We Are
Headquartered in downtown, Washington, DC, the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) is an organization with over 16,000 individual attorney members who practice and teach immigration law. For our members, we provide continuing legal education, information, advocacy, professional services, and expertise. Founded in 1946, AILA's mission is to promote justice, advocate for fair and reasonable immigration law and policy, advance the quality of immigration and nationality law and practice, and enhance the professional development of its members.
The Governance & Member Services Department supports AILA’s Board of Governors, Chapters, Member Groups (Interest Groups, Law Students, and New Member Division), leadership cultivation and recognition, committee selection and other governance activities, and provides customer service for all current and prospective members.
Your role
The Associate Director will assist the Senior Director in all governance and volunteer engagement functions of the Department, including serving as a governance consultant to AILA’s 39 local Chapters, and managing staff who are responsible for volunteer management and elected leadership recruitment and development.
Essential Job Functions
Chapter and Member Compliance
- Advise the Membership Committee on matters involving member eligibility and compliance matters.
- Serve as a trusted advisor/resource to AILA’s 39 Chapters on association management and compliance matters, in collaboration with AILA’s Manager, Volunteer Engagement.
- Design, develop, and implement strategies to build and maintain strong operational relationships between AILA and the Chapters.
- In collaboration with Manager, Volunteer Engagement, identify areas of potential concern among the Chapter Chairs; communicate issues with key stakeholders within the organization as needed.
- Offer counsel to Chapter Chairs and staff regarding governance practices as well as establishing preventative and mitigating measures to operational and programmatic concerns, including fiscal and tax policies, affiliation agreements, and other compliance matters.
- Perform other duties as assigned by the Senior Director.
Governance and Volunteer Engagement
- In consultation with the Senior Director, Governance and Leadership Strategy, plan and execute Board-related activities as well as the Annual Membership Meeting.
- Work with various departments to collect and organize board materials and other required deliverables needed for the Board.
- In consultation with Senior Director, oversee Annual Plan development, implementation, and reporting back to the board on progress.
- Work with Manager, Volunteer Engagement in developing leadership training, orientation materials, and resource manuals for board members.
- Manage collection, review, and publishing of corporate records/meeting minutes.
- Draft communications as needed.
- Manage collection of information from Board members throughout the year.
- Facilitate the development and maintenance of the association’s governance documents and tools, including but not limited to bylaws, committee charters, policies, and procedure manuals.
- Manage the planning and execution of the annual nominations and elections process.
- Serve as a resource and point of contact for board members, committee members, and staff as it relates to governance-related inquiries.
- Staff the Awards Committee.
- Provide additional support to the committees staffed by the Senior Director, Governance and Leadership Strategy as needed (Bylaws, Governance, and Executive Committee).
- Staff additional governance-related committees and task forces that may be created.
- In collaboration with Manager, Volunteer Engagement, oversee the annual committee assignment process.
- Act as an advisor to staff who are managing processes related to volunteer and elected leadership recruitment, development, and recognition (committee assignments, elections, and annual awards) across all Member Groups (Interest Groups, Law Students, and New Members Division).
- Perform other duties as assigned by the Senior Director.
Your Background
- Bachelor’s degree in from an accredited college or university or equivalent work experience.
- Seven to nine (7-9) years of association experience in governance, Board support, and working with chapters or other, similar volunteer groups.
- Hands-on experience working with volunteer leadership.
- Prior supervisory experience required.
This position is eligible for Remote/Hybrid work. Preference will be given to candidates who reside near the DC Metro area and have the ability to commute downtown as needed.
Our Workplace
We offer a dynamic and collaborative work environment with a competitive compensation package based on your experience and qualifications. Our generous benefits include 90% of an employee’s Medical/Rx, Dental, and Vision premiums paid, as well as contributions towards dependents’ premiums; a 401(k) with up to 3% matching contribution upon enrollment, employer-paid disability, and life insurance, commuter subsidy for those commuting to our National office. In addition, we provide employees with flexible scheduling and telecommuting options and plenty of time away from the office to bolster creativity and recharge. Added perks: eight-week paid parental leave after one year of service and a four-week sabbatical every tenth year of service.
Statement on Diversity
The American Immigration Lawyers Association ("AILA") is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to treating all applicants and employees without regard to unlawful considerations of race, religious creed, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (cancer or genetic characteristics), genetic information, military and veterans status, citizenship and immigration status, or any other classification protected by applicable local, state, or federal laws. This equal employment opportunity commitment applies to all aspects of employment, including but not limited to, advertising, recruiting, hiring, job assignment, compensation, promotion, demotion, benefits, training, discipline, and termination.
AILA believes that diversity is a strength. AILA is committed to being a safe, respectful, and inclusive space, where a broad range of viewpoints and experiences are encouraged and every member of its staff and board is given the opportunity to thrive.
Salary Description
$95,000 - $115,000
