Project Manager, Europe 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. 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.

Building on its successful model in the Americas, in Europe KIND partners with expert legal organizations and private sector pro bono attorneys in the UK and Greece, France, Ireland, Italy, Poland and Slovakia to provide legal assistance to unaccompanied and separated children, and advocates for European law, policy, and practical measures consistent with children’s rights and vulnerabilities, in partnership with a Brussels based expert organization. In addition to our partnerships in Europe, KIND has been expanding its own staff in Europe region.

Due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, as well as increased numbers of children on the move into the region, KIND continues to develop and grow its operational and programmatic presence in order to meet the needs of unaccompanied and separated children arriving within Europe. KIND continues to bring its experience to bear in working with unaccompanied and separated children, including survivors of trauma, addressing the legal needs of this population. KIND also engages in capacity building with government and NGO agencies, advocating for systemic and practical reforms grounded in child protection to advance the rights of unaccompanied and separated children in Europe.

Position Summary:

Building and expanding on work KIND has been doing to improve counter-trafficking responses in Europe for children displaced from Ukraine, KIND is seeking an experienced Project Manager, Europe, to work with a growing team in Europe on a new project within the region to build capacity and strengthen systems for children displaced from Ukraine who have been victims of, or are at risk of, conflict related crimes including trafficking in human beings and core international crimes. KIND’s approach leverages our expertise in child migration and culturally responsive legal and social services to protect children displaced by the conflict in Ukraine from trafficking, abuse and other serious harm whilst assisting them to access improved justice as well as access their rights.

Under this new project, KIND will develop capacity strengthening and training initiatives in Slovakia, Czechia, Poland, and Romania, as well as the establishment of hubs in Slovakia, Czechia, and Poland, within the offices of national civil society partners where child-centered legal assistance and case management will be provided. Hubs will support law enforcement agencies to pursue conflict related investigations, where children and youth displaced from Ukraine may be at risk, or may be victims/witnesses, including trafficking in human being investigations and documenting and preserving evidence of international core crimes for long-term accountability purposes.

KIND seeks a Project Manager, Europe, initially for year one of this project, who will work closely with KIND’s Project Director, Europe providing support to ensure the implementation and roll out of the Project’s objectives; initially in Slovakia and then as part of the roll out to other countries within the remit of the Project.

During the first year, activities will include the identification and development of local and regional partnerships to include individual experts as well as key state and non-government stakeholder relationships required for the implementation of the project across the region (Ukraine, Czechia, Poland and Slovakia), coordinating the roll out of capacity strengthening and training initiatives in Slovakia, Poland and Czechia**,** setting up a Hub in the pilot country, Slovakia, including hiring and coordinating Hub staff in the pilot country and supporting the initial establishment of Hubs in Czechia and Poland for roll out at the start of 2025. The role will also involve assisting the Project Director, Europe and other project staff to coordinate and ensure the broader aims of the project are met where relevant, including overseeing the operational functioning of the Hubs, identification and selection of an Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) software provider on needs evaluation basis, liaison with the software provider and overseeing adaptation of existing software tools to the local context, development and dissemination of training and other resources such as operating manuals for Hub project staff and stakeholders as well as any other activities that falls under the remit of the project.

The Project Manager, Europe will have experience in countering organized crime including trafficking related crimes, inter-agency modalities of working in addressing these phenomena and a comprehensive approach to addressing the needs of witnesses/victims in their access to justice in pursuing accountability. The incumbent must be a methodical thinker, able to effectively implement programs across different countries for a global organization. The incumbent must have advanced communication skills to develop and maintain relationships with experts, state agencies including law enforcement and child protection agencies, and international and national NGOS.

The Project Manager, Europe will join a dynamic and growing staff team based in Europe. As well as supporting the Project Director, Europe, they will work alongside KIND senior leadership, other KIND staff globally and within Europe, as well as KIND’s partners within the countries the Project is operating in.

This position will be based within Slovakia, Europe.

The candidate must possess legal authorization to work in the country of residence.

This role will be a fixed term position for 1 year.

This role is full-time, but we will consider candidates who are available part-time.

Travel required within Europe and specifically Slovakia, Czechia, Poland, and Romania.

Essential Functions:

• Assists the Project Director, Europe to plan, develop, and implement year one of this project within Europe with a particular focus on the coordination of key activities partnership, experts and staffs in the countries the project will operate in.

Supports Project Development and Implementation

• Works closely with the Project Director, Europe supporting the implementation of grant and contract funded initiatives to advance KIND’s goals in protecting children displaced by the conflict in Ukraine from trafficking in human beings, abuse and other serious harm whilst assisting them to access improved justice from trafficking in human beings and core crimes as well as access their rights.
• Collaborates with expert consultants from Europe and Ukraine, to develop and implement a detailed multi-disciplinary interagency training curriculum on child trafficking and core international crimes specific to the Ukraine response to be piloted in Slovakia and then rolled out in a further two (2) countries (Czechia and Poland) within year one (1).
• Assists in the set up and operationalize a Hub in the pilot country, Slovakia, during year one including hiring and coordinating Hub staff.
• Supports the Project Director, Europe in overseeing operational functioning of the Hub in Slovakia, where support to law enforcement agencies to pursue conflict related investigations will be provided and where KIND-employed lawyers, and case managers will facilitate implementation of multidisciplinary, interagency referral approaches, and provide child-centered legal case management and support services for children at risk, or victims/witnesses, of conflict-related crimes.
• Assists the Project Director, Europe in identifying, and providing expert needs-based guidance on, the selection of the OSINT software provider, overseeing adaptation of software tools to the local context, training the staff on the work with OSINT/its analysis and any other related tasks as needed.
• Assists the Project Director, Europe to support the initial establishment of Hubs in Czechia and Poland including the recruitment and training of key staff and partners in order for Hubs to commence operation in Czechia and Poland in year 2 of the project (from 2025).
• Supports the Project Director, Europe to identify and escalate project delivery risks by conducting regular project health reviews.
• Collaborates with the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) team to design and implement performance targets and measurable outcomes for this project.
• Works closely with the M&E team and KIND’s Data Strategy Team to build data collection, analytical, and reporting strategies that measure progress towards project targets and continually inform KIND’s programming.

Coordination of Internal Project Team

• Supports the Project Director, Europe to ensure consistency in quality and implementation of project activities and priorities in relation to the Project.
• Resolves conflicts effectively, while encouraging a healthy team environment.
• Serves as convener for internal project-related meetings, supporting the Project Director, Europe on agenda development, implementing project management and task-tracking systems, and setting clear objectives for all internal stakeholders overseeing work under the contract.
• Achieves an elevated level of understanding of KIND’s mission and programmatic functions to communicate effectively both externally and within KIND, including in the project team.

External Engagement

• Identifies prospective partners for the Project, supports the Project Director, Europe to bring on board key partners and stakeholders needed to ensure effective implementation of the Project activities across all countries the project is operating in (Czechia, Poland, Slovakia, Romania, and Ukraine).
• Supports the Project Director, Europe to disseminate awareness of the project and its activities as well as the dissemination of key resources and tools to wider audiences in the region generated by the project, in coordination with the Communications Manager.
• Supports the Project Director, Europe to identify and develop, in coordination with KIND Data Strategy team, opportunities for the use of technology to address gaps in information or services for children vulnerable to and/or subject to abuse, exploitation and trafficking.

Administration

• Collaborates with the Project Director, Europe to monitor project implementation to anticipate potential risks and opportunities.
• Assists in the recruitment of a new, growing team, including the onboarding of expert consultants, partners and Hub staff for the project providing guidance and support under the guidance of the Project Director, Europe.
• Supports the Project Director, Europe to monitor Project budgets and performs administration tasks related to the project, including budget management, grant, and contract reporting, as well as collaboration with staff contributing to the project from other KIND departments.
• Aids the Project Director, Europe, in collaboration with KIND’s Chief Legal Officer, with assessing and managing risk, and legal compliance.
• Assists with managing the project schedule, ensuring KIND completes deliverables on time and is aligned with the budgeted labor—recalibrating, as necessary.

Qualifications and Requirements:

• Undergraduate degree in law, criminology, crime/forensic science, investigation, leadership/organizational management, international relations, investigative journalism, child and adolescent psychology, human resource management or any other relevant professional training or equivalent professional experience demonstrating expertise in matters relating to addressing organized crime by deploying multiagency/task force working modalities including where children/youth are at risk and/or are victims/witnesses preferably in the intersection with trafficking in human beings, immigration, refugee, child welfare, conflict-related crimes or other related fields.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English, which is the working language for the project as well as being fluent in Slovakian. Some language skills in relation to the countries the project will operate in, including Czech, Polish, Ukrainian or Russian or other language skills are an additional asset.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience reflecting knowledge, and demonstrating a successful history, of programmatic and budgetary management.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience of designing and implementing programs and coordinating teams, when tackling organized crime where children/youth may be victims/witnesses preferably in the intersection with trafficking in human beings, immigration, refugee, child welfare, conflict-related crimes, or related fields.
• A strong record of cultural competence, cross-cultural communication skills, and cross-sectoral relationship development. Passion for KIND’s mission of supporting unaccompanied and separated migrant and refugee children, and an ability to communicate this to others.
• Demonstrated experience leading working groups or similar collaborative initiatives involving actors across law enforcement, prosecution, government, NGO, and international organizations.
• Knowledge of the relevant legal framework, policies, and procedures within the region relevant to working with children displaced from Ukraine and inter-agency modalities of working and key child protection safeguards.
• Working knowledge of children’s migration issues, particularly unaccompanied and separated children.
• Analytical thinker with an ability to anticipate challenges and address roadblocks as they arise. Be disciplined and nimble to ensure delivery on our core mission of access to justice and protection of children’s wellbeing and rights.
• Maintain a positive work environment, which facilitates collaboration and information sharing and is conducive to attracting, retaining, and motivating diverse talent.
• Experience working in partnership with different organizations and collaborative efforts, and in developing and maintaining relationships with a range of stakeholders.
• Ability and willingness to travel within Europe
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suites (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 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.
• Showing the 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 hybrid-remote environment.

€50,800 – €63,500 a year dependent on experience.