Chief Operations Officer - Unclassified

State of Nevada • Nevada, NV

5d

About The Position

DCFS is seeking a visionary and results-oriented executive leader to serve as its first Chief Operations Officer. This newly established unclassified position represents a unique opportunity to help shape the future of one of Nevada's most complex human services organizations by strengthening operational excellence, advancing strategic priorities, and fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement. The Chief Operations Officer role offers an exceptional opportunity to influence statewide policy, strengthen organizational performance, and improve outcomes for Nevada's children and families. The successful candidate will lead complex initiatives, build collaborative partnerships, and help position DCFS to meet current and future challenges while advancing its mission of protecting children and strengthening families.

Requirements

• Five (5) to seven (7) years of professional experience in public sector leadership, government relations, public administration, human services, child welfare, behavioral health, juvenile justice, or a closely related field.

Nice To Haves

• A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in health related field, business, law or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a key member of the DCFS executive leadership team and partner closely with the Administrator and Deputy Administrators to drive organizational effectiveness, strengthen statewide and cross-program consistency, and ensure successful implementation of Division priorities.
• Lead cross-functional initiatives, coordinate operational strategy, and support a unified vision for service delivery across the Division.
• Provide executive leadership and oversight in Division-wide grants and contracts management, including strategic alignment, performance monitoring, efficiency improvements, and cost containment initiatives.
• Develop and implement policy to ensure consistent application of standards, procedures, and operational expectations across all DCFS programs and service areas.
• Lead workforce development and organizational culture initiatives, including leadership of the new IMPACT Committee (Improving Morale, Partnership, Accountability, Climate, and Trust), employee engagement strategies, wellness initiatives, and the development of a DCFS-wide on-boarding and leadership academy.
• Oversee legislative coordination and strategic planning.
• Ensure regulatory compliance and performance oversight, ensuring adherence to federal and state requirements, accreditation standards, corrective action plans, and audit findings.
• Manage executive-level special projects, organizational improvement initiatives, and emerging operational priorities.

What This Job Offers

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