Adoptee Program Manager

Description

DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:

Holt International’s Programs and Services Department serves more than 1,000,000 children, family members and other individuals around the world each year through family strengthening services, orphan care and adoption services. Managed by U.S. and in-country staff, these programs and services are carried out in close cooperation with partner agencies, orphanages and other child service providers, government child welfare agencies, local and regional officials, funding agencies, and others. The Programs and Services Department continuously evaluates opportunities to expand or deepen program services in countries where we work while maintaining high standards of quality and transparency for sustainable development and child welfare impact.

POSITION SUMMARY: 

Holt International finds and supports permanent, loving families for children who are orphaned, abandoned, or at serious risk of separation from their families. The Adoptee Program Manager supervises all programmatic elements for adoptees within the post adoption department. Assures the delivery of high-quality post adoption programming by maintaining and developing programs for adoptees and adoptive families by assisting with processes related to international and domestic post adoption services. Contributes to effective advertising, marketing, and communications with the goal of engaging diverse audiences through multiple platforms and mediums. Assures the delivery of quality services to birth families, Adoptees, and adoptive families by ensuring that all practice is compliant with Oregon law, and with other state laws, when necessary, accreditation standards, and the Code of Ethics of the National Association of Social Workers. Demonstrates a commitment to continuous quality improvement within the services provided to Adoptees and adoptive families.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS: 

1. Ensures quality post adoption programming to adoptees and adoptive families by enhancing existing services and procedures and developing and implementing new programs and systems to meet the evolving needs of adoptees, adoptive families, and children of adoptees throughout their lifespan, incorporating modern delivery methods of information and content that are relevant in all life stages, and evaluating these services through a data-driven quality improvement process. 

2. Provide adult adoptee and youth outreach by developing and implementing outreach strategies to engage, understand, and support the diverse perspectives and needs of adult and youth adoptees. Strengthening connections within the adult adoptee community and between adoptees and strategic partners through communication initiatives, collaborative relationships, community engagement, and representation of Holt at relevant events, conferences, forums, and Holt Board functions. Stay informed of national and international adoption trends to enhance public education and adoptee outreach.

3. Provide adoptee programming and promotion by developing, managing, and promoting year-round programming for youth and adult adoptees, including peer support and mentorship opportunities for youth and adult adoptee drop-in groups.  Collaborates with the Holt internal departments, adoption organizations, and other partners to develop effective outreach and communication strategies and promote adoptee services through Holt’s website, e-newsletters, forums, and other relevant channels.

4. Responds to Post Adoption Services inquiries by providing general support and education, coaching, guidance, consultation, and referrals to adoptees, adoptive parents, birth parents, and others regarding adoption-related topics, including citizenship, records, search and reunion, intermediary services, adoptee identity development, grief and loss, birth family connections, adoptee identity, transracial adoption, lifelong adoption issues. 

5. Maintains accurate and timely program statistics by entering contacts, compiling and formatting statistics, and documenting all correspondence in Holt’s database.

6. Manages the department’s social media, website, and e-correspondence aesthetics by working closely with post adoption staff and the communications team to establish and develop engaging outreach and marketing materials, newsletters for the Post Adoption Department, marketing of youth programming, etc. 

7. Directs Holt Adoptee Camp through strategic planning, year-round preparation, and program oversight, including preparing the annual camp budget, recruiting, selecting, training, supervising, and evaluating camp counselors and maintaining effective working relationships with counselors and staff. Ensures safe, high-quality programming and accountability to industry standards, refining camp curriculum, and monitoring continuous quality improvement through camper and participant feedback. Collaborates with the Post Adoption Services Specialist. 

8. Provides education and support for adoptees and adoptive families participating in Holt’s heritage tours and/or independent travel program. Participates in tour planning, orientation, travel, and post travel follow up both individually and in groups. Provides in-person support to adoptees and adoptive families when travelling.

9. Identifies funding opportunities for Post Adoption Services and serves as the primary point person, working collaboratively with other departments within Holt to research and successfully identify new internal and external funding opportunities that align with the goals and objectives of post adoption services. Responsible for developing high-quality grant proposals, narratives, applications, and supporting documents, ensuring they comply with Holt International’s policies and the specific guidelines of funding organizations. Oversees post-grant monitoring, ensuring compliance with funding requirements, proper resource allocation, and preparing reports to communicate program impact and outcomes to funders.

10. Provides adoptee file review, intermediary services, and citizenship services by assisting with all processes including preparing and copying files. Ensures timely and accurate completion of these services and as needed, troubleshooting with adoptees, adoptive families, and international partner agencies regarding case problems, delays, or impediments that surface during this processing all the while adhering to confidentiality mandates, and legal and regulatory guidelines. 

11. Collaborates with the Director of Post Adoption and departmental staff to develop and facilitate educational opportunities, including staff and client trainings, workshops, seminars, webinars, and adoptee-centered events. Participates in departmental initiatives, organizational projects, and public engagement activities, representing the organization through presentations, training, and written communications.

12. Maintains current knowledge of adoption research, best practices, and emerging trends and disseminates information to staff and the larger agency.

13. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

SUCCESS FACTORS: 

The successful Adoptee Program Manager is self-directed, innovative, and results oriented. Has the ability to establish and maintain positive relationships with co-workers, vendors, and constituents to exchange information and maintain project timelines. They are friendly, approachable, and dependable, with strong organizational and visioning skills, and exhibit a flexible communication style that clearly expresses purpose and intent to a wide variety of clients through several mediums. Has practical problem-solving and solid troubleshooting skills and the ability to learn and utilize new technological advances in communication. (e.g., social media, podcasts, etc.)

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE (MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS): Bachelor’s degree in social work or related field desired, or five years of experience working in program development. Knowledge of adoption procedures and search, child development, and family dynamics. Lived experience as an adoptee is highly desirable, or personal knowledge of the experience of an international adoptee. Cross-cultural sensitivity. 

IMPACT OF RESULTS: Develops and maintains effective and innovative programs to meet the needs of Adoptees and adoptive families. Ensures that all post adoption programs run safely, smoothly, and with attention to social work principles. Requires continual assessment, planning, and supervisory attention to achieve results. Manages complex and varied services in which quality of service and attention to legalities are of high priority to the agency. Maximizes the effectiveness of Post Adoption by providing support to the program. Ensures the accuracy and efficiency of post adoption services by ongoing assessment and monitoring of systems and workloads. Facilitates good communication within post adoption and with other departments. 

INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION: Works effectively with children, adolescents, and adults as well as people/families in crisis. Develops and maintains effective relationships with Social Work Directors, Overseas Partners, Branch Offices, community partners, and other Holt staff. Works effectively with colleagues, families, and the general public. Presents case material in an organized manner. Utilizes persuasion, problem-solving, and training skills with staff and others. 

SCOPE OF RESPONSIBILITY: Provides daily ongoing monitoring and decision-making related to post adoption programming. Ability to work independently and exercise good judgment, courtesy, and tact with birth families, Adoptees, adoptive families, and other constituents. Takes initiative in assigned duties; particularly in selecting among various options to accomplish work. Follows procedures with regularized tasks, such as some aspects of background, birth search, and intermediary services. Provides the continual assessment and planning necessary for efficient delivery of services. 

REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: Reports to and is evaluated by the Director of Post Adoption Services.

LOCATION: Eugene, OR (preferred), remote candidates within the surrounding region will be considered. 

NOTE: Travel required