Managing Attorney jobs in Harlingen, TX

Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights invites applications for the full-time position of Managing Social Worker to be based in Harlingen, Texas.  

The Managing Social Worker will co-manage the Harlingen Child Advocate Program team in collaboration with the Managing Attorney. At present, the Managing Social Worker will supervise a Child Advocate Supervisors (Social Workers) and two Case Support Associate but may have 4-5 direct reports at any given time. In the Manager’s capacity supervising Child Advocate Supervisors (Social Workers), they will work with program staff, in collaboration with their Co-Manager, to develop advocacy strategies on cases to which the Young Center is appointed as Child Advocate and will review work product. The Managing Social Worker will 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 will be responsible for developing and maintaining relationships – along with the Co-Manager – with local stakeholders, including government field staff, facility staff, legal service providers, and immigration judges. The Managing Social Worker will join a team of Managers who manage the program sites or national program components, and work to establish consistent interdisciplinary practices, ensure compliance with funding and program requirements, and support program growth. In addition, this position will coordinate hiring and training new staff under their supervision in Harlingen, Texas.  

About Young Center: 

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. Through its flagship Child Advocate Program the Young Center serves as the federally-appointed best interests representative for unaccompanied and separated immigrant children in federal custody. Child Advocates meet with children and learn their stories in order to identify and advocate for their best interests through an interdisciplinary, trauma-informed, and culturally sensitive lens. The Young Center's Policy Program fights for wholesale reform of the immigration system while pursuing immediate changes in policy and practice that center children's rights and best interests in all decisions. The Technical Assistance Program, the Young Center's newest program. offers intersectional expertise and critical resources to advocates and service providers working with immigrant children involved in child welfare and other state court systems. 

Young Center has offices in Houston, San Antonio, and Harlingen, Texas; Chicago, Illinois; New York, New York; Washington, D.C.; Phoenix, Arizona; and Los Angeles, California. We also serve children through programs in New Jersey and Western Michigan.
 

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; and providing ongoing feedback and support.   

• Ensure supervisees implement established policies, procedures, and best practices including but not limited to case strategy; volunteer training, recruitment, and retention; and management of case and volunteer data systems. 

• Lead weekly case rounds and staff meetings, and conduct meetings as needed to ensure high quality work product and identify trends and areas for advocacy. 

• Guide staff on effective and creative approaches to interdisciplinary case strategy, including oral and written best interests determinations for submission to stakeholders (immigration judges, USCIS, ORR, ICE, etc.); apply social science research and social work best practices, including, but not limited to, trauma-informed and culturally sensitive approaches. 

• Advise the Child Advocate Supervisors to develop and draft clear and persuasive interdisciplinary written and oral best interests determinations. 

• Consult on complex cases with the DPDs (Social Worker and Attorney), and when necessary, participate in national complex case rounds or Best Interests Determination panels. 

• Support the Co-Manager, as necessary, in overseeing the recruitment, training, and retention of volunteer Child Advocates.   

• In collaboration with the Co-Manager and DPDs, develop strategic partnerships in the Harlingen area to support the work of Child Advocates and meet regularly with local stakeholders (government field staff, facility staff, immigration judges, ICE officers, and legal service providers). 

• In collaboration with the Co-Manager, oversee stakeholder engagement, troubleshoot challenges with stakeholder engagement, serve as a point of contact for stakeholder relationships, coordinate presentations to local stakeholders, attend case staffings or other stakeholder meetings, and speak about the Child Advocate Program at local, regional, and national events.   

• In collaboration with the Co-Manager, manage site referrals, assist staff in developing interdisciplinary case advocacy strategies, oversee court preparation and manage support on all cases 

• Along with the Co-Manager, ensure the site team meets case deliverables and program metrics for the government contract and private grants; manage site budget. 

• In collaboration with the Co-Manager, produce accurate and timely data management to inform monthly reports to the government and private funders regarding children served, case outcomes, program metrics, and trends observed. 

• 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: 

• Masters of Social Work and license to practice social work in Texas

• Generally, 4 years working with immigrants and/or children and youth 

• Generally, 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) 

• Skills grounded in social work ethics, trauma-informed practices, and culturally sensitive approaches 

• Commitment to the interdisciplinary model in both Child Advocate casework and staff management 

• Aptitude and thoughtfulness in working with children and promoting child-centered advocacy 

• Effective communication skills, including ability to liaise across various stakeholders, program management, and volunteers 

• Leadership, team building, critical thinking, and creative problem-solving skills 

• Excellent case and project management skills 

• Ability to work independently, take initiative, and proactively address programmatic needs 

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Licensure in Social Work 

• Lived experience that lends insight into supporting immigrant children and their families 

• Background and/or demonstrated understanding of child development, impact of clinical diagnoses, or systems theory 

• Comfort with or willingness to present to interested groups and speak with the media or press. 

Physical Demands: 

Physical demands include regular attendance; keyboarding; sitting for long periods (at least 5 hours a day); driving. Ability to use a computer, telephone, and copy machine. Ability to travel by plane, car, and other conveyances within U.S. 
 

COVID-19 CONSIDERATIONS 

All employees must be fully vaccinated prior to first day of employment. 

APPLICATION DETAILS 

Job offer is conditional on clearance of a fingerprint criminal background check, child abuse and neglect check (CANS), and tuberculosis test.