Announcing the Retirement of Robin Bronen, Executive Director, Alaska Institute for Justice
ANCHORAGE, AK, (September 19, 2024) – Please join the Board of Directors of the Alaska Institute for Justice (AIJ) in extending gratitude and best wishes to Robin Bronen, JD, PhD, who is retiring from the organization after 19 years of service as co-founder and Executive Director.
AIJ was established in 2005 to serve an unmet need for legal services for immigrant individuals and families in Alaska. The Alaska Immigration Justice Project has now served over 7,000 clients from countries throughout the world. Clients come from countries as diverse as Honduras, Afghanistan, El Salvador, Cameroon, Gambia, North Korea, Ukraine and many more.
Since the time of the organization’s founding, two other programs have been added to AIJ’s work: The Language Interpreter Center provides access to trained Alaska-based and national language interpreters for medical, legal and social service interpretation. AIJ and our partners provide translation services in over 100 languages.
Our third initiative is the Alaska Climate Justice Program. We work with Alaska Native communities on climate adaptation and resilience, including assisting clients and communities we serve as they advocate for state and national policy-level changes. These changes increase access to resources to protect human rights and promote and protect Tribal sovereignty.
Robin Bronen’s work has been recognized throughout her service by staff, the Board of Directors, multiple organizations and the individuals she has served. One recent recognition was the award of a $2 million grant to AIJ from MacKenzie Scott’s Yield Giving Foundation.
The Alaska Institute for Justice has flourished thanks to Robin’s unwavering passion for justice and helping those in need. Her commitment to AIJ’s mission, vision, and values has ensured the needs of thousands were not unheard.
“Robin’s leadership and passion for social justice have left us a lasting legacy. She built the foundation for our organization to continue its growth and success, ensuring that our mission thrives for years to come.”
–Heather Arnett, Board President
I am deeply honored and humbled to have worked with an outstanding team of staff, Board and community allies to ensure that Alaskans have access to the legal advocacy and language interpretation and translation services they need to protect their human rights and pursue justice and equity. As Cornel West says, “Never forget that justice is what love looks like in public.” — Robin Bronen
AIJ Mission Statement: Our mission is to promote and protect the human rights of all Alaskans including immigrants, refugees and Alaska Native communities. We house three programs: Alaska Immigration Justice Project (Legal Services); Language Interpreter Center; Alaska Climate Justice Program.
A note from the Alaska Institute for Justice’s Board President: AIJ’s Leadership Transition
In 2005, AIJ Executive Director Robin Bronen, along with Mara Kimmel and Jason Baumetz, saw a pressing, unmet need in Alaska for legal services for immigrant individuals and families. No nonprofit in the state was offering services of this kind. With a shoestring budget, the three founders established the Alaska Immigration Justice Project. Now, 19 years later, the program has served over 7,000 clients from countries throughout the world. Clients come from countries as diverse as Venezuela, Afghanistan, El Salvador, Cameroon, Honduras, North Korea, Ukraine and many more.
Since the time of the organization’s founding, two other programs have been added to AIJ’s work: The Language Interpreter Center provides access to trained Alaska-based and national language interpreters for medical, legal and social service interpretation. AIJ and our partners provide translation services in over 100 languages.
Our third initiative is the Alaska Climate Justice Program. We work with Alaska Native communities on climate adaptation and resilience, including assisting the clients and communities we serve as they advocate for state and national policy-level changes. These changes increase access to resources to protect human rights and promote and protect Tribal sovereignty.
Our executive director Robin’s exemplary work over the past 19 years has been recognized by multiple organizations:
- 2014 Victims for Justice – Advocacy Award
- 2012 FBI – AIJ – FBI Director’s Community Service Award for work with Human Trafficking Victims
- 2012 Alaska Bar Association – International Human Rights Award
- 2012 Soroptimist International – Advancing the Rights of Women Award
- 2007 Alaska Bar Association – Robert Hickerson Public Service Award
Through Robin’s leadership, AIJ has grown from a staff of 3 individuals to 16 full-time employees. The organization’s remarkable and impactful work was recently recognized with a $2 million grant from MacKenzie Scott’s Yield Giving Foundation.
Earlier this year, Robin informed the board of directors that it was her plan to retire from AIJ at the end of 2024.
We are so grateful for Robin’s work at AIJ and for all she has done for individuals and families in need in Alaska. The transformative impact she has had in the lives of clients and in improving public policy – will reach far into the future.
Please join the AIJ board of directors and me in expressing our gratitude to Robin and congratulating her on 19 years of service to the Alaskan community.
Recruitment of our next executive director/chief executive officer is beginning. A link to the position announcement and information on the application process is below.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SEARCH ANNOUNCEMENT
WHO WE ARE
Established in 2005, Alaska Institute for Justice (AIJ) is an award-winning non-profit dedicated to protecting the human rights of all Alaskans, including immigrants, refugees, and Alaska Native communities. AIJ is on the frontlines of promoting justice and equity for underserved communities through three equity-focused programs:
● The Alaska Immigration Justice Project provides critical legal services to Alaska’s immigrant and refugee communities, prioritizing legal representation for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking and those fleeing torture and persecution in their country of origin. AIJ has served over 7,000 legal clients since 2005.
● The Language Interpreter Center provides access to trained Alaska-based and national language interpreters and translators who remove communication barriers between legal, medical, and social service professionals and limited English proficient individuals. AIJ’s Language Interpreter Center provides access to over 100 languages for non-profit, government, and private organizations across Alaska.
● The Alaska Climate Justice Program works with Alaska Native communities on climate adaptation and resilience, assisting communities in gaining access to the resources they need to become safe from the impacts of the climate crisis, and empowering them to advocate for the state and national policy-level changes needed to protect human rights, and promote and protect Tribal sovereignty.
AIJ upholds certain core values across all programs that drive the agency’s mission and work in Alaska:
● We are committed to equity, justice and respect for the rights and dignity of all people;
● We work with integrity and accountability, and acknowledge our responsibility to our clients and the communities we serve;
● We pursue excellence and long-term sustainability for AIJ’s work within Alaska, characterized by principles of shared values and team engagement.
THE OPPORTUNITY
AIJ seeks a transformative and inclusive leader with the experience, ability and optimism to grow and implement our vision for change in Alaska. The executive director will join our passionate, dynamic, and energetic team in a fast-paced and rewarding environment as we work across all program areas to promote human rights and justice.
AIJ’s executive director will lead an organization that was brought into existence with community and statewide support working towards a vision to provide immigration, legal, and language access services to Alaskans.
While our office is located in Anchorage, our work takes us across the state to support remote coastal villages on the frontlines of the global climate crisis. We open our doors to people from around the world and welcome them to our country and community through our experienced immigration work. And we connect with our generous donors and philanthropic organizations across the United States who financially support our operations.
Our executive director will join this purposeful work to create visibility, promote justice, and support our collective vision, values, and priorities.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
The executive director reports to a board of directors, leads a staff of 16 full time employees, and is responsible for overall operations of AIJ including organizational leadership, grant writing and management, financial health, fund development and response to media requests, audits, agency insurance and other legal requirements, benefits management and payroll, working with AIJ’s board, lease agreements, staffing, strategic planning, and all aspects of nonprofit management.
The executive director brings leadership experience to carry out, or be poised to grow into, the following key responsibilities:
● Serve as an effective spokesperson for AIJ, representing its programs, policies and communicating our vision and success stories to our funders, partners, and the general public. Develop new partnerships with funders and nonprofit organizations and obtain funding from private and public sources to advance AIJ’s mission and grow its impact. Monitor the external environment related to AIJ’s mission and recommend adaptations as needed.
● Develop the annual budget and lead financial oversight in collaboration with the management team and board treasurer, and give regular updates to the board. With senior staff, implement financial policies and systems in compliance with legal and financial standards. Oversee compliance with state and federal laws and grant regulations related to AIJ’s legal and language access work.
● Provide strong leadership, partnership, and communication, in collaboration with board leadership, to ensure the board of directors and committees are effectively engaged to advance the organization’s mission. Design learning opportunities for directors and staff in conjunction with key board committees. In partnership with the board president, provide directors with sufficient information to make sound policy, programmatic, and financial decisions as well as assure compliance with state and federal laws and regulations.
● Foster a transparent, authentic, and collaborative organizational culture where ethical policies are understood and lived out by board and staff. Cultivate an inclusive work environment that attracts and retains a diverse staff and management team. Guide staff to develop and implement programs and strategies aligned with AIJ’s values, mission, and goals.
● Understand the policy issues affecting each of the three programs and advocate for policy-level change to address the injustices and inequities impacting the clients and communities AIJ serves.
CANDIDATE PROFILE
While we understand that no candidate will embody every skill or quality, the successful candidate will demonstrate many of the qualifications and attributes listed below.
Requirements
● J.D. required; licensed in Alaska or ability to be licensed in the state within 6 months of hire.
● 10+ years professional experience with 5+ years of nonprofit or public service leadership experience. In-depth knowledge of nonprofit management.
● Demonstrated alignment with AIJ’s mission, vision and values.
● The successful candidate must live in – or be willing to move to – the Anchorage metro area.
● Demonstrated commitment to work in Alaska, including knowledge of the varied cultures and contexts of the state.
● Willingness to travel, particularly in-state.
● Strategic planning and financial management experience, including development and oversight of budgets, and federal grant writing, management, and compliance.
● History of robust relationships with philanthropic organizations, proven success in fundraising, and experience working with a nonprofit board of directors.
● Social justice background in immigration, language access, or climate justice. Willingness to become knowledgeable in areas new to the candidate.
● Strong background in problem-solving, facilitation, and collaborative skills:
o Ability to collaborate and bring groups together to think through conflict.
o Comfort with, and enthusiasm for, working with diverse cultures, ethnicities, genders, religions, ages, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
o Ability to balance the urgent day-to-day agency operation needs and concurrent priorities of a small non-profit serving the entire state of Alaska with multiple state, federal, and foundation funding sources.
Preferred Qualifications
● Experience working with immigrant crime victims
● Non-profit human rights work
● Experience with federal grants, state funding and foundation work
● Bilingual and/or with a linguistic background
● Understanding of Tribal Sovereignty
● Experience working with Alaska Native Tribes
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
Salary: $145,000 – $155,000 commensurate with experience, with a generous benefits package including paid leave, medical, dental, life, short and long-term disability, vision and retirement. The Alaska Institute for Justice is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Position open until filled.
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
AIJ is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all employees and applicants and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, marital status, changes in marital status, or other classifications protected by law.
Alaska Native, other Indigenous, Black, Latinx, AAPI, and other people of color are encouraged to apply, as are LGBTQ+, gender nonconforming and nonbinary people, and people with disabilities.
TO APPLY OR REFER CANDIDATES
A consultant is conducting AIJ’s search and leadership transition process. Referrals to potential candidates or other inquiries may be forwarded to info@nokomisstrategies.co
AIJ is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, we will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the materials submission or interview process, please contact info@nokomisstrategies.co upon submitting your application.
Applications should be submitted electronically as a single PDF with the following components: 1) cover letter and 2) current resume.
Applicant screening will begin October 14, 2024; however, the position is open until filled. Interested parties are encouraged to submit materials before screening begins.