Strategy & Operations Director, Path2Papers

Description:

Founded in 1887, Cornell Law School is a top-tier law school. We offer a 3-year JD program for about 200 students per class, a one-year LLM program for about 90 students from countries throughout the world, and a doctoral (JSD) program for about 2-3 new students per year. Cornell Law School has 41 tenured and tenure-track faculty, including 20 with chaired faculty positions; and 15 clinical professors in the legal research and writing program and in clinics at the local, national, and international level. Our faculty is consistently ranked among the top in the country for scholarly productivity and influence, and has pre-eminence in many areas, including quantitative and qualitative empirical legal studies, international and comparative law, and robust doctrinal scholarship in core fields. Our school is committed to being recognized as the leader among law schools at combining inspiring theoretical, doctrinal, and experiential teaching with cutting-edge scholarship in a supportive, intellectually rich community, so that our graduates can achieve excellence in all facets of the legal profession.

Cornell Law School is seeking to hire a strategy and operations director to manage projects within and contribute programmatic expertise to Path2Papers, a project assisting Dreamers obtain employment-based visas at Cornell Law School. The project operates within the Immigration Law & Advocacy Clinic (ILAC) and Migration and Human Rights Program at Cornell Law.

The selected candidate will collaborate closely with the Faculty Director and the Legal Director to manage and direct the project, with a focus on programmatic design. The candidate will engage in strategic planning within the leadership team; manage attorneys and other staff; and lead grant design and deliverable reporting.

The candidate should have legal experience representing DACA holders and other Dreamers, applicants for employment-based visas, or both and the ability to design and implement legal projects on behalf of this population. The candidate may also work with law students enrolled in ILAC.

Responsibilities will include the following:

• Co-lead programmatic design for Path2Papers (P2P), including engaging in strategic planning for the longevity of the project, and designing organizational and staffing structures.
• Collaborate closely with the Legal Director, Faculty Director, and other P2P attorneys and staff in designing and executing expansion projects to new regions or populations, including the current expansion into Los Angeles; and equipping other partners to replicate P2P's model or services.
• Lead grant development and reporting, including drafting grant proposals; monitoring deliverable progress and implementing strategies to meet goals; and drafting and submitting reports in collaboration with Program Coordinator. Occasional liaising with funders possible, together with Faculty Director.
• Co-lead the creation and management of project budgets. Oversee day-to-day expense decisions.
• Oversee legal operations, including managing technology systems and designing technical and programmatic workflows and protocols.
• Co-lead hiring, onboarding and supervising P2P staff, including attorneys, administrative staff, and outreach staff. Support and mentor staff towards meeting project goals.
• Liaise with stakeholders including immigrant communities, businesses interested in sponsoring Dreamer employees, and other organizations involved in the goal of regularizing status for this population. For example, this may include serving as the primary contact for LA-area school districts, teachers, staff, and unions, and coordinating communication and webinars for K-12 employer and staff audiences.
• With other P2P staff, provide training and outreach for non-profits and other collaborators in Los Angeles and other geographic regions.
• Contribute to educational resources, such as handouts, webinars, and other media for impacted audiences.
• Stay apprised of relevant immigration law developments and help to develop resources or strategies in response.
• Attend regular meetings with P2P team members and collaborating organizations. Manage relationships with partner organizations.
• This position may be part-time or full-time, with a minimum of 30 hours per week. The position is benefits eligible. Anticipated start date for the position is April 2026. The position is expected to continue until June 30, 2027, but may continue beyond that date if further funding allows.

The position may be conducted remotely within the United States (pending university approval). Please note that New York convenience of employer guidelines require New York State individual tax reporting and withholdings for the position if the work is conducted outside of NYS. Additional individual state income tax filings may also be required if working outside NYS.

Occasional travel to Ithaca, NY, San Francisco, CA, Los Angeles, CA, and/or other project locations may be required. Travel expenses will be reimbursed.

Qualifications:
Applicants must have a law degree (J.D.) and be admitted in good standing to a state bar. The ideal candidate will have the following:

• Minimum of 5-7 years of experience representing vulnerable immigrant communities, including DACA holders, Dreamers, and others seeking immigration relief of any kind (humanitarian, family-based, employment-based) and a strong track record of designing and implementing legal programs on behalf of these communities.
• Superior analytical skills and an ability to write and speak clearly and persuasively.
• Experience liaising with diverse stakeholders such as K-12 educators, unions, nonprofits, and community groups.
• Skilled in designing and delivering presentations, webinars, or trainings for professional and community audiences.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to build relationships with a variety of stakeholders, including employers, Dreamers, and other lawyers.
• Excellent project management skills, including the ability to develop and implement strategic plans, manage the day-to-day of a project, and follow through on projects to completion.
• Ability to work independently and with others.
• A demonstrated commitment to immigration law.

To Apply:
Interested applicants should submit a CV, detailed cover letter, the names of and contact information for three references, and one or more writing samples to https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/31743. The cover letter should include your interest in this position and how it fits with your career objectives; your legal experience and experience working with DACA recipients and/or undocumented individuals; and an example of a legal program that you designed and implemented.

The deadline to apply is March 15, 2026. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with priority given to early applicants.

Questions may be referred to Liz Flint (liz.flint@cornell.edu).

The anticipated pay range for a full-time candidate in this position is $100,000-$150,000. Candidates who prefer a part-time role will be compensated proportionately.

Pay Range:

---