Job Description

Job Location LA Office - Los Angeles, CA 90017 Position Type Full Time Salary Range $118,600.00 - $197,700.00 Salary

We are looking for a Managing Director of Community Justice Unit to join our team in Los Angeles and Orange County!

WHO WE ARE

Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California (AJSOCAL) is the nation’s largest legal and civil rights organization that advocates for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs). Founded in 1983, AJSOCAL supports over 15,000 individuals and organizations annually. AJSOCAL offers free legal help, engages in impact litigation, and advocates for policy change. Our services are open to individuals of all races and ethnicities, without restriction. AJSOCAL strives to be a champion for the most vulnerable members of the AAPI communities, while advancing civil rights and social justice for everyone.

Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California offices are located in downtown Los Angeles and Orange County, with presence in Sacramento, ensuring accessibility for all. With our Advancing Justice affiliates in Atlanta, Chicago, and Washington, D.C., we enrich, enhance, and serve our communities all across the country.

We provide supportive services for individuals wanting to start the immigration process through Family-Based Immigration, Asylum, Temporary Protected Status, the Violence Against Women Act, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, T-Visa, and U-Visa. We also offer free citizenship workshops and resources to help you on your naturalization journey. Beyond immigration, we also lead community-centered initiatives such as the Asian Language Legal Intake Project (ALLIP), the Survivor and Family Empowerment (SAFE) Project, the Housing Preservation (HP) Program, and our Health Access Project (HAP). In addition, our Demographic Research Project (DRP) and Community Engagement (CE) teams drive data-informed strategies and grassroots partnerships that deepen our impact across Southern California. Our Impact Litigation Team looks to create systemic change for our communities, while our Policy Team continues to shape laws and local practices that impact millions of Asian American and immigrant families across California.

This position IS NOT covered under the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

WHAT WE BRING

• The special opportunity to join a mission driven team
• Flexible, hybrid work schedules
• Rich medical, dental and vision benefits
• Retirement options through 403B and match

WHO YOU ARE

You share our mission of advocacy for AAPIs. You enjoy the thrill of serving the public interest while championing civil rights and social justice. You take pride in your work enriching lives and communities in Los Angeles and across the country. You are looking for your next role in an organization that supports your career as much as you support the organization and its goals. You are looking for a job where you make a difference, and your impact is directly proportional to your contribution. You are a game changer. You are a leader. You are an advocate.

WHAT YOU BRING

REQUIRED:

• Bachelor’s Degree.
• Minimum of eight years of legal practice in housing, family law, or other community-based legal services, with demonstrated experience serving underrepresented or marginalized communities.
• Minimum of eight years of experience in legal services, policy advocacy, and/or impact litigation at the local, state, or federal level.
• Minimum of three years of management experience, including direct supervision of staff.
• Minimum of three years of experience collaborating with community-based organizations or stakeholders in LA and OC.
• Demonstrated commitment to social justice and equity.
• Strong understanding of issues impacting Asian American and Pacific Islander communities.

PREFERRED:

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree.
• Active membership in the California State Bar.
• Experience developing and advancing policy strategies at the local, state, or federal level.
• Experience managing program or organizational budgets and fundraising strategies.
• Experience coordinating cross-functional teams and working in multi-office environments.
• Proven ability to engage with media, donors, and external stakeholders through strategic communications.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Demonstrated ability to build and lead coalitions, engage diverse stakeholders, and mobilize collective action around shared goals.
• Experience designing and executing multi-pronged advocacy campaigns, integrating legal strategy, policy development, media engagement, public education, and grassroots organizing.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to tailor messaging for varied audiences including the public, media outlets, legal professionals, community advocates, funders, and donors.
• Solid track record in program management, including oversight of deliverables, timelines, staff coordination, and outcome tracking.
• Experience working with limited English proficient populations, applying culturally responsive and linguistically accessible service approaches.
• Familiarity with policy and legislative advocacy processes, including stakeholder engagement, drafting, and coalition-building (preferred).
• Multilingual proficiency, with strong preference for Asian languages, is highly desirable.
• Ability to work across departments and functions, demonstrating collaborative leadership and strategic problem-solving.

Qualifications

ABOUT THE ROLE:

The Managing Director of Community Justice Unit (CJU) is responsible for the strategic oversight, operational execution, and continuous evaluation of Advancing Justice Southern California’s (AJSOCAL) service delivery across the Los Angeles (LA) and Orange County (OC) region. This senior leadership role ensures cross-functional coordination among programmatic departments to align service offerings with the evolving needs of the communities served. The Managing Director functions as the principal representative to regional community stakeholders, cultivating strategic partnerships and advancing collaborative initiatives that support AJSOCAL’s mission. The role requires comprehensive knowledge of internal programs and external resources, enabling the effective integration of support systems to address complex needs of diverse communities, particularly those facing housing instability, family law challenges, and barriers to accessing justice.

As a member of AJSOCAL’s Strategic Programs and Management (SPAM) team, the Managing Director of Community Justice provides leadership and strategic direction for the organization’s housing, family law, and our Asian Language Intake Project (community call center), along with other emerging areas of law across Southern California. This role is responsible for overseeing program design, cultivating resources, and guiding communications strategy, as well as developing and advancing advocacy initiatives that address systemic inequities impacting low-income and marginalized communities. The Managing Director also plays a vital role in identifying and supporting impact litigation opportunities that strengthen legal protections, expand access, and drive systemic change. Through this leadership, the Managing Director ensures that AJSOCAL’s services remain responsive to evolving community needs while staying aligned with the organization’s broader mission and strategic priorities.

YOUR DAY-TO-DAY RESPONSIBILITIES:

PROGRAM STRATEGY, LEADERSHIP, AND SERVICE DELIVERY OVERSIGHT (55%):

• Develop and implement strategic goals for LA and OC programs, ensuring alignment with organizational mission and regional priorities.
• Lead cross-departmental collaboration to design and execute integrated service models that promote innovation, consistency, and impact.
• Facilitate the LA and OC Program Roundtable, guiding internal discussions on regional activities, engagement opportunities, and service coordination.
• Supervise program leaders and staff, provide mentorship, performance management, and professional development support.
• Foster a team-centered culture focused on collaboration, accountability, and high-quality client outcomes.
• Oversee the operational delivery of housing, family law, intake lines, and other community-based legal services across Los Angeles and regional offices, ensuring compliance and strategic alignment.
• Provide legal expertise to inform program design, vision, and execution, integrating legal strategy with broader organizational goals.
• Monitor service delivery issues and proactively manage client expectations to ensure satisfaction and continuity of services.
• Coordinate across units, including strategic planning sessions with the Litigation Director and Policy Director to address complex legal and advocacy needs.

EXTERNAL RELATIONS, OUTREACH, AND EDUCATION (30%)

• Lead the cultivation and oversight of strategic community partnerships, ensuring alignment with AJSOCAL’s mission and long-term goals while fostering trust, collaboration, and mutual impact.
• Serve as a key organizational representative in LA and OC, strengthening relationships between local stakeholders and AJSOCAL’s senior leadership to promote shared initiatives and regional visibility.
• Provide strategic direction and guidance for community outreach efforts, equipping program teams with tools and frameworks to respond effectively to evolving community needs and requests.
• Champion AJSOCAL’s role in regional networks and coalitions, offering leadership and support to collaborative efforts and policy strategies that reflect the priorities of both AJSOCAL and its community partners.
• Collaborate with the CEO and Pro Bono Director to build and sustain relationships with the private bar, expand professional development pathways for staff, and increase volunteer engagement across programs.
• Develop and implement high-impact communications strategies, ensuring consistent, mission-driven messaging across media, community stakeholders, and donor audiences.
• Serve as a communications lead for LA and OC operations, supporting public relations, stakeholder engagement, and donor cultivation efforts to enhance AJSOCAL’s visibility and credibility.
• Demonstrate adaptive leadership by taking on additional responsibilities as assigned, contributing to organizational agility and responsiveness in a dynamic service environment.
• Perform other leadership duties as assigned to advance organizational priorities.

SITE AND PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION (15%)

• Provide executive oversight of AJSOCAL’s Los Angeles and Orange County offices, ensuring operational efficiency, strategic alignment, and high-performance culture across both regions.
• Manage and monitor the overall budget for LA and OC operations, including coordination with program-specific budgets to ensure fiscal responsibility and resource optimization.
• Lead and support fundraising efforts in collaboration with ELT, SPAM, SLTm Development, Finance, and program teams, aligning resource development strategies with organizational priorities and regional needs.
• Coordinate with administrative department leads in HR, Facilities, and IT to ensure smooth operational support and resolution of infrastructure and personnel matters.
• Develop and implement fundraising strategies, including stewardship of current funding sources, tracking progress toward deliverables, drafting grant reports, and maintaining strong communications with funders.
• Oversee the budget and financial planning for Community Justice programs (housing, family law, intake lines, etc.), ensuring sustainability and alignment with service delivery goals.
• Collaborate across agency units to advance policies that support and protect client communities, integrating programmatic insights into broader advocacy and policy initiatives.
• Other duties as assigned.

At AJSOCAL, we value a diverse, inclusive workforce and we provide equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. All qualified applicants for employment will be considered without regard to an individual’s race, color, sex, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition, family care status, marital status, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local laws. AJSOCAL strictly prohibits and does not tolerate discrimination against employees, applicants, or other covered persons, including interns.

All positions are subject to funding, and non-collective bargaining unit positions are also at will.