Chief Family Services Specialist Supervisor

Hiring Range: $129,446.72 to $148,371.86

Full Time or Part Time: Full Time

Additional Detail

The City of Alexandria Department of Community and Human Services is seekinga candidate with strong leadership skills, a passion for ensuring children's well-being who has experience and integrity to fill the position of Chief of Child Welfare Services. This Chief is responsible for increasing children's safety and well-being in the city by leading the office responsible for child welfare services and collaborating with other partners in child welfare, including Courts, schools, and community agencies.

Child Welfare Services is a division within the Center for Children and Families in the Department of Community and Human Services that is part of a larger system that is deeply committed to addressing the disproportionality of black and brown children in the child welfare system. CWS and DCHS are committed to addressing historical racism and its impact upon the residents of the City and advancing racial equity across the entire Child Welfare system. We believe that children should be placed with their families or Kin whenever possible. We are seeking a Chief to lead quality practice and chart the course for the next decade of system improvements.

This position reports to the Center Director for Children and Families within DCHS and is a member of the Center's 7-person management team. The incumbent will oversee several direct staff, including two Program Managers, and a Quality Assurance FSSIII Position and 50 indirect-report staff.

CWS is part of DCHS, which is responsible for several human and community services.The Department of Community and Human Services provides effective and essential safety net services that measurably improve or maintain the quality of life for Alexandrians.

Additionally, the programs overseen by the Alexandria Community Services Board provide compassionate and effective services that support self-determination, recovery and resiliency for Alexandria residents affected by mental illness,developmental disabilities, and substance use disorders.This means that the CWS Director can expect and enjoy working on big problems with other best-in-class professionals.

Ideal Candidate

We are looking for a leader in child welfare who has successfully administered medium to large-scale programs or agencies and readily embraces the responsibility for leading a CWS system. This candidate envisions a system that is effective in protecting children and supporting families, seeks to minimize entry into the system, reduces inequities-and has the experience and skills needed to make such a vision possible. They have a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion and wish to seize the opportunity to address the social and structural differences that are deeply embedded in society and impact families' abilities and willingness to engage in services.

The ideal candidate is a leader who can bring all staff together on the mission and is also a great communicator and collaborator. They can join with the staff, ask questions, understand other points of view, and actively listen. Their integrity, dedication and caring heart make them the kind of leader people want to follow.

Job Responsibilities

The Director of Child Welfare Services will have the following responsibilities:

• Envisions, leads and shapes a system of care that is effective in protecting children, respectful of families and seeks to minimize entry into the system.
• Establishes the operational structure, culture, and standards of practice that allow CWS to meet goals and key performance indicators; and ensures staff and providers understand the organization's purpose and goals and are motivated to work together toward the mission.
• Directs and manages staff, programs, and operations in an organized, professional and clear manner, demonstrating a high degree of respect for staff.
• Collaborates with other offices within DCHS, the Courts, and the County to align in meeting goals for child safety and wellbeing and reducing inequities in the system.
• Builds and leverages partnerships with community organizations that have the trust of clients and families.
• Communicates a strategic vision through frequent public presentations, listening sessions and presentations with staff and providers; and by cultivating relationships.
• Remains current on local, state and national affairs, policies, and legislation that impact the system; and is highly knowledgeable about the parameters of funding sources.
• Represents DCHS and builds relationships with governmental entities, including those at the state and federal levels.
• Ensures the division applies a consistent framework for continuousimprovement.

Minimum Qualifications

• Experience:Master's degree in social work or other related degree; 10 years or more of experience in child welfare with increasingly progressive levels of supervisory responsibility.

Preferred Qualifications

• Leadership experience and aptitude, with strong knowledge of child welfare
• Ability to understand and synthesize information
• Experience in professionally operating a large system or programs (operations/management expertise)
• Integrity
• Values that include:
• Using their abilities and position to reduce disparities in child welfare system and practice
• Placing priority on engaging with families, communities, staff and providers to understand how the system is working; and how to improve it.
• Openness to hearing criticism and using this to improve their own work and the system they lead.
• Ability to work with diverse staff and build cohesive relationships.

If you are interested in applying to this position, please know that the deadline for applications is September 2, 2024. Please submit your Resume, a Cover Letter that explains why you are a great candidate, including specific examples from your experience, and up to 3 References.