Community Defense & Rapid Response Manager

Job Description

Job Description

WE ARE CASA & CASA IN ACTION SYNOPSIS:
We Are CASA’s mission is to create a more just society by building power and improving the quality of life in working-class: Black, Latino/a/e, Afro-descendent, Indigenous, and Immigrant Communities. Our vision is rooted in the collective power of our community, our inclusive, permanent, member-led movement radically transforms communities and systems to ensure the needs, dreams, and aspirations of members are fully met as we strive for justice and full liberation at home and in solidarity with others across the world. We Are CASA has a sister organization, CASA in Action, a separate, but related, nonprofit organization that is exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code. Although We Are CASA and CASA in Action share a common goal of supporting immigrants and low-income people in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Georgia, they are separate organizations with their own board of directors. A set of employees at the two organizations, including the person filling this position, shares their time between the two organizations. This has no effect on salary or benefits.

DEPARTMENT SYNOPSIS:
We Are CASA’s Services Division anticipates and responds to the needs of Black, Latino/a/e, Afro-descendent, Indigenous, and Immigrant communities, strengthening and building power among these communities for long-term impact. Our work includes designing, selecting, and utilizing service provision models that promote community asset building, reverse trends that negatively impact outcomes for our communities, and organize collective action to address the root causes of those negative outcomes. Our approach includes community education to raise awareness about disparities impacting the community; navigation and screening to connect individuals and families to critical resources available in the community and/or through government resources; and the delivery of a variety of services provided directly by the organization. These services are provided intentionally and in alignment with broader advocacy and organizing goals. The Division includes the five major service departments at We Are CASA: Legal; Health and Human Services; Community Economic Development; Education; and Immigrant Integration, working collaboratively across We Are CASA’s footprint.

POSITION SUMMARY:
The Community Defense & Rapid Response Manager will play a key leadership role within We Are CASA’s Services Division, responsible for the daily management, coordination, and oversight of the organization's community defense efforts related to immigration enforcement. This position serves as the central point of integration across services, community organizing, and advocacy, to ensure timely, coordinated, and effective responses to immigration enforcement, both at an individual level and broader systemic level. Among other responsibilities, the Manager will supervise staff engaged in community defense activities, coordinate Know Your Rights (KYR) education, oversee our detention intake systems, monitor enforcement trends, strengthen partnerships with community organizations and mutual aid groups, supervise cross-departmental staff, and ensure that our community defense systems operate efficiently and consistently, working collaboratively with staff from across We Are CASA’s footprint. This is a grant-funded position; continued employment is contingent upon continued funding.

This position is eligible to work from CASA's Multicultural Center in Hyattsville MD, CASA's Baltimore Welcome Center in Baltimore, MD, or CASA's Rockville Welcome Center in Rockville, MD.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Manage the daily operations of the organization’s Community Defense and Rapid Response Program related to immigration enforcement
• Develop, maintain, and improve program procedures, protocols, and goals, including emergency coverage plans, after-hours, weekend, and high-volume response procedures to ensure effective and timely responses
• Oversee and coordinate intake, triage, response, referrals, and follow up for reports, while maintaining confidentiality and data security
• Supervise and support staff, volunteers, and interns across various departments, modeling and promoting training, collaboration, wellness, and trauma-informed practices
• Lead community education efforts by coordinating Know Your Rights (KYRs) sessions and ensuring educational materials and information remain current and distributed regularly across programs
• Analyze enforcement trends, patterns, and data emerging from individual cases to inform concrete recommendations for advocacy, organizing, litigation, program evaluation, improvement, and fundraising
• Build and maintain relationships with community organizations, coalitions, and mutual aid groups, serving as the primary staff liaison as assigned
• Represent We Are CASA in external spaces such as coalitions, media appearances, and public events 
• Support organizational strategy by engaging in advocacy benefits working-class Black, Brown, Immigrant, Afrodescendant, and Indigenous, while expanding We Are CASA’s activist and membership base
• Other duties as assigned by the Chief of Services

EDUCATION/CERTIFICATION/LICENSURE:

• Bachelor’s degree or minimum of three years of experience performing related work.
• Valid U.S. Driver’s License and a reliable vehicle.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:

• Bilingual/multilingual, English and Spanish; French is a plus.
• 3+ years of relevant experience in nonprofit programs, immigration services, community organization, legal services, or another related field.
• Knowledge of U.S. immigration enforcement and detention system.
• Strong commitment to being informed and guided by Racial Justice, Equity & Inclusion (RJEI) principles in all aspects of work and leadership.
• Deep commitment to immigrants’ rights, including experience working with the immigrant community
• Well-organized with ability to work independently under minimal supervision, managing multiple projects
• Experience supervising staff or coordinating teams across areas or disciplines
• Ability to remain calm and exercise sound judgment in fast-paced and/or crises situations
• Experience maintaining case management systems and advanced proficiency in basic computer programs (Microsoft Office suite, etc.); knowledge of Salesforce is a plus
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including in advocacy and public communication
• Strong interpersonal communication, conflict resolution, and negotiation skills
• Ability to travel, as required

COMPENSATION:  
$67,500 - $75,000 if working from Hyattsville.
$67,500 - $75,000 if working from Baltimore.
$67,500 - $75,000 if working from Rockville.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to sit; lift, carry, reach push or pull objects; climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl; handling, feeling or grasping.

The employee is occasionally required to stand or walk. The employee must rarely lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. When it comes to physical strength the employee will rarely perform heavy or medium work.

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is rarely exposed to wet and/or humid conditions and outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

ADA: We Are CASA will make reasonable accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

OSHA: This role is not to handle any human body fluids, biological agents, laboratory chemicals, or be exposed to hazardous materials such as noise, asbestos, or carcinogens.

We Are CASA, Inc. and CASA in Action do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, mental or physical disability, ancestry, marital status or national origin.

This job description will be reviewed periodically as duties and responsibilities change with business necessity. Essential and marginal job functions are subject to modification. Nothing in this job description restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

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