Program Officer At Kids in Need of Defense

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 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:

The Program Officer role provides programmatic and administrative support to KIND’s Legal Programs management team – primarily to the Senior Vice President, Legal Programs. This role will ensure the efficient and effective execution of critical tasks in the areas of scheduling; budgeting and expense-tracking; meeting planning, including agenda development, and follow-up tracking; staff communications; and special projects and substantive assignments at the discretion of the Senior Vice President, Legal Programs.

Essential Functions:

May be responsible for one or more of the following:

• Provides confidential executive support to the Senior Vice President, Legal Programs (Senior VP), including complex calendaring duties; travel coordination; developing meeting agendas; recording and synthesizing meeting minutes; and related office support tasks.
• Coordinates development of briefing memoranda and other reporting for the Senior VP. Ensures advanced preparations for substantive meetings and coordinate pre-meetings or necessary research in advance of Senior VP’s meetings, as needed. Conducts individual research under the Senior VP’s supervision.
• Coordinates workflow and intra-departmental projects and deadlines within Legal Programs management team.
• Supports organizational development; coordinates quarterly sync memos to leadership, President’s Report, and other sensitive projects as directed by the Senior VP.
• Assists with special events and projects including management retreats and meeting planning and onboarding planning for new Legal Programs management staff.
• Serves as a liaison to Finance, Operations, and Human Resources departments on select Legal Programs-related tasks.
• Alternates facilitation of KIND’s Grupo Mexico team cross-department team calls.
• Manages Senior VP’s travel expense reimbursement requests and expense reports.
• Assists with project management, as tasked, including the development of the Legal Programs Management’s annual budget by creating templates, assisting with expense projections, consolidating budget requests and information, and tracking LPT-M’s expenditures by category throughout the year, under the direction of the Senior VP and in consultation with the Legal Programs management team and Finance, including the Director, Planning and Performance.
• Assists with substantive programmatic work and translations in support of litigation, border work, and urgent field office needs, as needed.

Qualifications and Requirements:

• Undergraduate degree required; Graduate degree or advanced training preferred.
• Minimum 4 of years’ experience providing executive and/or high-level support in the administration of programs and/or carrying out complex projects. Substantive experience in immigration law and/or policy preferred, but not required.
• At least 1 year of experience assisting in budget development, including calculating spending projections; preparing budget spreadsheets; preparing simple budgets for special projects and events; and tracking and reporting on expenses strongly preferred.
• Ability to work independently, anticipate needs, and take initiative in a high volume, fast-paced environment.
• Excellent organizational, time management skills, and attention to detail.
• Fluency in Microsoft Suite including Outlook, Excel (including formula function), and Teams.
• Competence with technology-related items including audio-video set-up and execution.
• Experience with event planning and arranging travel for high-level executives preferred.
• Demonstrated commitment to improving and/or understanding issues impacting immigrants in the U.S. preferred.
• Written and verbal Spanish language skills are required.
• Experience in data entry and navigation within data management systems.
• Ability to handle tech related responsibilities including management of digital calendars and video conferencing.
• Strong culturally-responsive and cross-cultural communication skills.
• Strong ability to maintain the highest level of confidentiality in all matters and at all times.
• Ability to work collaboratively.
• Excellent writing and oral communication skills.
• Ability to thrive in a high-volume workload with fast-changing deadlines and priorities.
• Positive attitude and leadership skills that elevate team cohesion and contribute to a collaborative work environment.
• Ability to work within an office environment and have regular interaction via telephone, teleconference, IM, and email with KIND’s team.
• Periodic travel may be required.