Administrator, Children and Family Services - EXEMPT

Government of the Virgin Islands

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

Under the general direction of the Assistant Commissioner or designee, this position leads the planning, organizing, directing, and management of the Division of Children and Family Services (CFS), inclusive of child protective services, foster care operations, residential services oversight, and related support functions. Ensures the effective program administration within a broad framework of applicable local and federal laws, policies, procedures, rules, and regulations governing child welfare service delivery. The incumbent is responsible for division operations, internal controls, fiscal oversight, personnel management, compliance monitoring, and strategic program improvement. The incumbent is responsible for and participates in the formulation and determination of policy, programs, and activities within the area of supervision. This position requires a confidential relationship to a policymaker.

Requirements

• Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in Social Work, Public Administration, or a closely related field
• Eight (8) years of progressively responsible experience relevant to child welfare and social service program administration
• At least three (3) years in a mid- to upper-management or program leadership capacity
• Knowledge of child welfare administration, practices, and current issues affecting child safety, permanency, and well-being.
• Knowledge of applicable federal and local laws, regulations, standards, and compliance requirements governing child protective services, foster care, and residential care programs.
• Knowledge of departmental policies, procedures, and operational standards related to division programming and internal controls.
• Skill in program leadership, strategic planning, and directing division operations to meet performance and compliance objectives.
• Skill in budget development, fiscal management, and business planning, including expenditure monitoring and establishing financial controls and priorities.
• Skill in report writing and preparing publications for varied audiences including practitioners, consumers, and policy makers.
• Skill in MS Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and other administrative systems for effective program and administrative oversight.
• Skill in effective professional writing and executive reporting.
• Skill in administrative systems and software used for planning, reporting, and operational oversight.
• Ability to respond to child welfare emergencies and service demands, and to be on-call beyond normal working hours if required.
• Ability to supervise and coordinate staff and programs through effective delegation, performance monitoring, and accountability.
• Ability to evaluate programs and implement continuous quality improvement and system improvement initiatives within deadlines and regulatory timelines.
• Ability to communicate and collaborate effectively with internal and external partners, including the judiciary, law enforcement, providers, and community stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Plans, organizes, and administratively directs foster care and child protective care units to ensure effective program management in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, and departmental policies.
• Disseminates governmental and departmental policies and procedures; ensures compliance at the divisional level and communicates applicable requirements to the public and stakeholders as needed.
• Disseminates territorial audit reports to divisional staff and ensures implementation of applicable recommendations and corrective actions.
• Exercises general direction over divisional administrative and supervisory staff; reviews and signs off on employee performance ratings and supports personnel accountability measures.
• Directs budget operations and fiscal management including budget development, prioritization of resources, and expenditure controls to ensure spending does not exceed approved funding.
• Assists in preparing budget estimates for the division; recommends budgetary priorities and establishes internal controls and fiscal safeguards.
• Consults and coordinates with federal and local officials regarding funding, legislation, inter agency coordination, compliance requirements, and other matters impacting child welfare services.
• Represents the Department and Division at court hearings, meetings, seminars, conferences, and on boards and commissions, as required.
• Reviews progress reports and conducts periodic site visits to residential programs and foster care homes serving children in the care and custody of the department.
• Makes recommendations regarding the design, evaluation, and budgetary needs of annual training programs based on divisional operational needs and collective bargaining agreement requirements; submits recommendations annually to the Assistant Commissioner for approval.
• Implements annual training as approved by the Assistant Commissioner and coordinates with training resources to improve staff effectiveness.
• Analyzes the Department of Human Services goals, accomplishments, and priorities through continuous appraisal of staff workload, program outcomes, and service delivery performance.
• Coordinates public information and press-related matters through the Office of Public Relations with approval of the Commissioner.
• Participates in interview and selection activities and provides recommendations to the Assistant Commissioner regarding staffing decisions.
• Determines methods and approaches, allocates work to program components, and ensures effective program implementation.
• Performs other related duties as required.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level