Deputy Director - Operations

County of Delaware•Upper Darby, PA

About The Position

The Delaware County Department of Human Services / Human Services Administration is seeking a Deputy Director - Operations to serve as a strategic partner and operational support for the Chief of Social Services and Community Programs. This position is responsible for driving the administrative and operational infrastructure necessary to lead effectively — including decision-making governance, internal communications, cross-departmental coordination, priority management, and organizational reform. This position is responsible for the operational performance of the department’s human resources, fiscal, technology, procurement, and facilities functions.

Requirements

Master's degree in Public Administration, Public Policy, Social Work, Business Administration, or related field, plus 7+ years of progressive leadership experience in a complex public sector, nonprofit, or human services organization; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Demonstrated experience supporting senior executives in complex organizational environments, including managing competing priorities, cross-functional coordination, and sensitive internal communications.
Demonstrated experience leading organizational change efforts and building administrative infrastructure.
Strong knowledge of government operations, including county and state government processes for HR, fiscal, procurement, and compliance.
Excellent analytical, organizational, and project management skills; ability to manage multiple complex priorities simultaneously.
Outstanding verbal and written communication skills; ability to translate complex issues into clear, accessible language for diverse audiences.
Strong facilitation and meeting management skills.
Negotiation and conflict resolution skills.
Short and long range planning skills.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships at all levels of government and with diverse stakeholder groups.
High emotional intelligence and demonstrated commitment to equity, public service, and organizational transparency.
Excellent supervisory and coaching skills.
Computer proficiency required for basic computer programs including but not limited to Microsoft Office 365, Word, and Outlook.
Successful clearance of child abuse history, PA criminal records, and FBI fingerprint background checks.

Responsibilities

Serve as a thought partner and trusted advisor to the Chief of Social Services and Community Programs; provide independent perspective on organizational dynamics, leadership team effectiveness, and emerging issues.
Provide strategic and day-to-day leadership of the department’s core administrative support functions, including human resources, fiscal operations, information technology, data, statistics and quality, procurement, and facilities — ensuring these functions reliably serve program administrators and staff.
Develop and maintain a formal decision rights framework that clarifies what each role can decide independently, what requires notification, and what requires approval — and establish clear escalation pathways for contracts, grant applications, RFPs, and other time-sensitive items.
Design, launch, and maintain a regularized administrator meeting structure across the portfolio — ensuring meetings have clear purpose, generate coordination, and result in accountable follow-through.
Revitalize the HR support function, including driving down position vacancy timelines, streamlining job description and classification processes, establishing supervisor training on performance improvement and corrective action tools, and ensuring staff have reliable access to HR support.
Oversee the department’s fiscal operations in partnership with the CFO’s office — ensuring program administrators have direct, timely access to budget information.
Lead the department’s technology and data infrastructure improvement agenda, including activating Microsoft 365 and Power BI capabilities, ensuring IT help desk responsiveness, and building the foundation for integrated cross-program data access.
Coordinate with state and county government counterparts on shared planning, policy, and budget processes; serve as a liaison to the County Executive's office and County Council on behalf of DHS/HSA as needed.
Lead and manage the department's strategic planning process, including stakeholder engagement, plan development, implementation tracking, and communication.
Track the implementation of organizational priorities and commitments; develop and maintain tracking systems that allow the Chief of Social Services and Community Programs to monitor progress across initiatives.
Coordinate the department's response to urgent or time-sensitive policy, funding, and operational issues — including cross-departmental decision processes for items such as emergency contract amendments.
Support the Chief of Social Services and Community Programs in preparing for County Council presentations, budget processes, and legislative interactions.
Track and report on operational performance metrics across support functions; identify bottlenecks and inefficiencies, and drive resolution.