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 Program Coordinator to provide high-level support to the Managing Director and legal program staff in furtherance of the provision of legal services and programming to unaccompanied children facing removal proceedings. The Program Coordinator reports to the Managing Director, Seattle.
This position is contingent upon continued funding.

QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

• Undergraduate degree required.
• Must be fluent in English and Spanish (required for direct communication with the children we serve and their caregivers, the majority of whom are Spanish speaking).
• Minimum 2 years of experience with office organization, particularly in a legal service setting.
• Demonstrated experience with project management.
• Demonstrated commitment to working on improving and understanding issues impacting immigrants in the U.S.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (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 the ability to work on multiple projects in a deadline-oriented environment; ability to prioritize tasks and delegate as appropriate.
• Ability to multitask 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 preferred but not required.

• Provides administrative support to the Managing Director, Seattle, including travel and meeting coordination, compiling meeting agendas, recording and synthesizing meeting minutes, and related support tasks as needed.
• Provides calendaring support for the Managing Director, Seattle as well as group meeting management support for field office staff.
• Coordinates legal programs-related onboarding and offboarding facilitation for new and existing legal programs staff.
• Assists in the compilation and distribution of protocols, policies, and procedures for the legal programs team.
• Assists with management of pro bono attorney and other volunteer background checks.
• Supports in-house and pro bono training and technical assistance by providing coordination, scheduling, and material development support, which includes knowledge management of electronic files, indexing, and posting to make technical assistance materials fully accessible as well as assistance with preparing and finalizing presentations.
• Works in coordination with legal programs staff on event planning, including retreats (both virtual and in-person).
• In close coordination with the Managing Director, Seattle and component field staff, assist in tracking and maintaining budget records and category spend-down.
• Serves as a liaison to operations and human resources components on select tasks.
• Contributes to special projects, such as legal programs wellness initiatives and other working groups.
• Receives and refers phone calls and emails from field office’s main phone number and email account.
• Welcome clients into field office for client appointments and walk-ins.
• Serves as case database expert for the team, including running weekly and monthly reports, and coordinating the overall program’s accurate and timely data maintenance.
• Serves as central point of contact on the team for legal data management, data systems, and data integrity.
• Drafts case summaries for cases accepted by the program.
• Maintains regular contact with clients who have not yet been placed with pro bono counsel or KIND attorneys and inform them of their upcoming hearing dates.
• Assists in the management of client referral systems for detained and released children; assists in the coordination and maintenance of released child intake waitlist.
• For direct representation cases, updates clients’ contact information in case file, case management database, and with required courts and agencies in coordination with attorney.
• Maintains file and case management database with updates on case status and child well-being.
• Refers detained children who are released to sponsors in other jurisdictions to legal service providers in said jurisdictions.
• Prepares case file and a comprehensive set of referral documents and assists with duties relating to pro bono placement, support, and mentoring.
• Assists with case preparation for direct representation of clients.
• Oversees case file closing procedures and assists with case closures.
• Other duties as assigned, including but not limited to programmatic work, translation of documents, and administrative duties of the office, mail, supplies, and related tasks.