Managing Attorney, Houston

The Young Center for Immigrant Children's Rights invites applications for thefull-timeposition ofManaging Attorney, to be based inHouston, Texas.The Managing Attorney will co-manage the HoustonChild Advocate Program team incollaborationwiththe Managing Social Worker.At present, the ManagingAttorneywill supervisea team of Child Advocate Supervisors (Attorneys) and Volunteer Coordinators.In the Manager's capacity supervising Child Advocate Supervisors (Attorneys), they will work with program staff, in collaborationwith theirCo-Manager, to develop advocacy strategies on cases to which the Young Center is appointed as Child Advocate and will review work product. The ManagingAttorneywill work closely with their direct supervisor Deputy Program Director (DPD) (Attorney or Social Worker), as well as a partner DPD (of the complementary legal or social work discipline) to ensure that the office meets case deliverables and program metrics, produces high quality work, and aligns advocacy strategies with the Child Advocate Program's approach and best practices. This Manager position willbe responsible fordeveloping andmaintainingrelationships - along with the Co-Manager - with local stakeholders, including government field staff, facility staff,legal service providers, and immigration judges. The ManagingAttorneywill join a team of Managerswhomanagetheprogramsitesor national program components,andwork toestablishconsistent interdisciplinary practices, ensure compliance with funding and program requirements, and support program growth.In addition, this position will coordinate hiring andtrainingnew staffunder their supervision in Houston.This positionis funded primarily through a federal contract and is contingent on ongoing renewals.

ABOUT THE YOUNGCENTER

The Young Center for Immigrant Children's Rights is a national organization dedicated to protecting and advancing the rights and best interests, safety, and well-being of immigrant children in the United States. We centerchildren's voices, celebrate theirstrengths, and recognize their fundamentalneedto be with family and in community, not detention.

For more than 20 years, the Young Center hasaccompaniedand advocated for over10,000 childrenfrom more than 70 countries worldwide. We are the only organization that takes an integrated approach to protecting and advancing the rights of children, in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child and state and federal law, through Direct Services, Stakeholder Support Across Child Welfare Systems, Systems and Narrative Change, and Litigation. Further, we fight tirelessly to bring greater equity to the child welfare system, demanding accountability from systems and people in positions of power, so children in immigrant families who face court casesremainsafe, free, and with families in communities where they are supported.

The Young Center has offices in Houston, San Antonio, andHarlingen, Texas; Chicago, Illinois; New York, New York; Washington, D.C.; Phoenix, Arizona; Los Angeles, California; and Grand Rapids, Michigan. We also serve children through our programs in New Jersey. To learn more about the Young Center, visit www.theyoungcenter.org.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Oversee and divide office duties with the Co-Manager.
• Hire and supervise performance, workflow, and professional growth of individual supervisees,including weekly meetings with each direct report; performing 90-day and quarterly reviews; andproviding ongoing feedback and support.
• Ensuresuperviseesimplement established policies, procedures, and best practices including but notlimited to case strategy; volunteer training, recruitment, and retention; and management of case andvolunteer data systems.
• Lead weekly case rounds and staff meetings, and conduct meetings as needed,to ensure high qualitywork product andidentifytrends and areas for advocacy.
• Guide staff on effective and creative approaches to interdisciplinary case strategy, including oral andwritten bestinterestsdeterminations for submission to stakeholders (immigration judges,government agencies, etc.); applyfederal, state, and international law, including but not limited to immigration and child-welfare law.
• Advise the Child Advocate Supervisors to develop and draft clear and persuasive interdisciplinarywritten and oral bestinterestsdeterminations.
• Consult on complex cases with theDPDs(Social Worker and Attorney), and when necessary,coordinate and/orparticipatein national complex case rounds or Best Interests Determination panels.
• Oversee the recruitment, training, and retention of volunteer Child Advocates.
• Oversee hiring, onboarding, and professional development for all new hires and existing site staff, including collaborating with the DPDs on office-specific staff trainings and retreats.
• In collaboration with the Co-Manager and DPD, develop strategic partnerships in theHoustonarea to support the work of Child Advocates and meet regularly with local stakeholders (governmentfield staff, facility staff, immigration judges,ICEofficers, and legal service providers).
• In collaboration with the Co-Manager, oversee stakeholder engagement, troubleshoot challenges withstakeholder engagement, serve as a point of contact for stakeholder relationships, coordinatepresentations to local stakeholders, attend casestaffingsor other stakeholder meetings, and speakabout the Child Advocate Program at local, regional, and national events.
• In collaboration with the Co-Manager, manage site referrals,assiststaff in developinginterdisciplinary case advocacy strategies, oversee court preparation,and manage supportonall cases.
• Along with the Co-Manager, ensure the site team meets case deliverables and program metrics forgovernment and publicfunders andorganizationalstrategic plans; manage site budget.
• In collaboration with the Co-Manager, produceaccurateandtimelydata management to informreports to the government and private fundersand for the organizational strategic planregardingchildren served, case outcomes,program metrics, and trendsobserved.
• Foster a supportive, collaborative work culture, leading and motivating staff to engage in creative,thoughtful, high-quality, and effective advocacy.
• Other duties as assigned

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS AND QUALIFICATIONS

• J.D. and license to practice law
• 4+ years of experience working with immigrants and/or child and youth
• 1+ year management experience (including but not limited to staff supervision, supervision of volunteers, or other activities such as oversight of program or project deliverables)
• Commitment to the interdisciplinary model in both Child Advocate casework and staff management
• Effective communication skills, including ability to liaise across various stakeholders, program management, and volunteers
• Excellent case and project management skills
• High-level organizational skills
• Ability to work independently, take initiative, and proactively address programmatic needs
• Ability to work collaboratively
• Commitment to comprehensive culture of feedback, including seeking and providing positive and constructive feedback to supervisees, across departments and all levels of management
• Desire to learn, both as an individual and as part of an organization, and apply diversity, equity, inclusion, and/or anti-racism principles
• Ability to effectively engage acrossdiversecultures, identities, and ethnicities
• Strong writing and editing skills
• Aptitude and thoughtfulness in working with children and promoting child-centered advocacy
• Proficiencywith Microsoft Office, Zoom, and Adobe
• Spanish/English bilingual
• Valid driver's license and access to a car

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience-lived, volunteer, or professional-with immigration matters
• Comfort with or willingness to speak present to interested groups and speak with the media or press

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Physical demands include regular attendance,keyboarding,sitting forlong periods(at least 5 hours a day),driving. Ability to usecomputer,telephone, and copymachine. Ability to travel by plane,carand other conveyances within U.S. Occasional lifting for event setup/preparation.

APPLICATION DETAILS

The Young Center is an "at-will" and equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate in and affirmatively factors diversity into its hiring practices. Young Center encourages applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, creed, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, ancestry, marital or parental status, pregnancy, citizenship, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, genetic information, or veterans' status. Reasonable accommodation will be made so that qualified disabled applicants mayparticipatein the application process; no applicantwill be penalized for requesting an accommodation. Please advise inwriting ofspecial needs at the time of application.

$87,878to $99,575is the standard new hire range for this position.Actual salaries will vary depending on factors including but not limited to location and experience. The Young Center does not ask for prior pay history from ourcandidatesand our offer-making process is negotiation-free for salaries and benefits. We offer our bestpossible salarybased on relevant experience. The range listed is just onecomponentof the Young Center's total compensation package for employees. The Young Center provides excellent benefits, including health/dental/vision insurance (employee & dependents) at no cost to the employee, paid vacation, sick time, and a 401(k) plan with employer match.

A criminal background check will be conducted.

Review of candidates will beginimmediatelyand continue until the position is filled. Please applyon the Young Center website with a cover letter, resume, professional or academic writingsampleand three references.Only complete applications will be considered.

To learn more about the Young Center's work, please visitwww.TheYoungCenter.org.

Important Email Notice for Candidates:
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