Migrants Organise is hiring for the role Access to Justice Organiser.
This is a full-time role (35 hours per week). The contract is 12 months with the possibility of continuation. The role is based in London (hybrid), with travel. The salary range is £32,000 – £35,000 per year.
Application deadline: 29 September 2023
HOW TO APPLY: Please send your CV and cover letter (maximum two pages) outlining your skills and knowledge as specified in the Job Description and Person Specification by the closing date. Please email your documents to recruitment@migrantsorganise.org We will only contact shortlisted candidates for interviews on the 5th of October 2023.
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JOB OVERVIEW
The main purpose of the Access to Justice Organiser is to build the organising capacity and bring together a community of caseworkers, lawyers and migrant and refugee grassroots organisers – people who have been denied proper advice, representation and due process, to organise in solidarity and take meaningful action to secure access to justice for all migrants and refugees, and ensure all people are treated with dignity and justice.
As a part of the Organising team, the Access to Justice Organiser will play an integral role in organising and mobilising members and supporters, specifically working with legal advice professionals and people denied access to justice, providing spaces, skills and opportunities for them to build power, common ground, trust and organise through actions, in solidarity on strategic, systemic change for dignity and justice.
The integration of professionals, campaigners, public service providers, and people currently experiencing the hostile system in long-term organising is building on our work on access to healthcare, and it is what distinguishes the Migrants Organise approach from other models of campaigning and advocacy.
We are looking for an Organiser with skills, initiative and interest to work with the team in developing new ways of organising and the ability to facilitate power building, action and a long-term structural change.
The legislative and advice landscape, as well as public discourse in immigration, is constantly changing, so our Organiser will be focused on identifying the latest trends and opportunities and be constantly thinking of creative ways to connect with people. In addition, they must be involved in relational organising and direct actions for a fair and just immigration system and be able to apply a nuanced understanding of narratives and their potential impacts on relational organising, actions and systemic change.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
EXPERIENCE
– Relevant, recent and substantial experience working in community organising and social justice campaigns in the not-for-profit sector
– Working with organised groups and individual volunteers to build power and take action
– A similar role in an organisation (paid or unpaid) involved turning organisational objectives into
organisational activity.
– Management of projects to funding criteria, targets and outcomes.
– Working to deadlines independently and as a part of a team.
– Experience working remotely and flexibly.
SKILLS AND ABILITIES
– Organisational skills to undertake a complex and varied role in a national organisation.
– Adopt a solution-focused approach and make decisions effectively and timely
– Interpersonal and strong spoken and written communication skills that engage audiences, encouraging
understanding and participation
– Problem-solving in a complex and rapidly changing environment.
– Ability to troubleshoot difficult situations and deal with them calmly, diplomatically, efficiently and
effectively.
– IT skills at a level that supports report writing, email, internet and database.
– Motivating people during periods of challenging change in environment and resources.
– Adaptability and flexibility in being able to take on new roles and manage a range of different internal
and external relationships.
KNOWLEDGE
– A good understanding of the concept of access to justice, the problems with the current systems and the barriers to justice that migrants and asylum seekers in the UK face
– Regulatory requirements and best practice policy and guidance relating to immigration policy, social
exclusion and the changing relationship between government and the voluntary sector. Grassroots
organising for social justice and some of its challenges, including resourcing, sustainability and resilience
building.
EDUCATION/TRAINING
– No one specific qualification is required, but evidence of recent continuing professional development in
a professional area relevant to the post is required. For example, organising, campaigning or policy work.
PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS
– Able to travel extensively regionally and nationally travel.
– Able to work some evenings and weekends and stay overnight where necessary.
– Works well in a team with a flexible approach to work
– Commitment to anti-discriminatory practice and equal opportunities. An ability to apply awareness of
diversity issues to all areas of work.
– Commitment to the values and ethos of Migrants Organise – dignity, justice, solidarity and welcome for
all migrants and refugees regardless of their status.
– Commitment to upholding the rights of people facing disadvantage and discrimination in their attempt
to settle and integrate in the UK.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
GROW POWER
– Identify, recruit and support migrant and refugee organisers and immigration legal advice practitioners across England and facilitate their participation in the Access to Justice campaign.
– Organise and deliver training, mentoring and support for Access to Justice organisers to enable them to build alliances and take action in solidarity with other immigration justice organising campaigns locally,
regionally and nationally.
– Learn from and evaluate social justice actions and leadership development using Migrants Organise’s evaluation tools and framework and contribute to organisation-wide learning.
– Work with the Legal Organiser and the team to secure resources for local and regional actions and organisers to secure resources to grow and sustain Access to Justice long-term organising.
– Maintain good working relationships with funders as relevant and report as required.
NETWORK AND CONNECT
– Work with the Legal Organiser and the team to grow and expand the existing organising work for access to legal advice and representation into a broader Access to Justice organised campaign.
– Undertake at least 20 one-to-one relational meetings every month with community leaders, movement
builders, members, partners and other key stakeholders in order to build a network of power relations
that give energy and legitimacy to Migrants Organise’s regional and national alliance.
– Recruit, train and support volunteer or trainee organisers to support the growth of migrant and refugee
leadership and organising capacity.
BUILD COMMON GROUND
– Take responsibility for developing effective partnerships and actions related to a core migrant justice
organising work of Migrants Organise.
– Support the growth of strong relationships of trust and mutual support between migrant and refugee
justice organisers and movement builders nationally.
– Work in partnership and build alliances across migrant and refugee and other civil society sectors to
contribute to the development of Migrants Organise as a strong, respected civil society institution and
its movement builders as major power players in civil society.
– Help shape Migrants Organise’s national strategy to grow an organised refugee and migrant justice and
solidarity movement.
– Work with other colleagues in the team to build a collaborative, relational working culture rooted in Migrants Organise’s values of dignity, justice, solidarity and welcome.
SPEAK OUT – EXTERNAL LIASON AND PUBLIC SPEAKING
– Collaborate with the Legal Organiser and other colleagues to ensure that the Access to Justice campaign members and organisers can share their stories on their terms on all media platforms in a meaningful, participatory and safe way.
– Represent Migrants Organise in relevant networks and at events.
– Keep up to date on relevant local and national political and policy developments.
– Regularly contribute to Migrants Organise’s website and social media, and support Access to Justice
campaign organisers to contribute to Migrants Organise’s communications platforms.
– Assist in the production of any other relevant content (e.g. electronic newsletters, policy responses,
research reports, press releases, reports to funders, etc.).
– Work closely with the Communications Officer and team to effectively publicise the work of Migrants
Organise.
TEAM AND ORGANISATIONAL MANAGEMENT
– Work with the Legal Organiser and Chief Executive through line management and supervision
mechanisms to deliver to the above outcomes.
– Be self-servicing administratively and ensure records and data are kept (up to date) of all activities,
using Migrants Organise established systems.
– Report on the work as needed for the line manager, Trustees, Funders, Annual report, etc.
General Responsibilities
– Work to support the mission, ethos and values of Migrants Organise
– Represent and be an ambassador for Migrants Organise
– Be flexible and carry out other associated duties as may arise, develop or be assigned in line with the
broad remit of the position
– Support and promote diversity and equality of opportunity in the workplace
– Work Collaboratively with others in all aspects of our work
This job description does not form part of your contract of employment and can be amended from time to time as the needs of the organisation require.
ABOUT MIGRANTS ORGANISE
Migrants Organise is a grassroots community organising platform for dignity and justice. The organisation was founded 30 years ago by migrants and refugees who needed advice and support to settle in London. Working nationally, it is still led by people whose lives are defined, controlled, and adversely affected by immigration controls. As a result, the Migrants Organise approach has always been a holistic combination of direct advice and support services and organising for systemic change.
We understand migrant justice organising both as a vision and practice of power and solidarity.
