Component Relations Manager - Washington, DC

:We Are · Headquartered in downtown Washington, DC, the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) is an organization comprised of nearly 17,000 individual attorney members who practice and teach immigration law. For our members, we provide continuing legal education, inform ...

Job description

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We Are

Headquartered in downtown Washington, DC, the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) is an organization comprised of nearly 17,000 individual attorney members who practice and teach immigration law. For our members, we provide continuing legal education, information, advocacy, professional services, and expertise. Founded in 1946, AILA's mission is to promote justice, advocate for fair and reasonable immigration law and policy, advance the quality of immigration and nationality law and practice, and enhance the professional development of its members.

Department Summary

The Governance Department supports AILA's leadership and decision-making structures, including the Board of Governors, Chapters, and key committees. It leads efforts related to leadership cultivation and recognition, manages committee selection processes, and ensures governance activities are inclusive, transparent, and aligned with AILA's values.

Position Summary

The Component Relations Manager serves as the primary liaison between AILA's National Office and its 39 volunteer-led Chapters. This role is responsible for building strong relationships with Chapter leaders, supporting effective local governance, and ensuring consistency, compliance, and alignment with national policies and goals.

This position manages all aspects of Chapter operations support, including onboarding and training of Chapter officers, maintenance of Chapter resources and templates, ongoing communications, and policy guidance. The Component Relations Manager ensures Chapters are equipped to deliver value to their members, comply with key administrative and fiscal responsibilities, and serve as engaged extensions of the national association.

Key Responsibilities

Chapter Officer Support – 50%

• Serve as the main point of contact for 39 Chapters, providing timely responsive guidance to Chapter Chairs and other officers.
• Coordinate and facilitate Chapter Chair calls, including agenda setting, materials prep, and follow-up.
• Maintain the Volunteer Leader Resources page and update, regularly updating templates, FAQs, and training materials to reflect current policies and practices.
• Manage onboarding and orientation for new Chapter Chairs and other officers.

Component Support and Compliance – 30%

• Provide ongoing communication and follow-up regarding component requirements, including fiscal policies, filings, and annual filings, and other compliance-related items.
• Support the annual the annual Chapter Liaison appointment and tracking process, in coordination with the Governance Coordinator.
• Ensure timely and accurate delivery of new member notifications to Chapters.
• Collaborate with the Governance Coordinator to manage and update Chapter pages on the website.

Component Communications and Engagement – 20%

• Monitor Chapter listservs to identify trends, surface emerging issues, and share opportunities across Chapters and with staff.
• Strengthen the Chapter leader community through staff-supported forums that encourage collaboration and adherence to AILA standards.
• Maintain strong internal coordination with departments across the organization to ensure Chapters have the tools and information they need.

This position operates with moderate supervision and may provide day-to-day guidance to a coordinator-level staff member.

The ideal candidate is a skilled communicator and systems thinker who can balance detail-oriented project coordination with a strategic understanding of how local chapters drive member engagement.

Remote – The role is eligible for Remote work

Our Remote Work Strategy is designed to ensure connection while minimizing costs and inconvenience. Talent residing within 50 miles of our National Office, located in Washington, D.C., located in the nation's capital, will be given preference. For roles outside this, we seek candidates within 50 miles of a major airport. This strategy helps us enhance collaboration, optimize travel costs, and strengthen in-person engagement while ensuring we remain cost-effective and mission-driven. Candidates outside these areas may be considered on a case-by-case basis based on role requirements and organizational needs.

This role requires maintaining a professional demeanor in a hybrid/office work setting. Responsibilities include extended periods of sitting at a desk, frequent use of a PC workstation for prolonged hours, occasional verbal communication with team members and stakeholders via virtual platforms, and the possibility of lifting or moving items up to 25 pounds, though this is not likely to be a frequent requirement.

Requirements:

Required:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience.
• Minimum of 3–5 years of experience supporting or managing chapter/component relations or volunteer engagement, within an association environment.
• Strong understanding of association best practices for working with volunteer leaders.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build trust-based relationships with volunteer leaders and internal staff.
• Proven project management and organizational skills, including the ability to manage multiple deadlines and coordinate logistics for calls, meetings, and resource updates.
• Attention to detail and follow-through in a fast-paced, remote, or hybrid environment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, SharePoint); familiarity with tools such as Zoom, Teams, and project management systems, such as SmartSheet, to track deadlines, manage workflows, and coordinate across teams.

Preferred:

• Experience managing a network of 30+ volunteer-led chapters or affiliates.
• Familiarity with financial policies and reporting requirements for nonprofit operations, ideally with volunteer-run components.
• Experience developing leadership onboarding, training materials, or toolkits.
• Comfort facilitating meetings, moderating peer discussions, or presenting to groups of volunteers.

Occasional travel is required related to job responsibilities. Participation in the AILA annual conference and quarterly in-person board meetings is a job requirement. This travel could involve both domestic and international destinations, with overnight stays and weekend events included.

Compensation and Benefits The salary range provided reflects a reasonable estimate of the annual salary based on AILA's commitment to equitable and market-competitive pay. The actual salary offered will depend on several factors, including, but not limited to, relevant education, qualifications, years of experience, certifications or professional licenses, job-related skills, internal equity, and business needs.

Our compensation structure is based on industry-specific market data for similar-sized nonprofit organizations. Typically, individuals are hired at or near the starting point of the salary range for their role. Compensation decisions are made on a case-by-case basis, considering the unique facts and circumstances of each applicant.

Additionally, full-time and part-time employees working at least 20 hours per week on a regular basis are eligible to participate in AILA's comprehensive benefits program, which includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, an employee assistance program, a 401(k) retirement savings plan with matching contributions after 3 months of employment, generous paid time off, paid parental leave, professional development opportunities, and employer-paid life insurance and disability benefits.

Application Process

To ensure a complete application, all candidates must submit the required materials, including a resume and cover letter, through our application portal. As part of our interview process, candidates may be asked to participate in virtual interviews, which will require on-camera presence.

We are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible interview experience. If you require accommodations due to a disability or sincerely held religious beliefs, such as an alternative format or assistance during the interview, please let us know in advance, and we will make every effort to support your needs.

Eligibility to Work In compliance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, we are required to hire only individuals who are authorized to work in the United States. Applicants selected for employment will need to provide documentation verifying their eligibility to work in the U.S. without the need for employer sponsorship. AILA participates in E-Verify to confirm work authorization. For more information on E-Verify, please visit

The American Immigration Lawyers Association ("AILA") is an equal-opportunity employer. We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply.