Managing Director, Washington, DC

About KIND
Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) is a global leader in the protection of unaccompanied and separated children who are forcibly displaced from their countries of origin. Launched in 2008, KIND champions a world in which every child’s rights and well-being are protected throughout their journey to safety. Building on its extensive programming and successful model in the United States, KIND is expanding in the Americas and Europe to bring its experience to bear in working with unaccompanied and separated children. Our work focuses on addressing the legal and mental health needs of this population; building strong partnerships and engaging in training and capacity strengthening with governments, NGOs, and the private sector; and advocating for systemic and pragmatic reforms to advance the rights of unaccompanied and separated children.

Position Summary

KIND seeks a Managing Director, Washington, DC to provide seasoned, disciplined, and effective management of the KIND field office, including performing independently in the areas of program and performance management, budgeting, employee relations, and development-support functions.

As the head of KIND’s local office, the Managing Director, Washington, DC is a critical member of the management team in KIND’s Legal Services division and is the senior representative of the organization at the local level – effectively engaging government, private sector partners, and community stakeholders to advance KIND’s mission. Managing Directors supervise Senior Attorneys and Managing Attorneys (formerly Supervising Attorneys) as well as other attorney and non-attorney staff as needed. The Managing Director will report to the Regional Director, Legal Services.

This position is contingent upon continued funding.

Essential Functions

• Provides mentoring to KIND pro bono attorneys and as needed, limited direct legal representation to KIND clients. In the pro bono mentoring function, provide robust consultation and technical assistance to pro bono attorneys who have accepted a KIND case. In the direct representation function, perform ordinary functions of legal counsel including legal research and formulating the legal strategy for the case; conducting client interviews; appearing before immigration and/or state court or agencies, and drafting and filing court pleadings and applications for benefits.
• Mentors and/or direct representation responsibilities will be determined based on programmatic and institutional priorities in consultation with Legal Programs leadership.
• Serves as a member of KIND's Legal Programs management team, responsible for the overall management of the field office including program quality and deliverables, staff performance, team cohesion and functioning, and integration with the Legal Programs department and organization at large.
• Monitors and presents changes in immigration law to multiple audiences, including legal services and pro bono partners, and other high-level internal and external stakeholders. Contributes thought leadership and information on local trends to support the work of KIND’s Training and Technical Assistance team and other internal stakeholders.
• Develops and implements effective management strategies to meet ambitious programmatic and funding deliverables and mission-critical priorities, including staff recruitment and development-support functions, employee engagement, and quality control of KIND’s legal services delivery.
• Oversees the provision of top-notch mentoring programs and direct representation services to clients in the released and detained context as relevant.
• Ensures data integrity and utilizes case management databases and other technological tools to assist in creating more efficient processes and identifying training, recruitment, client needs/opportunities, and trends, in collaboration with KIND’s Data Strategy Team.
• Promotes volunteer support by actively developing and maintaining KIND’s relationships with law firms and corporate counsel with a robust presence in the respective city and/or region, in coordination with KIND's Senior Director for Pro Bono Partnerships.
• Serves as the field office primary liaison with KIND’s headquarters (including Legal Programs leadership, and Policy, Advocacy, Communications, Development, Human Resources, and Operations departments), working under the supervision of KIND’s Regional Director.
• Maintains internal and external stakeholder relations; serves as KIND leader in local coalitions of various stakeholders supporting unaccompanied immigrant children.
• Works with Legal Programs leadership, Development, and Finance to ensure compliance with all grant and funding requirements.
• Manages team or field office budget and, with assistance from other team members, tracks expenditures and identifies budgeting priorities.
• Assists with special projects of local and national scope at the direction of KIND leadership.
• Participates in local coalitions of various stakeholders supporting unaccompanied immigrant children.
• Collaborates on social services programming for clients and pro bono attorneys in conjunction with the Social Services Team, including local field office Social Services Coordinator(s).
• As a member of the management team in the Legal Programs department, the Managing Attorney is expected to uphold leadership characteristics such as thought leadership, innovation, conflict resolution, resilience under pressure, authenticity, collaboration, and fostering team spirit and employee wellness.

Qualifications and Requirements

• J.D. and admitted to the state bar.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience practicing immigration law, including representation in humanitarian immigration claims such as asylum, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, U visas, and T visas.
• Minimum of 5 years working with children, preferably immigrant and refugee children, and/or survivors of abuse, human trafficking, or other trauma.
• Minimum of 4 years supervising attorneys and non-attorney staff.
• Minimum of 3 years in program management, including project tracking, hiring, planning, and development.
• Minimum of 2 years working with law firm attorneys and/or legal volunteers.
• Experience working with children or in detained settings is preferred.
• Experience in a national or larger management structure is preferred.
• Strong cultural competence and cross-cultural communication skills.
• Effective communication skills, both oral and written, in English.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and work collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to prioritize tasks and delegate.
• Commitment to wellbeing and work-life balance.
• Remote work experience is preferred but not required.

Our Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance, pre-tax FSAs, employer-paid life and disability insurance, and more. For a full list, click here .

Our Wellness initiatives include mindfulness, wellness training, employee assistance programs, and wellness activities. More info here .

Application Instructions

To apply, submit an employment application at supportkind.org/join-the-team , along with your resume and cover letter. KIND maintains a no-fee policy and conducts all interviews via phone or video. For more info, visit .

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