Project Manager, Federal Contract

About KIND:

Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) is a global leader in the protection of unaccompanied refugee and migrant children. Launched in 2008, KIND champions a world in which every child’s rights and well-being are protected throughout their journey to safety. Since 2008, KIND has accepted over 23,000 referrals of children seeking legal representation in their immigration proceedings. KIND has welcomed more than 41,000 attendees to training since its founding, cultivating partnerships with over 700 law firms, corporate legal departments, law schools, and bar associations across the country.

KIND’s social services program ensures that migrant and refugee children – who have often endured trauma – receive counseling, educational support, medical care, and other comprehensive services.

To address the root causes of child migration from Central America and strengthen the protection of unaccompanied children, KIND advocates for policy changes and educates lawmakers, the media, and the broader public on the conditions that drive these children to flee their home countries. KIND supports children returning to their home countries by connecting them to essential support services and sponsors gender-based violence prevention programs in Central America to protect children in countries of origin and transit.

KIND is also building upon its expertise in the protection of unaccompanied children to encourage the development of pro bono initiatives across Europe in partnership with European NGOs.

Position Summary:

KIND’s vision and unwavering goal are 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 deliver high-quality, trauma-informed services efficiently.

KIND is poised to serve even more children by virtue of a proposed federal government contracting opportunity. That opportunity would stem 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 U.S. borders.

KIND seeks a Project Manager, Federal Contract to manage all aspects of what may 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, 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 Project Manager, 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 incumbent will provide strategic advice to KIND’s operations and programmatic teams with respect to assessing and managing risk, managing the contract, and policy compliance matters and applying mitigation strategies to resolve standard and complex contract issues. The Project Manager, Federal Contract will serve as KIND’s lead concerning 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 Program Operation Plans and related contract implementation tools through all project phases, including evaluation, lessons learned, and project impact.

• Monitors projects to anticipate potential risks; collaborates with KIND’s chief legal officer with respect to assessing and managing risk, and legal compliance; serves as the primary contact between the 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.

• Performs compliance and program site visits, as necessary.

• Develops and integrates contract management tools, templates, methods, and processes for the engagement.

• Prepares and disseminates information regarding contract status, compliance, and modifications.

Lead Internal Project Team

• Informs the project team of the requirements of the contract and monitors compliance.

• Coordinates the interaction and collaboration among the internal contract team, including department project leads.

• Resolves conflict effectively while encouraging a healthy team environment.

• Inform the project team of the requirements of the contract and monitor compliance.

• Serves as convener for internal contract-related meetings, leading on agenda development, implementing project management and task-tracking systems, and setting clear objectives for all internal stakeholders overseeing work under the contract.

• Achieves a reasonable level of understanding of KIND’s mission and programmatic functions to communicate effectively with project senior leaders and provide relevant advice.

Manage Relationships with the Customer and External Stakeholders

• Serves as external relationship contract manager, liaising with the federal government, consultants, and vendors.

• Responds to the government’s inquiries and proactively alerts and facilitates critical conversations within KIND and with the government regarding potential contractual or programmatic issues, serving as the lead liaison with the COR.

Oversee Contract Resourcing & Financial Performance

• Assumes overall responsibility for the contract’s financial performance.

• Collaborates with other KIND leaders in developing and managing project costs, budgets, and resourcing projections.

• Collaborates with the finance team with respect to the project’s financial performance, including submitting accurate and timely invoices.

• Coordinates with the finance team to ensure procurement compliance for contract resourcing.

• Provides input with respect to the daily workload of any assigned contract management personnel and project or business personnel assisting with the contract management function.

• Manages the project schedule, ensuring KIND completes deliverables on time and aligned with the budgeted labor—recalibrating, as necessary.

• Maintains accountability to project plan and planned utilization rate.

Qualifications and Requirements:

• Undergraduate degree in a relevant field with a minimum of 10 years of extensive experience managing large complex nationally dispersed government contracts with at least 7 years serving as the lead in project, program, and/or portfolio management required.

• Graduate degrees (MBA, MPP, MS, JD, etc.) are strongly preferred.

• Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification.

• U.S. citizen or permanent resident.

• Extensive knowledge of and experience with blanket purchase agreements (BPAs), indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contracts (IDIQs), and the federal procurement and acquisition process.

• Experienced relationship manager with proven ability to navigate successfully in complex, fast-paced organizations. Ability to collaborate effectively and build relationships with diverse stakeholders.

• Seasoned people manager with excellent leadership skills. Experience managing large and cross-functional project teams. Committed to prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion as well as embracing transparency and authenticity in daily work life, across employees, team members, and partner organizations.

• Knowledge of project management methodologies and tools. Operational experience with program/project metrics tracking and reporting along with extensive knowledge of federal government contracting and budgeting processes.

• Direct knowledge and experience working with the Administration for Children & Families, or the Office of Refugee Resettlement preferred.

• Experience working with nongovernmental organizations, ideally those working in the child welfare, refugee, or humanitarian immigration context preferred.

• Exceptional communication skills, both verbal and written include presentations, editing, and proofreading skills; experience developing reports, briefings, and decks; and presenting in a professional and persuasive manner.

• Demonstrated experience in developing solutions, building winning teams, capturing strategy, competitive intelligence, strategic marketing and planning, customer relationship analysis, and cost and pricing strategies.

• Demonstrated success in expanding relationships and achieving financial and growth metrics on project-based work.

• Ability to work independently with minimal guidance.

• Ability to meet deadlines.

• The job requires 25% travel, including to Washington, D.C., for candidates not based in that metropolitan area.

• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English.

• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suites (such as Teams, Excel, Visio, 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.

• Ability to work effectively with people of diverse backgrounds lived experiences, and communication styles.

• Committed to prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion as well as embracing transparency and authenticity in daily work life.

• Be disciplined and nimble to ensure delivery on our core mission of access to justice and protection of children’s wellbeing and rights.

• Showing the ability to multi-task and work with a sense of urgency in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.

• Committed to practicing and supporting well-being and a work-home life balance.

• Experience working and communicating in a remote environment.

KIND requires all U.S.-based staff to be COVID vaccinated except for those who have medical or religious beliefs exemptions.

Application Instructions:

Please be advised that an employment application will need to be submitted along with your resume and cover letter here, in order to be considered for the desired role.

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/.

https://supportkind.hrmdirect.com/employment/job-opening.php?req=2511686#job