Overview
Chief of Child Advocacy Unit Jobs in Philadelphia, PA at Defender Association of Philadelphia
Make a difference! Become a Defender!
The Defender Association of Philadelphia is seeking experienced, visionary and deeply committed leader to serve as the Chief of the Child Advocacy Unit (CAU). The Chief will lead a large and dynamic multidisciplinary department to ensure that children and young people in the child welfare and dependency systems receive high quality, trauma informed, client-centered legal representation. Our team of attorneys and social workers promote and protect the legal and best interests of children from birth to twenty-one. This is an opportunity to champion the rights and futures of our most vulnerable clients.
Duties & Responsibilities
Vision & Operational Leadership
Advocacy: Elevate the youth voice within child welfare system
Strategic Direction: Collaboratively devise and implement the CAU’s mission, core values, and strategic goals in alignment with the Defender Association.
Executive Collaboration: Serve on the senior leadership team to contribute to organization-wide decision-making and proactively communicate court and community updates to CAU staff.
Multidisciplinary Integration: Partner with the Chief of Social Services to seamlessly execute a multidisciplinary team model of service delivery.
Legal Practice & Case Management
Caseload Management: Maintain a modest personal caseload to remain abreast of the law, while overseeing unit-wide case assignment protocols, staffing coverage, and equitable resource allocation.
Complex Litigation Support: Consult and guide attorneys on complex legal, ethical, and strategic issues (e.g., permanency, termination of parental rights, education, and older youth rights).
Systemic Advocacy: Collaborate with the appellate litigation team on cases presenting significant legal or systemic issues.
Quality Assurance & Data
Representation Standards: Establish and enforce rigorous standards to ensure representation is consistently trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and effective at elevating youth voices and wishes.
Data-Driven Evaluation: Create systems for data collection to evaluate case outcomes, track budget/staffing needs, and continuously improve unit performance.
Funding Initiatives: Utilize data and client feedback to assist with grant proposals, funder reporting, and identifying new financial opportunities.
Talent Development & Culture
Team Supervision: Supervise and mentor supervising attorneys, supervising social workers, and administrative staff through recurring 1:1s and performance evaluations. Create an environment of support and mentoring for the entire department.
Recruitment Strategy: Work with the Directors of Recruitment and Training to build robust pipelines for hiring and retaining staff and interns.
Professional Growth: Foster a culture of anti-racism, wellness, and accountability by proactively supporting staff public speaking, leadership, and educational opportunities.
Qualifications
Required
Education: Juris Doctor degree and active admission (or eligibility for admission) to the Pennsylvania Bar.
Litigation Experience: Minimum of 7–10 years of direct legal representation in dependency or child welfare proceedings, with strong knowledge of PA and federal legal frameworks.
Management Experience: Minimum of 5 years of management experience, demonstrating the ability to lead effectively in a high-volume public defense environment
Core Values: Demonstrated commitment to public defense, children’s rights, diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Leadership: Track record of utilizing clear, positive and collaborative communication to foster a supportive teamwork environment or demonstrated potential to develop this competency
Preferred
Jurisdictional Expertise: 5+ years of extensive practice navigating dependency court systems in Philadelphia.
Multidisciplinary Leadership: Proven experience directing cross-functional teams (social workers, mental health professionals, educators).
Systemic Impact: Track record of involvement in appellate, impact, policy, or legislative advocacy related to child welfare.
Talent Development: Documented success in creating formal training programs or staff retention initiatives.
Benefits & Perks
Comprehensive Benefits: Affordable medical care options plus employer paid vision, dental, life and long- term disability insurances
Generous Time Off: 25 days of paid time off (PTO) annually, in addition to all federal holidays
Wellness Initiatives: Dedicated, separate sick leave policy alongside organizational programming to support your physical and mental health
Family Support: 10 weeks of paid parental leave
Retirement: Generous retirement savings plan with Employer Match
Commuter Benefits: Free Septa All Access Key card
PSLF: We are a Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) eligible employer
Culture: Meaningful, mission-driven work within a supportive, learning-focused, and collaborative environment.
To apply
Please apply online with resume and cover letter detailing your interest and relevant experience. Please include a writing sample related to children and youth issues that is no more than 20 pages.
Who is the Defender Association?
The Defender Association of Philadelphia is more than just a law firm. We’re the community’s lawyers. The Defender team – more than 500 attorneys, social workers, investigators, administrators, and other staff – make sure that everyone, regardless of income, has access to high-quality defense when facing criminal charges. Our mission-driven, client-centered model focuses on outcomes that support a system that is fundamentally fair and creates safer, stronger communities. Follow us @PhilllyDefenders (Twitter, Instagram & TikTok) and on LinkedIn.
The Defender Association provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, The Defender Association complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.
Title: Chief of Child Advocacy Unit
Company: Defender Association of Philadelphia
Location: Philadelphia, PA
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