Commissioner, Bureau for Family Assistance

Office of Shared Administration•Statewide, WV

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Commissioner of the West Virginia Bureau for Family Assistance (BFA) serves as a high-level executive leader in state government, providing strategic direction, oversight, and operational management for the state's comprehensive economic stability and self-sufficiency programs. The Commissioner directly leads and mentors a team of executive staff and deputy commissioners who oversee vital initiatives—including SNAP, WV WORKS (TANF), child care resources, and energy assistance—supporting vulnerable citizens across West Virginia. This position operates in a highly visible public and political environment. It requires a unique blend of programmatic understanding of public assistance frameworks, robust financial management, and exceptional communication skills. The Commissioner is heavily engaged with lawmakers and community stakeholders, acting as the primary public voice and advocate for the state's economic support and family stability systems.

Requirements

A minimum of 7–10 years of progressive executive-level management experience within a complex human services delivery system.
Deep conceptual understanding of public assistance frameworks, systemic poverty, workforce development barriers, and the day-to-day realities of frontline benefits eligibility staff.
Superior public speaking, presentation, and rhetorical skills; a proven ability to distill dense policy, statistical data, and complex human dynamics into clear, compelling narratives for lawmakers and the public.
Advanced working knowledge of state budgeting processes, public finance mechanics, federal grant allocation rules, block grant administration, and long-term fiscal planning.
A constructive, diplomatic approach to working with state leaders and the legislature, ensuring the focus always stays on what is best for West Virginia’s families.

Nice To Haves

A master’s degree in public administration (MPA), social work (MSW), business administration (MBA), or a closely related field.

Responsibilities

Serve as the principal representative of the Bureau before legislative committees, presenting data, reporting on program outcomes, and answering inquiries from lawmakers regarding public assistance programs.
Analyze proposed state and federal legislation impacting economic assistance; collaborate on legislative rules, policy revisions, and statutory recommendations to improve service delivery and benefits administration.
Build and maintain trusted working relationships with legislators, legislative staff, and committee chairs to advance the strategic goals of the Department of Human Services.
Deliver keynote addresses, presentations, and updates to community providers, advocacy groups, non-profit organizations, and county-level staff across West Virginia to promote family self-sufficiency.
Direct deputy commissioners and executive staff in managing core safety-net programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), WV WORKS/Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), child care resources, the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP), and specialized aid (e.g., Medicaid, Summer EBT, school clothing vouchers).
Model empathetic leadership by understanding the unique psychological and operational pressures faced by frontline eligibility and casework staff, actively championing initiatives to reduce burnout and improve retention.
Convene diverse statewide task forces, community roundtables, and public-private partnerships to build consensus on systemic poverty reduction and workforce development reforms.
Oversee a complex state budget consisting of state general revenue funds and multi-layered federal matching grants and block grants (e.g., TANF block grants, USDA SNAP funding).
Allocate financial resources strategically across programs to ensure fiscal responsibility, regulatory compliance, and maximum measurable impact for populations overcoming barriers to stability.