Join Our Team | Columbia County Sanctuary Movement

Open Positions:

Immigration Attorney

Columbia County Sanctuary Movement (CCSM) organizes with immigrants and allies to collectively support, empower, and defend our communities. We are a multilingual nonprofit organization dedicated to providing holistic services and education, and engaging members in campaigns for systemic change. This position is based in Hudson, New York, with the ability to work a hybrid remote/in-office schedule and will report to Co-Executive Directors Diana Cruz and Bryan MacCormack.

The Immigration Staff Attorney will provide legal representation to recent arrivals and long-term residents on both affirmative applications and in removal proceedings. The attorney can expect to appear before the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, New York City Immigration Court, and Buffalo Immigration Court. The Immigration Staff Attorney will have the opportunity to work with CCSM to use creative legal remedies and gutsy advocacy strategies to challenge the unjust deportation machine and inhumane immigration legal system.

70% Legal Service Provision

Conduct intakes with potential clients, conflict checks, and screenings for various forms of immigration relief
Facilitate legal consultations and provide case-specific advice to clients
Represent members and identify forms of relief in removal cases (such as defensive Asylum claim or prosecutorial discretion)
Prepare affirmative cases (such as U-Visas/T-Visas, TPS, SIJS, Asylum, Naturalization, and family petitions) before USCIS.
Supervise and provide technical support to DOJ-accredited representatives providing legal services to clients applying for affirmative immigration benefits before USCIS
Travel to attend master, individual hearings, and ICE check-ins when necessary
Maintain accurate, complete, and confidential case files
Mentor, support, and train CCSM staff on complex immigration matters and the provision of trauma-informed services
Work closely with Co-Executive Director and Community Navigator to provide holistic services and referrals to clients
Strengthen CCSM’s existing Rapid Response work and hotline by providing legal expertise and, at times, legal representation to detained members
Provide the support and program development needed to host a Justice Corps Fellowship in the near future

20% Administration

Administer legal service systems and track program metrics
Work with grant manager on accurate legal service grant applications
Contribute to managing legal service program budget
Supervise DOJ accredited representatives and/or paralegals
Support strengthening and administering legal service policies

10 % Outreach, Education and External Relations

Inform and provide orientation about defenses against removal proceedings and the court process to community members
Facilitate remote court appearances from CCSM’s office rather than traveling to NYC or Buffalo
Identify and collaborate with local or state partner organizations on appellate and impact-oriented litigation efforts related to detention conditions, labor rights, and other priorities.
Establish and maintain relationships with community partners, immigration service providers, pro bono attorneys, private attorneys, and our legal service funders.

Desired Qualifications:

Juris Doctor active NYS bar admission required (recent graduate with upcoming bar exam acceptable)
Highly Preferred: Ability to communicate effectively with monolingual Spanish-speakers (i.e., advanced Spanish skills)
Excellent research, writing, analytical, and communication skills
Minimum of 2 years of relevant experience in immigration law or direct legal services (can include law school immigration clinic programs) and experience with both affirmative applications and removal defense
Knowledge and adherence to community and movement lawyering principles
Commitment to CCSM’s mission, immigrant communities, and principles of collective liberation
Valid driver’s license, access to a car, and ability to travel
Relationships with immigrant communities
Directly impacted by or experience with the immigration system preferred

This is a full-time position (approximately 40 hours a week) with a starting salary of $ 80,121.60.

We are committed to compensating our team fairly and reducing the inequity that can come from salary negotiations. The posted salary and benefits are the best we can offer at this time, and we will continue to build a benefits package that supports all staff.

Benefits include:

Unlimited paid time off with prior approval
90% Health and 100% dental, vision, and long-term disability insurance
401(k) with employer contribution
Equity-based compensation adjustments
Paid Holidays and end-of-year office closure
16 weeks of fully paid parental leave
Work computer, cell phone, and mileage reimbursement
Language learning stipend and professional development funds
Interpretation and safety trainings
Digital security benefits package (professional and personal)

CCSM is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages people of color, women, working-class people, LGBTQIA+ people, immigrants, formerly incarcerated people, and people with disabilities to apply. Statistics show that people with marginalized identities often do not apply for positions when they do not meet all qualifications. We encourage you to push past imposter syndrome and apply anyway.

Apply on BambooHR by clicking here. If you have access needs, email info@sanctuarycolumbiacounty.org with details.

Your cover letter should answer the following questions:

How are you impacted by the immigration system?
Why are you interested in this role?
What experiences have you had that make you a strong candidate? (Your response does NOT need to include formal work experience)

We will not check references until after the interview.

Finance & Compliance Coordinator

Dev/Comms - Hudson, New York (Hybrid)

Columbia County Sanctuary Movement (CCSM) organizes with (im)migrants and allies to collectively support, empower and defend our communities. The Finance and Compliance Organizer will work closely with the Co-Executive Directors, finance team, and program staff to safeguard CCSM’s funding by ensuring that timesheets, mileage logs, and payroll documentation are accurate, complete, and translated into audit-ready and voucher-ready packages on time, every time.

CCSM is building a representative staff that contributes to leadership development within our community. We will provide training and mentorship to applicants who we believe would be a strong addition to our team but do not have all of the qualifications below.

Timesheet & Payroll Documentation Compliance — 35%

Run the monthly timesheet process across all grant-coded staff timesheets, flagging discrepancies, missing entries, and misallocated hours before vouchering
Manage the e-signature workflow for timesheet approvals, including supervisor routing and follow-up on outstanding signatures
Maintain grant coding accuracy on staff timesheets, working with supervisors to reclassify or correct entries as grant requirements shift
Review staff mileage logs to ensure entries are accurate and have required supporting documentation
Prepare payments for vendors and staff reimbursements

Voucher & Audit Package Preparation — 35%

Assemble complete voucher packages (timesheets, mileage, receipts, and supporting documentation) for submission to grantors on a recurring schedule, ensuring packages meet each funder’s specific formatting and documentation requirements
Submit vouchers directly to funders and track submission status, follow-up requests, and resubmissions through to resolution
Prepare documentation packages for independent reviews, audits, and funder site visits, working closely with CCSM’s outside accountants
Maintain an audit trail and filing system for all timesheets, mileage, and voucher documentation, organized for quick retrieval during reviews
Flag documentation gaps or compliance risks to the Co-Executive Directors before they become reporting problems
Support with creating budgetary documents for funding proposals and reports

Systems & Process Improvement — 30%

Maintain and refine the timesheet and voucher workflows, including templates, naming conventions, and routing systems
Work with the finance team to keep grant coding, timesheet allocations, and voucher records consistent across systems
Improve infrastructure to integrate grant deliverable tracking with financial systems with the Grants Manager
With support from Co-EDs, maintain proper state and federal compliance documentation for grants
Maintain reference materials documenting each funder’s specific voucher and documentation requirements for public and private funding
Prepare quarterly internal reports on grant deliverables, time allocation, and current spending
Participate in monthly staff meetings and coordinating committee meetings
Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

Commitment to CCSM’s mission, immigrant communities, and principles of collective liberation
Experience with timesheets or grant vouchering, preferably in a nonprofit setting preferred
Excellent attention to detail and comfort working with detailed, repetitive documentation under deadline pressure
Strong organizational skills, including the ability to track multiple submission deadlines across different funders simultaneously
Comfort working with spreadsheets and documentation systems
Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to follow up with staff persistently and respectfully to close documentation gaps
Knowledge of public funding and government grant reporting/vouchering requirements a plus
Bilingualism (English / Spanish) a plus
Willingness to work in both a remote and in-person setting
Take feedback well and have a learning mindset
Directly impacted by or experience with immigration system preferred

Terms of Employment

This is a full-time, in-person position (approximately 40 hours per week) based primarily at our Hudson, NY office. The starting salary is $59,779, with significant annual raises based on CCSM’s pay scale.

This position is grant based and contingent upon additional grant funds.

Benefits include:

Unlimited paid time off with prior approval
90% Health and 100% dental, vision and long term disability insurance
401(k) with employer contribution
Equity-based compensation adjustments
Paid Holidays and end of year office closure
16 weeks of fully paid parental leave
Work computer, cell phone, and mileage reimbursement
Language learning stipend and professional development funds
Interpretation and safety trainings
Digital security benefits package (professional and personal)

How to Apply

Apply on BambooHR by clicking here. If you have access needs, email info@sanctuarycolumbiacounty.org with details.

Your cover letter should answer the following questions:

How are you impacted by the immigration system?
Why are you interested in this role?
What experiences have you had that make you a strong candidate? (Your response does NOT need to include formal work experience)

We will not check references until after the interview.

Community Navigator (Part-Time)

Programs & Services - Hudson, New York (Hybrid)

CCSM organizes with (im)migrants and allies to collectively support, empower and defend our communities. The Community Navigator will work closely with Co-Executive Director focused on Programs and Services, staff, and the Coordinating Committee to help community members locate, connect, engage, and stay involved with the services they need to achieve their goals. Navigators will be mobile and serve as the bridge to guide individuals across different systems, city agencies, and organizations.

Service Provision & Coordination

Conduct intakes and provide ongoing follow up and case support to community members
Connect immigrants to legal service providers, social service organizations, and government representatives
Distribute financial mutual aid payments
Maintain comprehensive up-to-date notes and provide timely notification to community members of all activities regarding their case
Accompany members to appointments (e.g., social service, Department of Motor Vehicles appointments and local courts) and provide transportation when needed
Identify, compile and maintain lists of culturally and linguistically appropriate community services, programs and resources for use by community members
Translate and interpret for members participating in CCSM programming
Help community members use technology to access services, including navigating online portals and applications, using video conferencing platforms for appointments, and locating documents or forms on agency websites.
Work with Programs and Services Department to identify service gaps and develop solutions to fill them
Advocate for institutional accountability to language justice policies
Working alongside other staff members, volunteers and/or partner organizations to coordinate accompaniment (e.g., social services, immigration courts, and local courts)
Attend weekly staff meetings and monthly Coordinating Committee meetings
Ready to provide members with resources via virtual or in-person presentations, or through community tabling events

Qualifications

Commitment to CCSM’s mission, immigrant communities, and principles of collective liberation
Bilingualism (English / Spanish) required
Previous social service or legal experience is highly desirable.
Willingness to work in both a remote and in-person setting
Willingness to work flexible hours and travel for trainings, conferences, and accompaniment occasionally with personal vehicle
Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
Good written and verbal communication skills
Valid driver’s license, access to a car, and ability to travel
Relationships with immigrant communities / Resident of Columbia or Greene County preferred
Comfortable managing multiple projects independently and with a team
Excellent project and time management skills
Take feedback well and have a learning mindset
Demonstrates cultural humility and ability to interact with others in a non-judgmental, empathetic, and professional manner.
Directly impacted by or experience with immigration system preferred

Statistics show that people with marginalized identities often do not apply for positions when they do not meet all qualifications. We encourage you to push past the imposter syndrome and apply anyway- we promise you others are doing the same.

Terms of Employment

This is a part-time, hybrid position (approximately 20 hours per week) based primarily at our office in Hudson, NY. The starting hourly wage for this position is $28.74. This position is contingent on grant funding.

Benefits include:

Unlimited paid time off with prior approval
401(k) with employer contribution
Equity-based compensation adjustments
Paid Holidays and end of year office closure
16 weeks of fully paid parental leave
Work computer, cell phone, and mileage reimbursement
Language learning stipend and professional development funds
Interpretation and safety trainings
Digital security benefits package (professional and personal)

How to Apply

Apply on BambooHR by clicking this link. If you have access needs, email info@sanctuarycolumbiacounty.org with details.

Your cover letter should answer the following questions:

How are you impacted by the immigration system?
Why are you interested in this role?
What experiences have you had that make you a strong candidate? (Your response does NOT need to include formal work experience)

We will not check references until after the interview.