Employment Services (ES) serves over 200 clients each year. The overall responsibility of the position is to identify and pursue employment opportunities for IRIS clients.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include:

• Maintain and expand a database with constantly updated information about are employers.
• Focus on industries, job types and job locations that are most beneficial to employing our refugee clientele.
• Be aware of different trends among our refugee population that have bearing on the types of jobs and careers that they are best suited for.

1. Build more and stronger relationships within the greater New Haven business community.

• Build a network of employment contacts throughout the region.
• Attend GNHCC council meetings, workshops and presentations, in addition to Business after Hours.
• Develop stronger relationships with state and local organizations and area civic organizations including New Haven Adult Education, New Haven Works, CT Works, ConnCAT, Rotary, Lions, etc.
• Invite business leaders to visit IRIS
• Hold a GNHCC Business After Hours at IRIS
• Reach out to area religious institutions to enlist support in finding jobs for our clients.

2. Explore employment and training opportunities in the Manufacturing Sector.

• Meet with the Department Chairman of the Gateway Community College Manufacturing Program.
• Identify scholarships and tuition reimbursement opportunities.
• Attend the New Haven Manufacturer’s Association meetings for the purpose of networking with area manufacturers.
• Identify area manufacturers and call on them directly to explore employment opportunities.

3. Develop systems/programs to facilitate clients becoming more proactive in seeking employment.

• Advocate for and contribute to Job Club
• Push for requiring all Level 2 and higher English speakers to make “x” number of employment contacts per week.
• Have clients memorize a script to use when making calls.
• Help clients develop a sense of urgency about getting a job.
• Work with specific clients, as assigned by Employment Services Manager, to investigate tailored job opportunities and help targeted clients through the application process.

4. Encourage all staff members to be Job Developers

• Encourage staff members to be employment mentors.
• Encourage staff to deliver job leads.
• Encourage staff to focus on job opportunities/contacts/potential mentors as they pursue their lives outside of IRIS. This would include relationships they have at religious institutions, stores they shop at, organizations they belong to, etc.

Familiarity with the New Haven job market is preferred, but not required.

IRIS (Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services, www.irisct.org), a dynamic refugee resettlement agency in New Haven CT, is looking for a full-time Employment Services Specialist immediately to work with refugees and immigrants in the greater New Haven, CT area. College degrees, international experience, foreign language skills and employment experience are preferred but not required. If you are passionate about helping immigrants succeed and build careers, please apply.

IRIS serves people from all over the world who have fled persecution in their home countries to start new lives and become self-sufficient, contributing members of their new communities. While IRIS has traditionally focused on helping refugees, it is increasingly serving a more diverse immigrant population.

General Description 

The Employment Services Specialist (ESS) contributes to the effort to help refugees, asylees and immigrants find gainful employment in the greater New Haven, CT area. IRIS Employment Services (ES) serves over 200 clients each year. The ESS teaches Job Orientation and is integrally involved in the process of assisting individual clients in their job search. This includes creating resumes, assisting with job applications, interviews and on-going job support. The ESS works with, and helps manage, the team of ES interns and volunteers. The ESS works in concert with Case Management, Health & Wellness and Education to trouble-shoot obstacles to employment. This is a full-time position.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include: 

Employment Assessment Completion & Resume Development 

• Work with Employment Services Manager (ESM) to complete Employment Assessment process, ensuring that all new arrivals are assessed within 10 days of arrival.
• Within the same time frame a resume will be created that will include an overview, work history, education, skills, and three references. 

Tracking Progress Toward Employment 

• The ESS will help maintain a spreadsheet that includes tracking information regarding all program participants, including all dates that services have been provided.
• There will also be delivery and tracking of follow up appointments, classes and tasks on a weekly or biweekly basis.
• Assist full-time ESS with the completion of case noting and document filing for the early employment period.
• Compliance with governmental regulations regarding case noting on online data bases. 

Teach Job Readiness Orientation / Job Readiness Classes

• Teach do’s & don’ts of job interviewing; help clients read resumes; explain IDs and work authorization documents; teach worker’s rights; W4s & I9s
• This may be individual, small group or large group instruction depending on arrivals and client needs. 

Focus on Female Economic Empowerment / Job Club for Women

• Many of IRIS’s female clients face challenges such as having young children at home, inability to access education / English classes, and a home environment which makes it difficult for them to consider working. 
• IRIS needs to make a greater effort to serve women who can work, who want to work, and even those who do not want to work, by building on existing relationships and creating new safe spaces and classes to empower our female clients. 
• A new support group of some kind may be the best approach to bring focus and momentum to empowering our female clients. 

National and Regional Employment Orientation & Acculturation

• Provide hands-on instruction for application completion (paper & on-line), arrange interviews, and assist during the interview process whenever possible.
•  Educate refugee clients as to what employers are looking for in terms of work ethic, attitude, and skills.
• Establish short term goals based on the needs and interests of the client, promoting early employment, self-sufficiency and client self-determination. 
• Individual case management is sometimes required for certain clients who have extra difficult challenges. 

Assist Refugees in Applying for and Keeping jobs

• Using leads found/established by the Employment Outreach Specialist, suggest appropriate job openings to individual clients and help them follow through. (Matching jobs with clients will usually be done in consultation with ES colleagues and in consideration of clients’ English and/or professional skills, financial need, mental health, physical limitations, availability, transport, proximity to the workplace, etc.)

Foster/nurture relationships with local employers

• After the Employment Outreach Specialist has established contact with a local employer, follow up by phone or email to confirm openings and advocate for clients who might be good matches.
• Follow up with employers to check the status of applications and to further reiterate interest; provide updates if necessary.
• Troubleshoot and provide support after a client has started working; contact the employer regularly to check in and make sure all is well.
• Represent IRIS and IRIS employment at various New Haven area events.

Lead or Assist with Special Projects such as Citizenship Classes

• TBD with supervisor and changing with current client makeup

Requirements

• College degrees, international experience, foreign language skills and employment experience are preferred but not required.
• Candidates must have: 
• fluency in English, 
• ability to quickly establish and maintain a good rapport with various types of clientele, 
• awareness and sensitivity to multicultural issues and a demonstrated commitment to the mission of IRIS, 
• strong communication skills, 
• ability to handle multiple demands and shifting priorities in a fast-paced environment, 
• ability to set limits with clients and enforce strict policies, 
• strong computer skills including email and internet, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Google Docs; ability to manipulate basic spreadsheets, 
• meticulousness and attention to detail, 
• US driver’s license, good driving record, and willingness to drive clients to appointments. Ideal clients will have: 
• experience working with immigrant populations 

The salary for this position will start at between $35,000 and $40,000 per year. 
Benefits include health insurance, vacation, holidays, sick days, and eligibility for pension plan after 1 year. To apply, send an email to humanresources@irisct.org as soon as possible with the following: 

• A subject line that says “ESS: [Candidate first and last name]” 
• A cover letter 
• An attached resume 

Applications will be reviewed in the order they are received and until the position is filled. 

IRIS is an Affirmative Action/EEO Employer.

IRIS (Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services, www.irisct.org), a dynamic refugee resettlement agency in New Haven CT, is looking for a full-time Director of Employment Services immediately to manage a team that works with refugees and immigrants in the greater New Haven, CT area. We are looking for candidates who have business and employment experience as well as international experience and cultural competence. An advanced degree and fluency in a second language are preferred but not required. We are looking for a dynamic individual to take on a senior role. If you are passionate about helping immigrants succeed and build careers, and can lead a critically important department, please apply.

IRIS serves people from all over the world who have fled persecution in their home countries to start new lives and become self-sufficient, contributing members of their new communities. While IRIS has traditionally focused on helping refugees, it is increasingly serving a more diverse immigrant population.

General Description 

The Director of Employment Services (DES) directs the efforts to help refugees, asylees and immigrants find gainful employment in the great New Haven, CT area. IRIS Employment Services (ES) helps more than 100 new clients every year and a total of well over 200 (including returning clients) in a calendar year. The DES manages a diverse and rotating team of IRIS employees, interns and volunteers who prepare clients for the job market, create resumes, assist with job applications, interviews and on-going job support. The DES also oversees the outreach effort to area employers, as well as chambers, groups and organizations, in order to advocate for refugee employment and the benefit of self-sufficiency for our clients. The DES works closely with other IRIS departments to deliver coordinated services to our clientele. The DES is involved in budgeting, reporting and represents IRIS at various events.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include: 

1. Manage a team 

• Oversee one to two employees, two to four interns, and three to six volunteers (a group with constant turnover). The team usually consists of between 6 and 10
  people. 
• Provide feedback and encouragement on a monthly basis to all team members. 
• Ensure cohesion and focused group goals by holding weekly team meetings and fostering an up-beat team atmosphere through constant communication, encouragement and iteration of goals. 

2. Nurture and expand the outreach effort 

• Devise, build and maintain a system to track employers (including all details of relationship) to ensure the ES team has quick access to critical information and also to ensure that the data becomes IRIS data, which will be available to any new employee and not be lost when employees leave the organization. 
• Attend Chamber of Commerce, and other, events to spread information about ES and the advantages of hiring refugees.
• Develop and maintain relationships with business owners, directors and managers in human resources and direct management especially. 
• Advocate for specific clients and refugee employment in general with contacts in companies and organizations that hire throughout the region. 
• Skillfully manage employer/employee issues that arise so as to protect the rights of our clients and foster deeper relationships with employers.
• Develop and maintain relationships with local organizations that can partner with ES to the benefit of IRIS clients. A partial list of these organizations includes CT Works, New Haven Works, The Step-Up Program, Junta, Job Corps, The Jackson Institute and local colleges and universities. 

3. Manage, drive and contribute to ongoing client preparation

• Devise, build and maintain a system to track all clients who receive ES attention (including all over 20 specific characteristics that can be searched on) to ensure the ES team has quick access to critical information.
• Ensure all eligible clients have Employment Assessments and professional resumes.
• Greet every new ES client and explain our goals for them, their responsibilities, the scope of our services and the personal steps they should be taking in order to achieve self-sufficiency in the United States.
• Manage delivery of Employment English, Job Club, Female Empowerment as well as less structured education and tutoring that:
• Improve the level of English among clients
• Teach industry specific vocabulary
• Teach on-line and paper application completion
• Deliver mock interview training
• Explain intricacies of the US job market
• Teach best approaches to acquiring good speech and appearance habits
• Explain best practices to insure job retention and growth
• Strategize with team regarding best job matches for specific clients (drawing on information in our data fields as well as team knowledge of clients and employers).
• Oversee programs that support client employment such as the Employment Mentor program which brings in groups of volunteers to work with individual clients in a structured three month program. For the Employment Mentor program the ESM develops training materials, trains volunteers, and matches them with clients and oversees their progress.

4. Engage with the community

• Develop and maintain relationships with organizations beyond the scope of employers.
• Find programs that serve national, lingual or economic groups that may benefit our clients in their pursuit of self-sufficiency and economic growth.
• Reach out to churches, community organizations, other non-profits, educational and other institutions in order to spread our message and raise our visibility.

5. Administrative management, documentation and reporting

• Write case notes and ensure ES team is keeping up with case notes.
• Update various systems with case note and job report information.
• Insure all relevant documents are properly placed in case files.
• Keep employer data documents updated, and ensure ES team does the same.
• Keep client data documents updated, and ensure ES team does the same.
• Prepare materials that explain the duties and responsibilities of ES team so that new team members have resources.
• Prepare statistical information in varying ways for different reports that are required for specific grants and programs.

6. Programmatic Best Practices

• Be aware of changes in international and national refugee resettlement work that can affect or influence IRIS and the ES effort.
• Stay abreast of the approaches taken toward funding and developing job growth in other states and countries with an eye toward implementation possibilities.
• Read the materials from, and communicate with, organizations such as Higher and Talent Bridge which can provide tips and specific information on job creation.
• Inform organizations about our programs, challenges and successes (speaking on conference calls, etc) to help improve the refugee employment situation nationally.
• Consider new programs which could deliver big and immediate impact on the success of our work such as the creation of an employment agency under our 501c3 or systems improvements which would create more time to devote to service delivery.

Representation:
Represent IRIS when asked by the ED, effectively communicating the mission and work of IRIS to the general public.

Development:
Help identify and cultivate donors.

Agency Leadership:
Participate in discussions and decision making on overall agency policies and strategic development in all areas; including human resources, budget, program development, fundraising, outreach / public relations. On occasion, participate in Board Meetings.

Reports to: Executive Director

Requirements

College degrees, international experience, foreign language skills and employment experience are preferred but not required. Candidates must have: 

• fluency in English, 
• ability to quickly establish and maintain a good rapport with various types of clientele, 
• awareness and sensitivity to multicultural issues and a demonstrated commitment to the mission of IRIS, 
• strong communication skills, 
• ability to handle multiple demands and shifting priorities in a fast-paced environment, 
• ability to set limits with clients and enforce strict policies, 
• strong computer skills including email and internet, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Google Docs; ability to manipulate basic spreadsheets, 
• meticulousness and attention to detail, 
• US driver’s license, good driving record, and willingness to drive clients to appointments. Ideal clients will have: 
• experience working with immigrant populations 

Benefits include health insurance, vacation, holidays, sick days, and eligibility for pension plan after 1 year. 

To apply, send an email to humanresources@irisct.org as soon as possible with the following: 

• A subject line that says “DES: [Candidate first and last name]” 
• A cover letter 
• An attached resume 

Applications will be reviewed in the order they are received and until the position is filled. 

IRIS is an Affirmative Action/EEO Employe

IRIS (Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services, www.irisct.org) is a dynamic refugee resettlement agency in New Haven CT. IRIS serves people from all over the world who have fled persecution in their home countries to start new lives and become self-sufficient, contributing members of their new communities. While IRIS has traditionally focused on helping refugees, it is increasingly serving a more diverse immigrant population.

IRIS is looking for a Health & Wellness Manager who will lead a team providing a variety of health and wellness services to our clients, advocating for greater access to care, providing mental health care and social support, and accompanying clients as they learn to navigate the United States healthcare system independently.

General Description 

IRIS aims to ensure that all new refugee arrivals are connected to primary care doctors and specialists and learn to navigate the healthcare system independently as quickly as possible. In addition, IRIS offers a variety of programs including intensive case management for clients with significant medical conditions, in house individual counseling for clients with mild to moderate mental health needs, and a variety of non-clinical support groups including sewing, gardening and soccer. The Health & Wellness Manager’s overall goals are to ensure a high quality of services to IRIS clients in the areas of health and wellness, to establish and maintain partnerships with local providers, and to advocate for better access to care for refugees and immigrants.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include: 

• Supervise and support PC program social workers / case managers.
• Ensure compliance with PC grant requirements and guidelines.
• Regularly monitor PC case files
• Serve as IRIS focal point for partner medical providers including YNHH, Fair Haven CHC, etc. and ensure regular communication and clear partnership agreements
• Supervise and support Healthcare Coordinator and interns
• Ensure high quality of care and appropriate balance between support and teaching self-sufficiency
• Serve as IRIS’ privacy compliance officer and ensure compliance with privacy standards
• Depending on number of arrivals and frequency of refugee clinics, support Healthcare Coordinator with his/her tasks as necessary (schedule and accompany clients to pre-screening, RHA appointments and bus orientations, ensure that RHAs are completed and sent to SRHC, troubleshooting and emergency
  management, etc.)
• Teach refugee cultural orientation and co-sponsorship training health sessions (may alternate with Healthcare Coordinator)
• Educate and train medical providers about refugee resettlement, the unique health needs of refugees, and exhibiting cultural and linguistic competence in serving refugees and immigrants.
• Represent IRIS in the community to students, organizations, and clinics interested in learning about refugee and immigrant health.
• Supervise and support the Wellness Coordinator and program coordinators
• Coordinate the RHP grant reports and provide input to grant applications and budgets (with DCM)
• Supervise the Clinician
• Working with Clinician and community partners, ensure that IRIS’ mental health and medical case management services are culturally appropriate and trauma-informed by participating in trainings, webinars, etc.
• Review /submit all H&W cash disbursements to DCM
• Provide input towards annual H&W budgets
• Track quarterly H&W budgets and propose adjustments to DCM as needed
• Conduct annual performance reviews with all direct reports
• Conduct individual check-in meetings at least monthly with all direct reports
• Ensure that all direct reports are participating in / offered continuous relevant training and development opportunities

Requirements
Candidates must have:

• at least 5 years of case management, social work and/or public health experience,
• ability to lead a team,
• experience managing staff or volunteers,
• experience managing projects and project budgets,
• knowledge of the United States healthcare system and issues related to access to care for immigrants and other marginalized groups,
• ability to develop and maintain strong partnerships with community stakeholders,
• commitment to anti-racist practices and to the mission of IRIS,
• strong written and oral communication skills,
• ability to handle multiple demands and shifting priorities in a fast-paced environment,
• ability to set limits and enforce strict policies,
• strong computer skills including email and internet, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Google Docs; ability to manipulate basic spreadsheets,
• meticulousness and attention to detail,

To apply, send an email to Director of Case Management, at humanresources@irisct.org as soon as possible
with the following:

IRIS (Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services, www.irisct.org) is a dynamic refugee resettlement agency in New Haven CT. IRIS serves people from all over the world who have fled persecution in their home countries to start new lives and become self-sufficient, contributing members of their new communities. While IRIS has traditionally focused on helping refugees, it is increasingly serving a more diverse immigrant population.

IRIS is looking for a part-time Supportive Therapy Clinician who will provide one on one therapy using a culturally sensitive, holistic approach to refugees and immigrants experiencing mild to moderate mental health symptoms. This part-time position averages between 8 and 10 hours a week.

General Description

IRIS has a need for in-house mental health expertise. Working within the Health & Wellness department and in collaboration with several other IRIS staff members, the Clinician will play a key role in ensuring that clients access the mental health care they need. The Clinician accepts referrals from IRIS staff and local medical professionals. The Clinician offers one on one counseling, with interpretation if needed, and refers clients to other mental health care providers as appropriate. The Clinician also plays a key role supporting IRIS staff as they deal with particularly complicated client situations.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include: 

• Receive therapy referrals from IRIS staff
• Coordinate with medical professionals to receive referrals or confirm needs of clients referred by IRIS staff
• Maintain list of eligible clients with some degree of priority (waiting list), as needed
• Prepare for counseling sessions including logistics with clients and interpreter
• Meet with clients individually in order to develop an action plan and maximize adaptive coping skills
• Maintain case notes of sessions separate from main database
• Maintain coordination of care with IRIS staff and medical professions
• Serve as resource to IRIS staff and partners such as co-sponsors as needed
• Meet with clients to conduct urgent assessments and recommend follow up action (In situations where it is not possible otherwise, these assessments may be conducted at clients’ home)
• Other tasks as requested by Health & Wellness Manager and Director of Case Management

Requirements
Candidates must have:

• Active license in one of the following: Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapist, Psychologist, Professional Counselor, Psychological Associate, Advanced Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatrist
• Master’s degree in mental health, counseling, therapy, psychology, or social work
• Experience in one-on-one direct counseling
• Experience and/or ability and willingness to use in-person and phone interpreters during sessions
• Understanding of basic therapeutic models such as: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Humanistic Therapy, Integrative/Holistic Therapy, Mindfulness
• Strict adherence to the ethical standards of the profession – Code of Ethics compliant
• Strong understanding of culturally sensitive therapy, commitment to anti-racism and the mission of IRIS
• Strong understanding of the refugee resettlement process
• Ability to work collaboratively with multiple people and programs within IRIS

To apply, send an email to Director of Case Management, at humanresources@irisct.org as soon as possible
with the following:

• A subject line that says “Supportive Therapy Clinician”
• A cover letter
• An attached resume

Applications will be reviewed in the order they are received and until the position is filled.

IRIS – Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services ( www.irisct.org ), a dynamic nonprofit organization in New Haven CT, has an opening for a full-time Paralegal in its Legal Department. IRIS is a refugee resettlement agency providing high quality and culturally sensitive assistance to immigrants and refugees in Connecticut. Our goal is to help immigrants establish new lives, regain hope, and contribute to the vitality of Connecticut’s communities. IRIS currently serves clients from Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Cuba, Sudan, Egypt, and Venezuela, among others.

IRIS’s Legal Department 

IRIS offers legal services, among its other services. IRIS’s Legal Department provides representation to: 1) refugees and asylees applying for lawful permanent residence, naturalization, and reunification with family members; 2) immigrants filing for asylum; and 3) immigrants in deportation proceedings. The Legal Department currently consists of four attorneys (both part- and full-time), each of whom covers one or more of the practice areas listed above.

The Paralegal’s Role 

The Paralegal assists each of the attorneys, and his/her responsibilities will vary by practice area. Examples of the kinds of tasks each practice area requires are provided below.
For our refugee and asylee clients filing for green cards, citizenship, and family petitions, the Paralegal will assist the attorney by calling clients to schedule meetings, preparing applications in advance of meetings, copying and filing clients’ documents, completing other USCIS forms (e.g. applications for travel documents, employment authorization, humanitarian parole, certificates of naturalization), handling visa processing, and general research. For asylum applicants, the Paralegal will assist the attorney by conducting intakes with potential clients, researching country conditions for clients whose cases we take, compiling documents ultimately submitted to USCIS on the client’s behalf, communicating with clients including those with intensive needs and anxieties, and arranging for any interpreters needed by the attorneys. For clients who are facing deportation, the Paralegal will assist the attorney by conducting intakes with potential clients and filling out the attendant intake forms, coordinating with peer legal services organizations on a shared removal defense project, visiting out-of-state detention facilities (in MA and NH) when clients are housed there, providing ongoing case support, and handling filings in Immigration Court.

Responsibilities that are common to all practice areas are:

• Supervising the work of several interns who volunteer with us during regular hours, assigning them work and directing them in their tasks;
• Organizing and managing the department’s electronic and hard-copy files and organizing our physical space (when we’re back in it)
• Interpreting/translating where able, or arranging for interpretation assistance from others proficient in whichever language is needed

The Paralegal reports to the Director of the Legal Department. The Paralegal position is full-time (40 hours per week), and pay is set at $20 an hour. Medical benefits; holidays, vacation, sick leave; eligible for pension plan after 1 year.

Prerequisites: Candidates will ideally be fluent in Spanish (speaking, reading and writing), and any other language skills are strongly preferred. Candidates must have at least three years of relevant experience or educational background (having already worked with immigrants and handled filings in Immigration Court will be deemed a plus); strong writing, communication and organizational skills; computer skills including Microsoft Word and Excel; and ability to handle multiple demands and shifting priorities in a fast-paced environment. Candidates must have a demonstrated commitment to the mission of IRIS and awareness and sensitivity to multicultural issues.

To apply, send an email to Amy Lynn, humanresources@irisct.org with the following:

• A subject line that says “PARALEGAL: [Candidate first and last name]”
• Cover letter
• Resume
• Contact information for two references

IRIS – Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services (www.irisct.org), a dynamic nonprofit organization in New Haven CT, has an opening for a full-time Staff Attorney (40 hours per week) in its Legal Department. IRIS is a refugee resettlement agency providing high quality and culturally sensitive assistance to immigrants and refugees in Connecticut. Our goal is to help immigrants establish new lives, regain hope, and contribute to the vitality of Connecticut’s communities. IRIS currently serves clients from Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Cuba, Sudan, Egypt, and Venezuela, among others.

IRIS’s Legal Department: IRIS offers legal services, among its other services. IRIS’s Legal Department provides representation to: 1) refugees and asylees applying for lawful permanent residence, naturalization, and reunification with family members; 2) immigrants filing for asylum; and 3) immigrants in deportation proceedings. The Legal Department currently consists of four attorneys (both part- and full-time), each of whom covers one or more of the practice areas listed above.

Description of Staff Attorney Position: IRIS is looking for a Staff Attorney who can cover cases in the third category listed above (representation of immigrants in deportation proceedings). The Staff Attorney will represent clients as part of a New Haven-based removal defense project, and will work in coordination with attorneys from peer legal services organizations regularly. The position will require a fair amount of travel. Because Connecticut residents who are picked up by ICE are currently housed in detention facilities in Massachusetts (Bristol and Plymouth County Jails), as well as some in Rhode Island and New Hampshire, the Staff Attorney will need to travel to detention facilities in those areas to meet with clients. When those clients have court dates, the Staff Attorney will need to travel to Boston to represent them in Immigration Court. On all other days, case work can be done remotely, and when it is safe to meet in person, out of IRIS’s office in New Haven, CT. Additionally, the Staff Attorney should be prepared to train other IRIS attorneys to represent individuals in removal proceedings. The Staff Attorney will report to the Director of Immigration Legal Services.

Requirements: The Staff Attorney should be a licensed member of a state bar in good standing, qualified to represent clients in immigration matters. The Staff Attorney shall have a J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school. The Staff Attorney must have at least one year of experience representing individuals in removal proceedings; strong advocacy, writing, communication and organizational skills; and ability to handle multiple demands and shifting priorities in a fast-paced environment. The Staff Attorney must have a demonstrated commitment to the mission of IRIS and awareness and sensitivity to multicultural issues. Fluency in Spanish is strongly preferred.

Salary and Benefits: This position is salaried at $54,000. Vacation, holidays, sick leave. Medical, dental, vision insurance available. Eligible for pension plan after 1 year of employment.

To apply, send an email to Amy Lynn, humanresources@irisct.org with the following:

• A subject line that says “STAFF ATTORNEY: [Candidate first and last name]”
• Cover letter 
• Resume
• Contact information for two references