About KIND:
Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) is a global leader in the protection of unaccompanied refugee and migrant children. Launched in 2008, KIND champions a world in which every child's rights and well-being are protected throughout their journey to safety. KIND has accepted over 23,000 referrals of children seeking legal representation in their immigration proceedings. KIND has welcomed more than 41,000 attendees to trainings since its founding, cultivating partnerships with over 670 law firms, corporate legal departments, law schools, and bar associations across the country.
KIND's social services program ensures that migrant and refugee children – who have often endured trauma – receive counseling, educational support, medical care, and other comprehensive services.
To address the root causes of child migration from Central America, and strengthen the protection of unaccompanied children, KIND advocates for policy changes and educates lawmakers, the media, and the broader public on the conditions that drive these children to flee their home countries. KIND supports children returning to their home countries by connecting them to essential support services and sponsors gender-based violence prevention programs in Central America to protect children in countries of origin and transit.
KIND is also building upon its expertise in the protection of unaccompanied children to encourage the development of pro bono initiatives across Europe in partnership with European NGOs.
Position Summary:
KIND seeks a Regional Director, Legal Services to supervise the Managing Directors for KIND's field offices, ensuring excellent and consistent Legal Services operations nationwide and playing a critical role in KIND's mission of ensuring that unaccompanied children have high-quality legal representation in their immigration proceedings.
This position is remote and can be based in any of the following KIND registered locations: Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, D.C, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and Washington.
Essential Functions:
- Works closely with leadership to develop and implement priorities, guidelines, and procedures in support of KIND's legal services program nationwide including pro bono facilitation and direct legal services.
- Assists in the specific performance management of KIND's field offices in KIND regions in collaboration with the Senior Director for Legal Services and the Director for Planning and Performance including tracking and meeting metrics and collaborate to enhance and maintain the overall effectiveness of the legal services program nationwide and ensuring consistency in the implementation of policies and practices across KIND's field offices.
- Provides robust supervision and exceptional mentoring to the Managing Directors for KIND's field offices through creative and thoughtful leadership; and effectively monitor the performance and professional development of direct reports, including individual performance management and communications, and ensure effective alignment with KIND management's goals and priorities.
- Provides specific programmatic support in KIND's work funded through the Vera Institute of Justice, Immigrant Justice Corps, and other diversely funded programs.
- Ensures all Legal Programs staff in the field offices are provided with robust supervision and mentoring to equip them to work effectively in providing direct representation or mentoring and training of pro bono attorneys.
- Supports KIND's efforts to maintain and increase funding sources including participating in proposal and reporting processes.
- Assists in the opening of any new field offices.
- Plays leadership role in working collaboratively and effectively intra-component within Legal Services, and inter-component with other components, including Human Resources, Technology Strategies, Office Operations, Communications, and Policy.
- Serves as a key partner to KIND's leadership in helping to foster a culture of respect and appreciation for the diverse contributions of others within the organization and for the institution and the mission; model informed and constructive communication; effective and honest partnership wherein the feedback is valued and constructively and regularly given and received; and actively contributes to a safe environment where ideas, innovation, and dissent are respected and consistently shared and where productive conflict is valued as an opportunity for strengthening collaboration and advancing the mission.
Qualifications and Requirements:
- Licensed U.S. attorney in good standing.
- Minimum of 10 years of experience in the immigration field, preferably including representation of immigrant children.
- Minimum of 5 years of experience supervising and managing legal staff, preferably in diffuse locations.
- Experience in program management, overseeing performance and deliverables.
- Facility with Legal Server database systems, running reports, and case data analytics.
- Experience working with a law firm and corporate counsel preferred.
- Strong written and oral communication skills.
- Passion for the plight of unaccompanied immigrant and refugee children, and the enthusiasm and skills to communicate that passion to potential partners and other organizations.
- Ability to travel substantially throughout the year and as assigned.
- Ability to work within an office environment and have regular interaction via phone, video conference, and email.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills in English.
- Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suites (such as Teams, Excel, etc.).
- Ability to work collaboratively and multi-task in our KIND environment, managing numerous priorities and emerging opportunities.
- Excellent organizational skills with ability to work on multiple projects in a deadline-oriented environment. Ability to prioritize tasks and to delegate as appropriate.
- Ability to work effectively with people of diverse backgrounds, lived experiences, and communication styles.
- Committed to prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion as well as embracing transparency and authenticity in daily work life.
- Be disciplined and nimble to ensure delivery on our core mission of access to justice and protection of children's wellbeing and rights.
- Showing the ability to multi-task and work with a sense of urgency in a dynamic, fast paced environment.
- Committed to practicing and supporting wellbeing and a work-home life balance.
- Experience working and communicating in a remote environment.
This position may be eligible for relocation assistance.
KIND requires all staff be COVID vaccinated with the exception of those who have medical or religious beliefs exemptions.
Application Instructions:
Please be advised that an employment application will need to be submitted along with your resume and cover letter, in order to be considered for the desired role.
KIND has an organization-wide commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We strive to create a work environment where everyone has a sense of belonging. Individuals from historically underrepresented or underserved communities are strongly encouraged to apply.
Disclaimer: KIND is committed to an ethical recruitment and hiring process and maintains a firm no fees recruitment policy. We will never charge a fee or ask for money as part of the application process. KIND also conducts all interviews via telephone or video conference, and at no time will KIND engage in a text or mobile app-based application or interview process. For more information, please visit the following website: https://supportkind.org/join-the-team/kind-employment-practices/. 
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