Clinic Navigator

Make the Road New York (MRNY) builds the power of immigrant and working-class communities to achieve dignity and justice through organizing, policy innovation, transformative education, and survival services. Make the Road New York operates community centers in Bushwick, Brooklyn; Jackson Heights, Queens; Port Richmond, Staten Island; Brentwood, Long Island and White Plains, Westchester County. With a membership of 27,000, MRNY tackles the critical issues facing our communities, including workplace justice, tenants’ rights, immigrant rights and civil rights, TGNCIQ justice, public education, health care access, and immigration reform. (TGNCIQ = transgender, gender non-conforming, intersex and queer). MRNY is a newly unionized workplace, currently negotiating its first Collective Bargaining Agreement.

MRNY is a multi-service organization. Our member-led organizing committees - which work on the issues named above - implement strategies to combat shared problems, and develop leadership and the capacity for civic participation. We also provide an array of high-quality bilingual services: We offer English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), Spanish-language literacy, computer literacy, citizenship preparation, and in-school and after-school youth programs. We have a robust legal program that offers direct representation across a spectrum of practice areas, including employment law, immigration law, housing and benefits, and TGNCIQ civil rights; we also take on impact litigation as a strategy for achieving broad change. Our health program offers facilitated enrollment into health insurance programs and SNAP benefits, a community health worker home visit program, nutrition education and emergency food pantries, health care navigation, and more."

Current Opening:

We are hiring a Clinic Navigator who will be primarily responsible for assisting clients at our legal clinics. It is anticipated that these clinics will be designed to help individuals who may be eligible for certain forms of relief, such as but not limited to, Temporary Protected Status, deferred action, or asylum. The Clinic Navigator will also help individuals apply for Employment Authorization. The Clinic Navigator will also offer guidance to volunteers and help troubleshoot legal issues at our monthly clinics.

Please note this is a term-limited job (12 months through end of 2024) with the possibility of renewal, depending on funding availability. MRNY staff are currently working under a hybrid model, which requires a minimum of two days per week in their designated home office. This policy is subject to change and/or modification after March 2024. While this position will be primarily remote, the Special Legal Projects Coordinator will be required to be in-person at each clinic, and there will be a home office assigned after hire. Additionally, there may be a need for substantial in-person work, such as but not limited to joining staff meetings, attending workshops, meeting with clients and members in person, or other tasks that are not suitable for remote work. The home office may be any of our community centers: Brooklyn, Queens, Westchester, Staten Island, Long Island (Suffolk).

The Navigator will focus on coordinating appointment slots for clients scheduled through internal and external referrals, conducting intakes with community members, escalating complex legal questions as needed, and offering general information about our services and practice areas to clients and community members. The Navigator will conduct comprehensive eligibility screenings, identify relief available to the client, and, depending on the circumstances, represent immigrant New Yorkers in their affirmative applications. Additionally, the Navigator will collaborate on legal training and community workshops. The navigator will be expected to incorporate new developments in immigration law into their practice by attending and participating in workshops and training.

Key Responsibilities but not limited to:

• Coordinate the scheduling of appointments
• Conduct preliminary consultations with potential clients
• Analyze eligibility for relief including conducting necessary legal research
• Share information about our services and practice areas with community members
• Supervise volunteers at legal clinics
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records
• Assist with administrative tasks
• Collaborate with attorneys and other legal staff members
• Prepare and lead know your rights workshops as requested
• Attend team and department meetings

Requirements:

• Eligible to work in the US
• Required to be fully vaccinated with an FDA approved COVID-19 vaccine prior first day of employment
• High school diploma or equivalent experience
• 2 years of experience working in a legal or customer-facing setting
• Spanish language fluency
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• Experience with populations that make up major portions of Make the Road’s membership is a plus – such as documented and undocumented immigrants, individuals facing domestic violence, members of TGNCIQ communities, those who have experienced the criminal legal system, and youth
• Knowledge of immigration law
• Prior experience as an accredited representative is a plus
• Willingness to seek DOJ Accreditation
• Ability to work collaboratively

Job Competencies:

• Self-starter with strong organizational skills and strong attention to detail
• Be highly professional and team oriented with a passion for excellence and eagerness to help the department meet our goals.
• Ability to multi-task, prioritize, and complete assignments under strict deadlines with minimal supervision in a fast paced environment.
• Ability to work under pressure required.
• Have a working knowledge of spreadsheets, Microsoft Office suite, and using our case management system, Salesforce, or a similar system.
• Flexible work schedule, some evenings or weekends required
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• High level of accountability and initiative; needs to be a self-starter and eager to do team work to support the organization as a whole
• Relevant lived experience, including, but not limited to, having been a member of a low-income, immigrant community

Salary and Benefits:

Starting salary is based on a scale set by a democratically-elected personnel committee and will depend on factors such as experience and education. MRNY offers an excellent benefit package including health insurance, 401K, and generous paid vacation, sick, personal days. The salary range for this position is from $50,591 to $68,174.

How to Apply:

Please attach cover letter/resume and submit all documents to the Make the Road New York career center.

Make the Road believes that social change is best achieved through grassroots community-based organizing that flows directly from and engages the community demanding the change. As a membership-based organization, we are committed to providing equal employment opportunities regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, criminal history, or Veteran status. We strongly encourage those from historically excluded groups to apply.