Full-Time Outreach Coordinator, Pennsylvania Farmworker Project

Position: Full-Time Outreach Coordinator, Pennsylvania Farmworker Project

Anticipated Start date: February 6, 2023

Application requirements: Cover letter, resume, writing sample and references

BACKGROUND:

The Pennsylvania Farmworker Project (PFP) is a unit of Philadelphia Legal Assistance (PLA), a Legal Services Corporation (LSC) funded program. PFP provides legal representation to the migrant and seasonal agricultural worker population throughout Pennsylvania. The vast majority of farmworkers are monolingual Spanish speakers who migrate to Pennsylvania from other parts of the U.S. and Mexico.

A growing number of farmworkers in Pennsylvania are foreign “guestworkers” under the H-2A program. H-2A workers perform seasonal agricultural work in Pennsylvania and return back to their home counties at the completion of the growing season. A significant percentage of Pennsylvania’s H-2A workforce is located in South Central Pennsylvania, specifically the counties of Adams, Franklin, and York. In addition to H-2A workers, these counties also contain a large number of other seasonal and year-round farmworkers who remain underserved.

The successful candidate will have a variety of responsibilities as part of a team of attorneys and paralegals, including:

· Planning and coordinating outreach throughout Pennsylvania;

· Conducting outreach visits to farm labor camps in Southern Central Pennsylvania;

· Recruiting volunteers to assist with outreach trips to farm labor camps;

· Engaging in community education and “know your rights” presentations at farm labor camps and with local groups that serve the needs of farmworkers;

· Responding to phone calls from farmworkers;

· Creating and maintaining educational materials for dissemination to the migrant community;

· Building institutional relationships and maintaining existing relationships with community-based groups that serve the needs of the migrant community in Southern Central Pennsylvania;

· Maintaining relationships with governmental partners;

· Maintaining PFP’s seasonal farm labor camp database, including reviewing, downloading, and processing new H-2A job orders;

· Screening agricultural workers for potential immigration relief, including that available under the U- and T-visa programs;

· Coordinating and managing case referrals;

· Providing periodic litigation support.

 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

· Fluency in written and Spoken Spanish;

· Residency in or proximity to Adams, Franklin, or York County;

· Ability to work nights and weekends;

· Two- or Four-Year Degree;

· Strong organizational and task management skills;

· Ability to communicate effectively in writing and verbally;

· Excellent interpersonal and leadership skills;

· Previous experience working with farmworkers or immigrant communities;

· Driver’s license and both a willingness and ability to engage in frequent travel;

· Exceptional attention to detail;

· A sincere and strong commitment to social justice;

· Ability to work remotely (laptop, WiFi, etc.);

 

SALARY AND BENEFITS:

Salary is dependent upon experience, starting at 40,000.  PLA offers a generous benefit package in addition to salary:  health insurance premiums paid in full for employee and family, cash incentives for health insurance opt out, vacation, personal, and sick leave, thirteen (13) paid holidays, 403(b) retirement plan with employer contribution based on years of service, life insurance and short and long term disability benefits.   

APPLICATION PROCESS:

Philadelphia Legal Assistance (PLA) is an equal opportunity employer. PLA values a diverse work environment and strongly encourages women, people of color, people who identify as LGBTQ, people with disabilities, people who have experienced poverty or homelessness, and people who have had prior contact with the juvenile, criminal, or child welfare systems to apply. PLA invites all applicants to include in their cover letter a statement about how your unique background and/or experiences might contribute to the diversity, cultural vitality, and perspective of our staff and legal services practice.

Send cover letter, resume, and three references, preferably in one PDF document, to work@philalegal.org.  

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis, and the positions will remain open until filled.  We encourage applicants to submit applications as soon as possible.