Associate Director for Children and Family Services

If you are passionate about transforming communities with a mission-driven organization, then we have the opportunity for you

The Associate Director for Children and Family Services acts as a senior aid and implementer of the priorities of the CFS Senior Leadership Team and serves as a liaison between Global Refuge partner organizations, Global Refuge, and federal UC stakeholders. The Associate Director for CFS provides oversight and coordination of a continuum of programs to ensure holistic, culturally competent services for unaccompanied refugee and migrant children and their families.

This position ensures the effectiveness and quality of services through supportive program management, monitoring, data management, trend analysis and evaluation, training, and technical assistance. This position involves close collaboration with the Vice President and Directors to identify trends, and opportunities to enhance program services, advance the department's advocacy agenda, and implement recommendations for effective quality service delivery of UC and URM programs.

This position can be remote with occasional trips to Baltimore as needed.

Global Refuge, formerly known as Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS), is a nonprofit serving newcomers seeking safety, support, and a share in the American dream. Since 1939, we have welcomed those seeking refuge, upholding a legacy of compassion and grace for people in crisis. We walk alongside individuals, families, and children as they begin their new lives in the United States through our work in refugee resettlement, welcome and respite services for asylum seekers, economic empowerment and employment, and family unification for unaccompanied children. To date, we have served over 750,000 people from around the globe. Our comprehensive services leverage our extensive organizational expertise as well as government, community, and faith partnerships.

Attracting and retaining the best talent is vital to our continued growth and we are proud to offer an excellent benefits package including:

• medical, dental, and vision available on the first day of employment,
• professional development, tuition reimbursement,
• generous paid time off including 20 days of vacation, 12 days of sick leave, 12 paid holidays,
• 12 weeks of fully paid parental leave and up to 12 weeks of fully paid FMLA leave,
• company 403(b) contribution of 3%, an additional 7% match which vests immediately,
• Family Building benefits for reproductive procedures, adoption/foster care assistance, and
• an annual wellness benefit that can be customized to support your personal needs including funding enrichment classes, gym memberships, and healthy eating plans (to name a few) all in an inclusive and progressive environment

At Global Refuge, welcoming newcomers isn't just our duty-it's an inherent part of our identity, rooted in our Lutheran heritage and inspired values and serving as a testament to our unwavering commitment to those in search of refuge. Please join us as we make a difference in the lives of newcomers.

DUTIES

• Support the Vice President and Directors in their efforts to expand, enhance, or refocus services to unaccompanied children in migration and URM
• Supervises CFS administrative and operations staff
• Lead collaboration efforts with Foster Care, LSP, VOLAGs, federal stakeholders, and other partners engaged in service provision to unaccompanied refugee children.
• Engage in non-litigation advocacy, including developing responses to notices of federal rulemaking and other policy changes, FOIA requests, affidavits, advocacy materials, and educational campaigns.
• Manage and conduct research, on a variety of legal and policy issues pertaining to migrant children and their families to support the decision-making process
• Create and maintain complex dashboards, documentation, and correspondence to monitor progress against organizational & departmental goals.
• Lead the execution of initiatives that span multiple program areas and/or departments as agreed by the senior CFS team and directed by the VP
• Coordinate and facilitate strategy and stakeholder meetings
• Lead cross-departmental data collection, analysis, and distribution
• Provide project management and oversight of federal and state proposals.
• Contribute significantly to the writing of various proposals and governmental reports
• Ensure the VP has all pertinent background information in order to be prepared for each meeting/engagement.
• Attend meetings and provide guidance from the VP's perspective in her absence
• Ensure coordination, collaboration, and information sharing on major developments, trends, activities, and initiatives are communicated effectively and efficiently.
• Represent LIRS Children's Services at assigned external meetings, trainings, conferences, or groups.
• Manage special projects as assigned by the VP
• Acts as a role model and exhibits a high level of leadership, fosters transparency, and is fair in all dealings with staff.
• Other duties as assigned by supervisor.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Master's degree in social work or other Behavioral Science preferred plus 5 years of progressive experience and knowledge of child welfare systems, principles, practices, and emerging trends, including supervisory experience with increasing roles and responsibilities in supervision, program management, implementation, and evaluation highly preferred; or a combination of education and experience
• Experience in program development, administration, and budget oversight.
• Demonstrated ability to work within a team and independently to establish priorities and exercise sound judgment in response to systems that are highly complex, sensitive, and confidential.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and manage collaborative partnerships across various systems.
• Experience and knowledge of legal and political issues related to immigration and child welfare.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills and the ability to interact well with all levels of various systems.
• Experience with and commitment to working in a cross-cultural or diverse workforce.
• Bilingual in Spanish and English preferred.
• A valid driver's license and the ability to drive unrestricted are required.
• Able and willing to travel 25% of annual time.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.
• Must be able to pass an FBI background check as well as a CA/N check for every state in which they have resided in the last five years.

Global Refuge is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. We participate in E-Verify.

We offer a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package in an innovative and rewarding work environment. Salaries are based on the latest market data and reflect the education, skills, and requirements for the role. Differentials may exist based on the region and language abilities. Global Refuge has been welcoming newcomers since 1939. Learn more at globalrefuge.org.