Jobs and Careers
KI
Senior Project Director, Federal Contract
Kids in Need of DefenseWashington, United Statesfull_timeVerifiedPosted 3 Sept 2024
About the role
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’s vision and unwavering goal is that all unaccompanied children facing immigration proceedings in the U.S. have a lawyer at their side while the government adjudicates their immigration case. To achieve that vision, KIND (1) establishes and leverages public and private partnerships, which expands the organization’s ability to reach and serve migrant children; and (2) aims to consistently and efficiently deliver high-quality, trauma-informed services. KIND is poised to serve even more children by virtue of a proposed federal government contracting opportunity, stemming from a forthcoming Request for Proposals (RFP) from the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families. That proposed RFP will significantly increase post-release services for unaccompanied children crossing into the U.S. KIND seeks a Senior Project Director, Federal Contract, to manage all aspects of what will be a large, complex federal services contract, while coordinating contract activities across an array of core functions led by various senior KIND leaders. The incumbent will serve as the relationship manager for this contract with ORR, engaging with operational and programmatic teams to successfully perform contract tasks and ensuring that KIND achieves its objectives and outcomes efficiently, on time, within budget, and in keeping with applicable laws, KIND’s policies and procedures, and all customer (ORR) requirements. The Senior Project Director, Federal Contract, is responsible for ensuring that KIND successfully performs its obligations pursuant to any contract award and does so with integrity and quality. The Senior Project Director, Federal Contract will serve as KIND’s lead with respect to liaising with ORR in all aspects of the contract, including communications with the contracting officer’s representative (COR) and KIND’s federal-contracting consultants/vendors. This position is contingent upon KIND securing a contract pursuant to this proposed RFP.
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’s vision and unwavering goal is that all unaccompanied children facing immigration proceedings in the U.S. have a lawyer at their side while the government adjudicates their immigration case. To achieve that vision, KIND (1) establishes and leverages public and private partnerships, which expands the organization’s ability to reach and serve migrant children; and (2) aims to consistently and efficiently deliver high-quality, trauma-informed services. KIND is poised to serve even more children by virtue of a proposed federal government contracting opportunity, stemming from a forthcoming Request for Proposals (RFP) from the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families. That proposed RFP will significantly increase post-release services for unaccompanied children crossing into the U.S. KIND seeks a Senior Project Director, Federal Contract, to manage all aspects of what will be a large, complex federal services contract, while coordinating contract activities across an array of core functions led by various senior KIND leaders. The incumbent will serve as the relationship manager for this contract with ORR, engaging with operational and programmatic teams to successfully perform contract tasks and ensuring that KIND achieves its objectives and outcomes efficiently, on time, within budget, and in keeping with applicable laws, KIND’s policies and procedures, and all customer (ORR) requirements. The Senior Project Director, Federal Contract, is responsible for ensuring that KIND successfully performs its obligations pursuant to any contract award and does so with integrity and quality. The Senior Project Director, Federal Contract will serve as KIND’s lead with respect to liaising with ORR in all aspects of the contract, including communications with the contracting officer’s representative (COR) and KIND’s federal-contracting consultants/vendors. This position is contingent upon KIND securing a contract pursuant to this proposed RFP.
Essential Functions
- Manage Contract
- Coordinates execution and delivery of contract to ensure legal services are planned and executed with quality, accountability, and measurable impact.
- In collaboration with other contract staff, ensures that work products and deliverables meet customer requirements.
- Maintains current knowledge of all relevant laws, policies, and procedures related to the project.
- Monitors project to anticipate potential risks and opportunities; collaborates with KIND’s Chief Legal Officer with respect to assessing and managing risk, and legal compliance; serves as the primary contact between internal project team and the chief legal officer, ensuring that KIND addresses all legal and contractual matters efficiently and promptly.
- Identifies and escalates project delivery risks by conducting regular project health reviews.
- Informs the project team of the requirements of the contract and monitors compliance.
- Lead Internal Project Team
- Provides strategic vision, overall leadership, and technical direction to the contract.
- Enhances and maintains overall effectiveness of legal services across the contract, ensuring consistency in quality and implementation of policies and practices across KIND’s field offices and legal partners.
- Supervises senior staff and oversees collaboration across the team, including department project leads.
- In consultation with the Senior Vice President, Legal Programs, and in coordination with the Management and Evaluation Associate, sets and monitors performance metrics for legal services.
- Resolves conflicts effectively, while encouraging a healthy team environment.
- Serves as convener for internal contract-related meetings, leading on agenda development, implementing project management and task-tracking systems, and setti
Apply for this role
Generate a tailored application kit with a matched cover letter, interview prep, and CV highlights — in under 60 seconds.
Apply Now →Generate Application KitFree account required — sign up in 30s