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. Since 2008, 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 700 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 Director, U.S.-Mexico Border Programs to provide critical leadership and oversight to KIND’s team providing legal services to children and families along the U.S.-Mexico border. The Director will oversee a team based in 3 locations: Tijuana/San Diego; Ciudad Juarez/El Paso; and in the Rio Grande Valley area of Texas. Reporting to the Vice President, Legal Programs, with a dotted line to the Senior Vice President, Legal Programs, the Director will provide supervision and support to the team’s Managing Attorney, Mexico; serve as a liaison between the team and KIND’s headquarters; and collaborate closely with counterparts in Mexico on KIND’s International Programs team in providing holistic services to migrant children in the region.

This a headquarters position based remotely from any location in the U.S. or Mexico, with a particular interest in candidates based along or in close proximity to the U.S.-Mexico border, or with the ability to travel frequently to the region.

Essential Functions:

• Directs and defines emerging priorities and scope of work of the border team, responding to frequently changing conditions and needs along the border, and engaging in strategic planning around growth and opportunities in collaboration with the Managing Attorney, Senior Vice President, Legal Programs, Social Services team, and counterparts on the International Programs team.
• Supports Managing Attorney, Mexico with continually refining case management and flow processes, including case acceptance criteria and case strategy protocols, and adapting workstreams to meet evolving conditions.
• Contributes expertise in child migration and border programming to develop funding proposals and partnership agreements to support KIND’s work in Mexico in collaboration with Development department and with Legal Programs leadership.
• Provides robust supervision and exceptional mentoring to direct reports through creative and thoughtful leadership, effectively monitoring performance and professional development, including individual performance management and communications, and ensures effective alignment with KIND management’s goals and priorities.
• Serves as a substantive expert and guide to the border team on issues relating to child migration and immigration law.
• Engages in strategic discussions regarding KIND’s systematic and policy work in Mexico aimed at strengthening child welfare institutions in coordination with counterparts in Mexico.
• Strengthens protocols and opportunities in relationship to Mexico’s southern border team in collaboration with colleagues in Mexico.
• Oversees the specific performance management of the Managing Attorney and the border team.
• Assists in directing and overseeing partnerships and relationships with key stakeholders, including government agencies on both sides of the border, international organizations, and other NGOs.
• Collaborates with fellow Directors, Legal Services to enhance and maintain overall effectiveness of legal services programming and ensures consistency in the implementation of policies and practices across KIND’s legal programs.
• Develops program strategies and protocols to facilitate a child-centered, seamless service continuity for children moving from the U.S.-Mexico border to KIND’s domestic field locations, in coordination with the Director, National Legal Programs.
• Ensures tracking and meeting quantitative and qualitative program deliverables for the border team, including agreements and partnerships with international organizations, and other strategic programming with the Senior Vice President, Legal Programs, and the Senior Director for Planning and Performance.
• Supports KIND’s efforts to maintain and increase funding sources for the border team and KIND’s Mexico work, including participating in the proposal and reporting processes and engaging with funders as needed.
• Plays a leadership role in effective intra-departmental collaboration within Legal Programs, and inter-departmental collaboration including Human Resources, Technology, Office Operations, Communications, Policy, International Programs, Development and Finance. Works with the Policy team to elevate trends and patters for strategic advocacy.
• 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; models informed and constructive communication; effective and honest partnership wherein feedback is valued and constructively and regularly given and received; and actively contributes to a safe environment where ideas, innovation, and the identification of opportunities for growth and change 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’ experience in the immigration or international human rights field, including representation of immigrant children. Minimum of 5 years’ experience supervising and managing legal staff, preferably across dispersed locations.
• Fully bilingual in English and Spanish (oral and written).
• Experience managing legal programs that include a social services component, in addition to program management, overseeing performance and deliverables; experience managing programs or working at the U.S.-Mexico border, and deep substantive knowledge relating to child and family migration at the border preferred. Knowledge and understanding of the context of migration through Mexico.
• Experience managing staff in hazardous environments, an understanding of the security context at the border and in Mexico, and flexibility in managing staff through multiple variables in an unpredictable landscape.
• Experience drafting funding proposals and reports and managing multiple funding sources grant and programs.
• 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 to KIND’s offices along the border and in Mexico throughout the year and as assigned.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suites (such as Teams, Excel, etc.), Legal Server database systems, running reports, and case data analytics.
• 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.
• 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.

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 requires all staff be COVID vaccinated with the exception of those who have medical or religious beliefs exemptions.

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/.