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, as they migrate alone in search of safety. We achieve our vision by ensuring that no child appears in immigration court without high-quality legal representation, or goes without critical social services supports; advancing laws, policies, and practices that ensure children’s protection and uphold their right to due process and fundamental fairness; and promoting in countries of origin, transit, and destination durable solutions to child migration that are grounded in the best interest of the child and ensure that no child is forced to involuntarily migrate.

Position Summary:

KIND’s vision and unwavering goal is that all unaccompanied children facing immigration proceedings in the U.S. have a lawyer at their side while the government adjudicates their immigration case. To achieve that vision, KIND (1) establishes and leverages public and private partnerships, which expands the organization’s ability to reach and serve migrant children; and (2) aims to consistently and efficiently deliver high-quality, trauma-informed services.

KIND is poised to serve even more children by virtue of a proposed federal government contracting opportunity, stemming from a forthcoming Request for Proposals (RFP) from the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families. That proposed RFP will significantly increase post-release services for unaccompanied children crossing into the U.S.

KIND seeks a Senior Project Director, Federal Contract, to manage all aspects of what will be a large, complex federal services contract, while coordinating contract activities across an array of core functions led by various senior KIND leaders. The incumbent will serve as the relationship manager for this contract with ORR, engaging with operational and programmatic teams to successfully perform contract tasks and ensuring that KIND achieves its objectives and outcomes efficiently, on time, within budget, and in keeping with applicable laws, KIND’s policies and procedures, and all customer (ORR) requirements. The Senior Project Director, Federal Contract, is responsible for ensuring that KIND successfully performs its obligations pursuant to any contract award and does so with integrity and quality.

The Senior Project Director, Federal Contract will serve as KIND’s lead with respect to liaising with ORR in all aspects of the contract, including communications with the contracting officer’s representative (COR) and KIND’s federal-contracting consultants/vendors.

This position is contingent upon KIND securing a contract pursuant to this proposed RFP.

Essential Functions:

Manage Contract

• Coordinates execution and delivery of contract to ensure legal services are planned and executed with quality, accountability, and measurable impact.

• In collaboration with other contract staff, ensures that work products and deliverables meet customer requirements.

• Maintains current knowledge of all relevant laws, policies, and procedures related to the project.

• Monitors project to anticipate potential risks and opportunities; collaborates with KIND’s Chief Legal Officer with respect to assessing and managing risk, and legal compliance; serves as the primary contact between internal project team and the chief legal officer, ensuring that KIND addresses all legal and contractual matters efficiently and promptly.

• Identifies and escalates project delivery risks by conducting regular project health reviews.

• Informs the project team of the requirements of the contract and monitors compliance.

Lead Internal Project Team

• Provides strategic vision, overall leadership, and technical direction to the contract.

• Enhances and maintains overall effectiveness of legal services across the contract, ensuring consistency in quality and implementation of policies and practices across KIND’s field offices and legal partners.

• Supervises senior staff and oversees collaboration across the team, including department project leads.

• In consultation with the Senior Vice President, Legal Programs, and in coordination with the Management and Evaluation Associate, set and monitor performance metrics for legal services.

• Resolves conflicts effectively, while encouraging a healthy team environment.

• Serves as convener for internal contract-related meetings, leading on agenda development, implementing project management and task-tracking systems, and setting clear objectives for all internal stakeholders overseeing work under the contract.

• Achieves a high level of understanding of KIND’s mission and programmatic functions to communicate effectively with project senior leaders and provide relevant advice.

Manage Relationship with the Customer and External Stakeholders

• Serves as external relationship contract manager and principal liaison with ORR, consultants, vendors, and other stakeholders.

• Responds to the government’s inquiries and proactively alerts and facilitates critical conversations within KIND and with the government regarding potential contractual or programmatic issues, serving as the lead liaison with the COR.

Oversee Contract Resourcing & Financial Performance

• Working with this contract’s Financial Analyst and KIND’s Chief Financial Officer, oversees the contract’s financial performance, including developing and managing project costs, budget, and resourcing projections, and ensuring procurement compliance.

• Provides input with respect to the daily workload of contract management personnel and project or business personnel assisting with the contract management function.

• Manages the project schedule, ensuring KIND completes deliverables on time and aligned with the budgeted labor—recalibrating, as necessary.

• Maintains accountability to project plan and planned utilization rate.

Qualifications and Requirements:

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree required with a minimum of eight years of experience in immigration, refugee, child welfare, or related fields.

• At least three years of experience with programmatic and budgetary management and directly supervising a senior team.

• At least three years of experience in postgraduate direct service delivery work with youth and trauma-informed care.

• Experience managing large complex federal contracts, and/or significant state and local funded initiatives, and serving as the lead in project, program and/or portfolio management, strongly preferred.

• Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification preferred.

• U.S. citizen or permanent resident.

• Extensive knowledge of and experience with blanket purchase agreements (BPAs), indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contracts (IDIQs), and the federal procurement and acquisition process strongly preferred.

• Seasoned people manager with excellent leadership skills and proven ability to navigate successfully in complex, fast-paced organizations. Experience managing large and cross-functional project teams. 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, across employees, team members, and partner organizations.

• Knowledge of project management methodologies and tools. Operational experience with program/project metrics tracking and reporting required, and extensive knowledge of federal government contracting and budgeting processes preferred.

• Direct knowledge and experience working with the Administration for Children & Families, or the Office of Refugee Resettlement preferred.

• Experience working with nongovernmental organizations, ideally those working in the child welfare, refugee, or humanitarian immigration context, preferred.

• Exceptional communication skills in English, both verbal and written to include presentations, editing and proofreading skills; experience developing reports, briefings, and decks; and presenting in a professional and persuasive manner.

• Ability to work independently and meet deadlines with minimal guidance and delegate as appropriate.

• Job requires 25% travel, including to Washington, D.C., for candidates not based in that metropolitan area.

• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (such as Teams, Excel, Visio, etc.).

• Committed to practicing and supporting wellbeing and a work-home life balance.

• Experience working and communicating in a remote environment.

KIND requires all U.S.-based staff to be COVID vaccinated except for 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, to be considered.

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/.?