Deputy Director for Children and Families Commission

County of Riverside•Riverside, CA

About The Position

First 5 Riverside County, also known as the Riverside County Children and Families Commission, seeks a Deputy Director to provide senior leadership for the Commission’s Resilient Families goal priority. The position has primary responsibility for the Commission-operated Family Resource Centers (FRCs) and coordination with county departments and community partners. It provides strategic leadership, operational direction, and performance oversight for major Commission programs, functions, and initiatives. Initially, the position reports directly to the Executive Director, with an expected transition to reporting to the Assistant Director within the first year. The Deputy Director directly supervises management, professional, technical, and clerical staff. The Deputy Director leads the countywide FRC network and oversees its development into an integrated, prevention-focused service delivery platform that strengthens family support, early childhood development, and cross-system coordination throughout Riverside County. Responsibilities include direct oversight of Commission-operated FRCs and developing consistent standards, workflows, performance expectations, staffing models, and service practices across sites. The role partners with county departments and community organizations to make the FRC network a connected countywide access point for families, strengthening referrals, warm handoffs, shared service pathways, and prevention strategies. The selected candidate will guide the network toward a coordinated, strategic, and accountable countywide system; lead daily operations; improve service consistency and program integration; support community engagement; ensure compliance with funding and program requirements; and use data to monitor performance, identify gaps, and improve outcomes. The Deputy Director will work with Commission leadership, FRC staff, county agencies, community-based organizations, and system partners, including RivCoONE. The role champions RivCoONE Connect as an infrastructure tool for reducing barriers, improving follow-up, supporting coordination, and helping families access services. The position also supports grant development and administration, program planning and implementation, policy interpretation, budget development, expenditure monitoring, and alignment with Proposition 10 requirements and Commission priorities. It represents the Commission in internal and external settings and builds relationships across county agencies, community organizations, regional partners, and family-serving systems. Regular travel throughout Riverside County is required to oversee multiple FRCs, support site-based leadership, and participate in staff meetings. This is an at-will senior management position serving at the pleasure of the Agency/Department Head. It is eligible for the Performance Recognition Plan, subject to program eligibility requirements.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university; a major in public administration, business administration, finance, early childhood development, education, or a closely related field is preferred. Additional experience may substitute for education at one year of full-time experience per 30 semester or 45 quarter units.
Four years of administrative experience in the specified administrative functions: budget preparation, personnel administration, fiscal management, facilities management, and development of comprehensive organizational information processing systems.
At least two years of the required experience must include supervision of administrative professionals.
Possession of a valid California Driver’s License.
Knowledge of public administration and government organizational structures and relationships, and federal, state, and local laws governing organizations.
Knowledge of management principles, including financial and budgetary management, cost-benefit analysis, payroll administration, management information systems, supervision, and performance evaluation.
Ability to analyze, plan, and direct budget preparation and develop, monitor, and direct a fiscal system compliant with applicable laws and regulations.
Ability to analyze organizational, administrative, and budgetary matters and recommend effective courses of action.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships within the County and state and with representatives of other entities.
Ability to communicate clearly and concisely orally and in writing and make effective presentations of information, findings, and recommendations.
Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of application; the County does not provide employment-based visa sponsorship.

Nice To Haves

Extensive staff or line experience in a public or private agency is highly preferred.
A degree major in public administration, business administration, finance, early childhood development, education, or a closely related field is preferred.

Responsibilities

Assist the Executive Director in establishing and implementing policies and procedures, monitor their effectiveness, and recommend improvements.
Coordinate fiscal and analytical operations, including fiscal control, accounting, purchasing, personnel, grant preparation and analysis, contract administration, and capital improvements.
Conduct or direct complex studies of administrative and operational issues, determine appropriate improvements, and advise the Executive Director and/or Commission on findings and solutions.
Prepare or supervise budget preparation; review program budgets, expenditure requests, and variances; and ensure compliance with applicable laws, rules, and regulations.
Prepare, supervise, and review grant proposals; coordinate funding requirements and monitoring procedures; and present proposals to commissions, advisory committees, and work groups.
Potentially direct the purchase, lease, construction, or renovation of facilities through negotiated contract agreements.
Draft, review, interpret, and analyze administrative legislation and take action to ensure compliance with rules and regulations.
Coordinate management information systems, including non-technical automation matters, feasibility studies, equipment and software acquisition, and service contracting.
Review, coordinate, monitor, and supervise administrative functions to support effective and efficient operations.
Prepare responses to lawsuits and information requests, respond to media and general inquiries, and represent the Executive Director and Commission in meetings.
Represent the department at governmental and citizen group meetings and develop presentations about programs and services.
Manage personnel actions; interview and recommend candidates; assign, train, and evaluate staff; resolve complex work problems; and establish work standards and operational objectives.
Lead daily operations and performance oversight for the Commission-operated Family Resource Centers across Riverside County.
Develop consistent FRC standards, workflows, performance expectations, staffing models, and service delivery practices across locations.
Build coordination with county departments and community partners to strengthen referrals, warm handoffs, shared service pathways, and integrated prevention strategies.
Use data to monitor performance, identify service gaps, and improve outcomes for children and families.
Promote the use of RivCoONE Connect to improve screening, referral, navigation, follow-up, and cross-departmental coordination.
Support grant administration, program planning and implementation, policy interpretation, budget development, expenditure monitoring, and alignment with Proposition 10 requirements and Commission priorities.
Travel regularly throughout Riverside County to oversee FRC operations, support site leadership, and participate in staff meetings.