Director of Professional Development

City of New York•New York City, NY

About The Position

The Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) protects and promotes the safety and well-being of children and families through child welfare and juvenile justice services and community supports. ACS manages community-based supports and foster care services, and provides subsidized child care vouchers. ACS child protection staff respond to allegations of child maltreatment. In juvenile justice, ACS oversees detention, placement and programs for youth in the community. The Division of Policy, Planning and Measurement (PPM) collaborates with every ACS division to guide systems analysis and strategic systems improvement; assure quality of practice at ACS and its provider agencies; professionalize the frontline workforce; bring knowledge into practice; provide research and analytic support; and plan and develop new programs and policies. The Office of Training and Workforce Development provides foundational and continuous learning for child welfare and juvenile justice direct service staff and supervisors. Through the use of simulation, coaching and other best practices in adult learning, staff develop strengths-based skills to protect and support the children, youth and families of New York City. Reporting to the Senior Director of the Professional Development Program, the Director of PDP will work closely with Workforce Institute and ACS division leadership, Provider agencies, the Social Work Advisory Consortium (SWAC), Faculty and Administrators at local Schools of Social Work relevant graduate programs, ACS staff pursuing higher education degrees, non-ACS interns and all other educational stakeholders to develop relationships and establish partnerships and collaborations that will lead to a highly skilled workforce. This position will play a key role in assuring that ACS and Provider agencies’ staff, BSW interns and Master’s degree candidates pursuing higher education will receive the supports necessary to succeed in school and be equipped to become leaders who make valuable and cutting-edge contributions to the workforce and child welfare sector. The Director will work closely with the schools of social work and other relevant graduate school programs to become intimately knowledgeable of the curriculum and competencies students need to successfully complete their studies.

Requirements

A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university and four years of progressively responsible experience, including one year at the administrative or managerial level in a large governmental agency, business firm, civic or community organization operating in the area of social services; or
Education and/or experience equivalent to "1" above. However, all candidates must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college and the one year of experience at the administrative or management level as described in "1" above.
PERMANENT (NOT PROVISIONAL) IN THE CIVIL SERVICE TITLE OF ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL SERVICES.

Responsibilities

Lead the full portfolio of activities of the Professional Development Program, including but not limited to, scholarships, practicum placements, release time, conferences and budget.
Supervise a team of three deputy directors and administrative coordinator in meeting the goals and deliverables of the PDP.
Establish and maintain working relationships with SWAC and the Schools of Social Work as well as other relevant NYC graduate schools to support the development of an ACS/Educational partnership
Maintain the PDP Budget through the development of scopes of work with multiple consultants, submission of timely invoices and reimbursement oversight of all expenditures.
Establish and maintain strong working relationships with internal stakeholders, Division leadership, and other administrative departments such as Finance, Legal and Human Resources.
Build strong partnership with NYC contracted provider agencies in meeting requirements for scholarships and process for reimbursement.
Support deputy directors in the identification and facilitations of group supervision for ACS students and non-ACS Interns to provide educational support.
Provide recommendations and oversight of deputy directors in their work with designated practicum instructors and task supervisors.
Lead the review, evaluation, reporting and quality control of the program to meet the required components of high-quality practicum education programs.
Connect with stakeholders to think strategically about collaborations to support and sustain program interventions.
Attend meetings with ACS leadership, as required and necessary to fulfill the functions of this position.
Responsible for the timely production of deliverables, as well as overseeing the creation and implementation of contracts and agreements with all consultants providing training and staff development activities.
Speak in public and represent ACS’s workforce Institute and PDP at meetings, conferences, forums and all settings that will promote the Institute and the program.