Policy Assistant

The International Refugee Assistance Project (“IRAP”) is a dynamic and growing legal, policy, and advocacy organization that works to develop and enforce a system of legal and human rights for refugees and displaced people around the world. We are the leading organization that provides free and comprehensive legal services to people we serve through registration, protection, and resettlement processes.

IRAP operates offices in the U.S. (New York City), Jordan (Amman), and Lebanon (Beirut). Our legal services are supplemented by a corps of pro bono lawyers from leading U.S. and international law firms and multi-national corporations, and law students who have created IRAP chapters across the United States and Canada. Through this work, we aim to assist refugees and other displaced people to find safe passage and to transform the landscape of refugee rights in the U.S. and internationally. IRAP has over 60 full-time staff, the majority of whom are based in the New York City office, with others working in field offices in Jordan and Lebanon or remotely. We are a nimble organization staffed by an innovative and collaborative team that is committed to high standards of quality and close partnerships with our clients, peers, and colleagues.

IRAP’s Policy and Communications Department is one of five departments (in conjunction with Legal, Litigation, Development, and Operations) and currently comprised of three policy staff and two communications staff working out of the New York office and remotely. IRAP’s Policy Department utilizes lessons learned in direct legal aid casework and works with creative, non-partisan coalitions to advocate for systemic changes that benefit broader groups and communities or refugees and displaced populations.

IRAP’s Policy Department seeks a Policy Assistant to provide administrative and programmatic support to its policy and communications work. This position will report to the Deputy Policy Director and work closely with Policy and Communications staff to facilitate and further IRAP’s systemic advocacy to improve immigration programs in the United States and abroad. This is an exciting opportunity for a well-organized, motivated individual interested in refugees, human rights, and immigration/international law to be part of a growing organization that makes an impact on the lives of refugees and other displaced persons.

The candidate will work at IRAP’s U.S. office in New York City.Occasional travel may be required, particularly to Washington, D.C.

IRAP offers a competitive salary and excellent benefits including family health, dental and vision benefits with no employee-paid premiums, a retirement plan with an employer matching component, and twenty days of vacation, five personal days, and twelve sick days per year. 

This position is covered by a collective bargaining agreement.

IRAP believes that diversity is critical to fostering a strong workplace and serving our clients well. We strongly encourage applications from people with lived experiences in the communities that we serve, members of other marginalized communities, and individuals whose identities are underrepresented in the legal profession.