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
The Vice President, Global Psychosocial Services, leads the Global Psychosocial Services team in providing high-quality psychosocial services to unaccompanied and migrant children worldwide. The incumbent will ensure that KIND provides child-centered services across diverse regions in a manner that culturally aligns with relevant local, regional, and global child-protection and safeguarding practices and requirements. The incumbent will be an expert in providing trauma-informed and culturally responsive psychosocial services; and will lead the strategy, design, planning, implementation, administration, and programmatic oversight of KIND’s psychosocial services.
The Vice President, Global Psychosocial Services, reports to the executive vice president and chief program officer. This position—which is integral to KIND’s mission of advancing best practices in the field---will have internal- and external-facing responsibilities.
This is a remote position based from any location in the U.S.
This position is contingent upon continued funding.
Essential FunctionsStrategic Leadership and External Engagement (25%)
Leads the program design, management, and performance of psychosocial services in the locations in which KIND operates, delivered through a child-centered, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive lens.
Directly supervises U.S. and international psychosocial leadership, fostering strong programming across regions while ensuring alignment with global standards.
Provides thought leadership and expertise on psychosocial services programming across KIND and to a range of external stakeholders. Serves as confidential advisor regarding psychosocial services to the executive vice president and chief program officer.
Builds and sustains partnerships and networks with child protection actors globally, including representing KIND at conferences, panels, and other local, national, and international stakeholder engagement opportunities.
Coordination and Collaboration across Internal Functions (20%)
- Works collaboratively with leadership on the Global Legal Representation, Litigation, and Assistance team and the Global Partnerships, Capacity Strengthening, and Training team on client-centered and programmatic priorities, including those focused on psychosocial services and technical assistance to youth-serving organizations.
- Shares management, planning, and supervision responsibilities with other core capability leaders, and works collaboratively with regional leaders, across KIND to deliver high-quality, multi-disciplinary programming.
- In coordination with the technology team, assists in integrating KIND’s growing use of technology into delivering psychosocial programs to maximize organizational capacity and effectiveness, including client-centered services across low-resource and high-connectivity contexts.
- Works closely with the Office Operations, Development, Finance, and Human Resources teams on relevant priorities for the Global Psychosocial Services team.
Operational and Financial Oversight (20%)
- Oversees the Global Psychosocial Services team’s budget and ensures fiscal responsibility.
- Works closely with the executive vice president and chief program officer and other departmental leaders on financial planning and budgeting for Global Psychosocial Services operations.
- In coordination with the chief financial officer, informs the preparation of contract budgets and modifications, including staffing and other direct costs related to program services.
- Collaborates with Development and participates in fundraising, grant reporting, and engagements with prospective donors.
Program Design and Implementation (10%)
- Oversees and helps develop culturally responsive, evidence-based mental health and psychosocial support programs.
- Supports strategic growth and transition; anticipates and plans for potential future locations and program areas as a result of evolving migration pathways and the needs of unaccompanied and separated children.
Quality Assurance and Risk Management (10%)
- Oversees global safeguarding, child protection, ethical compliance, and professional standards across regions, ensuring compliance with local requirements and international best practices.
- Ensures that the quality of psychosocial services KIND delivers consistently meets high professional standards and addresses the unique needs of unaccompanied and separated children.
- Addresses risks related to safeguarding, ethics, and client and staff safety.
- Creates, updates, and implements ethical policies and guidelines for psychosocial services.
Capacity Building (10%)
- Educates and makes recommendations to internal and external stakeholders on best practices for providing psychosocial services to unaccompanied children and youth.
- Centers the voices and experiences of unaccompanied and migrant children.
Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (5%)
- Collaborates with the Strategic Performance and Evaluation team to develop, lead, and implement psychosocial services performance metrics, learning models, and outcomes frameworks.
Other
- Other duties, as assigned.
Qualifications and Requirements
Graduate degree in social work or advanced degree in related field required; current licensure preferred but not required.
Minimum of 10 years of experience collaborating with immigrant, displaced, refugee, or conflict-affected populations, unaccompanied minors, at-risk youth, or young children.
Minimum of 7 years of experience in a senior management position leading multi-region or global teams and programs.
Minimum of 7 years of experience in contract and grant management and attendant responsibilities, including planning and budget development, hiring, reporting, and program evaluation.
Ability to work independently, anticipate needs, and take initiative in a high volume, fast-paced environment.
Demonstrated ability to lead teams and programs using sound professional judgment and strategic analytical skills.
Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively with a demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality and build trust and teamwork among peers and staff at all levels.
Ability to provide leadership and effectively engage staff, working toward organizational goals using resourcefulness in setting priorities and guiding investment in people and systems.
Ability to travel, as necessary.
Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and Spanish; fluency in additional languages a plus (for direct communication with the children we serve and their caregivers, the majority of whom are Spanish speaking).
Willingness and ability to work a schedule that accommodates a global team in multiple time zones.
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.
Committed to practicing and supporting wellbeing and a work-home life balance.
Experience working and communicating in a remote environment preferred but not required.
Our Benefits
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance with KIND paying 100% of the employee only portion of the premium for one of the three 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.
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/. 
