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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 Senior Vice President, Global Psychosocial Servicesis responsible for all aspects of KIND’s psychosocial programs in the United States, Latin America, Europe, and elsewhere as KIND expands its international operations. The incumbent advances KIND’s mission by ensuring effective mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) program development, implementation, and oversight in line with global standards. The Senior Vice President, Global Psychosocial Services ensures effective delivery of trauma-informed, culturally sensitive MHPSS in all regions, including the design and implementation of regional program frameworks that address the needs of children in a variety of transit and reception circumstances. The Senior Vice President leads a growing department of +100 professionals located throughout the United States, Mexico, and Europe.
Essential Functions
• Oversees the implementation of MHPSS throughout the United States, Mexico, and Europe in accordance with the organization’s strategic plan.
• Provides leadership and effectively engages staff, working toward organizational goals using resourcefulness in setting priorities and guiding investment in people and systems.
• Ensures that the quality of MHPSS consistently meets high professional standards and the unique needs of unaccompanied and separated children.
• Ensures the organization achieves measurable outcomes that balance the delivery of the highest quality psychosocial programming with ensuring that as many children as possible are served.
• In partnership with the Chief of Global Monitoring and Evaluation, leads development of evidenced-informed technical standards/benchmarks for design and program performance evaluation, ensuring that processes for measurement are clear, realistic, and responsive to the needs of the population and donors.
• Oversees program delivery and ensures effective communication of global standards and change initiatives among program, regional, and country teams.
• Ensures that all MHPSS programming is developed and implemented in alignment with the UN’s Inner-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) MHPSS Guidelines and other quality assurance measures relevant to the delivery of MHPSS to children on the move.
• Supports the development of effective supervision structures and processes for MHPSS staff in each region and sharing of best practices across.
• Works closely with other members of the Senior Leadership Team in ensuring a multidisciplinary approach and service delivery.
• Contributes to positioning KIND as a key actor and partner of choice on MHPSS globally through collaboration and partner relationships.
• Collaborates on the development of KIND’s MHPSS curricula for staff, partners, and volunteer professionals to ensure an effective, comprehensive skills and knowledge development program centered on trauma-informed, culturally responsive best practices for delivery of MHPSS to unaccompanied and separated children.
• Serves as a spokesperson for the organization on the psychosocial needs of unaccompanied and separated children as appropriate, including with Board of Directors, Advisory Committees, governmental and non-governmental bodies, and funders.
• Implements strategies to seize strategic opportunities to advance KIND’s global provision of psychosocial services to unaccompanied and separated children.
• Supports program monitoring and evaluation.
• Serves as a member of the Senior Leadership Team, led by KIND’s President, and contributes thought leadership and expertise to the organization’s strategic planning and execution of organizational priorities and fiscal oversight.
• Plans, implements, and oversees as needed special initiatives to address psychosocial needs of unaccompanied and separated children.
• Oversees the strategic development, implementation, and management of department budget.
Qualifications And Requirements
• Licensed psychologist, social worker, and/or other social sciences advanced degree.
• Minimum 10 years of experience in an executive or senior management position with relevant experience in developing, launching and managing MHPSS programs at a global level.
• Minimum 10 years of experience in program and team management, successfully engaging in communication and collaboration across an organization.
• Minimum 10 years of experience in managing grants and contracts.
• Experience in delivering a multi-sectoral response to MHPSS vulnerable populations in the context of global migration, including children.
• Experience developing and implementing output and outcome level performance measurement indicators and targets related to MHPSS.
• Highly organized and demonstrated ability to lead teams and programs using sound professional judgment and strategic analytical skills in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively with a demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality and build trust and teamwork among SLT peers and staff at all levels.
• Exceptional written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to engage in frequent travel.
• Passion for the plight of unaccompanied immigrant and refugee children, and the enthusiasm and skills to communicate that passion to potential partners and other organizations.
• Ability to work effectively with people of diverse backgrounds and commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
• English fluency required, Spanish strongly preferred, and other language ability desirable.
Our Benefits
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance with KIND paying 100% of the employee only portion of the premium for one of the two medical plan options, dental, and vision
• Pre-tax flexible spending account (FSA) for both medical and dependent care
• Pre-tax transit and parking spending account
• Employer-paid life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment insurance
• Employer-paid short and long-term disability insurance
For a complete list of benefits, please click here.
Our Focus on Wellness
KIND recognizes that our ability to help our clients starts with helping our team members. KIND has prioritized wellness for employees through Mindfulness and Wellness Trainings, Wellness Platforms, Employee Assistance and Resilience Programs, Time Away and Office Wellness Activities.
For more information regarding our Wellness initiatives please visit this link.
Application Instructions
To be considered for this role, please submit an employment application at supportkind.org/join-the-team, along with your resume and cover letter.
KIND has an organization-wide commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. We strive to create a work environment where everyone has a sense of belonging. Individuals from historically underrepresented or underserved communities are strongly encouraged to apply.
Disclaimer: KIND is committed to an ethical recruitment and hiring process and maintains a firm “no fees” recruitment policy. We will never charge a fee or ask for money as part of the application process. KIND also conducts all interviews via telephone or video conference, and at no time will KIND engage in a text or mobile app-based application or interview process. For more information, please visit the following website: https://supportkind.org/join-the-team/kind-employment-practices/.
