Social Services Director II (Accomack)

Virginia Department of Social Services•Accomac, VA

20d•$125,000

About The Position

The Social Services Director II is the second level in the Social Services Directors group and leads a Level II social services department in Accomack, Virginia. The position is responsible for all social service and financial program areas in a moderate-size office with varied and complex programs, and supervises managers. The director establishes departmental goals and objectives; administers benefits and service programs; directs multiple divisions; manages workflow and resources; prepares budgets and monitors expenditures; recommends policy and legislative changes; determines whether programs or services should be created or modified; and interviews, hires, or reassigns staff as needed. The role works with the Board of Social Services on administrative matters, communicates agency programs and policies, represents the department with the public and other agencies, and coordinates with other human services administrators. The director may delegate personnel matters and daily operations to division managers and approves special placements of children pending formal Board action. Applicants must meet the education and experience requirements or an equivalent combination of training and experience. Acceptable background checks and a valid Virginia driver's license are required. Employees must be willing to work in a local emergency shelter during a natural disaster or emergency.

Requirements

Master's degree in human services, behavioral science, counseling, business or public administration, or a related field, supplemented by professional experience in social work or another human services field and considerable supervisory or management experience; or an equivalent combination of training and experience providing the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.
Considerable knowledge of current social, economic, and health issues affecting clients; the Social Security Act; welfare-services laws and regulations; local social services; public and private resources; social-work caseload management; counseling methods; human services administration trends; community organization; and supervision.
Comprehensive knowledge of management and supervision; strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership, and coordination; personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation, benefits, and information systems; program planning, fiscal management, and funding sources; government and volunteer-agency organization; and research methods and statistical analysis.
Skill in operating office equipment, including a personal computer and related equipment.
Ability to work effectively with others and communicate orally and in writing with diverse groups.
Ability to conduct research; plan and direct varied social services programs; interpret and implement policies and regulations; and enforce applicable local, state, and federal laws, ordinances, rules, and regulations.
Ability to supervise division managers overseeing multiple program and administrative supervisors; mobilize community support and awareness; establish effective management and administrative procedures; represent the agency before boards or councils; apply logical reasoning to problem solving; lead system design, personnel management, and budget formulation; negotiate contracts; and analyze, initiate, concentrate, and act creatively with ingenuity.
Acceptable background checks and screenings are required, including applicable criminal-history, Central Registry, driving-record, and/or pre-employment drug checks.
Valid driver's license permitting operation of a motor vehicle in Virginia; driving record must meet local agency policy requirements.
Willingness to work in a local emergency shelter in the event of a natural disaster or emergency.

Nice To Haves

Leadership experience in a DSS setting.
Familiarity with the County of Agency or surrounding areas.

Responsibilities

Establish goals and objectives for the Department of Social Services.
Administer social services benefits and service programs.
Authorize, coordinate, and direct programs across multiple divisions.
Communicate the agency's mission and the duties of each division.
Manage and coordinate the workflow of division managers.
Work with the Board of Social Services to prepare agendas for administrative matters.
Recommend policy and legislative changes through reports, budget items, impact statements, and directives.
Make short- and long-term decisions based on needs, problems, data, trends, directives, and task force findings.
Obtain and manage agency resources.
Prepare agency budgets, track expenditures, anticipate trends, and redirect resources according to priority needs.
Authorize expenditures for special funds.
Determine the need for new programs or services and changes to existing ones.
Interview, hire, and reassign staff as needed.
Communicate social services programs and represent the department to the public and on legislative issues.
Serve on committees and boards and give presentations as needed or requested.
Delegate typical personnel matters and daily agency operations to division managers as appropriate.
Approve special placements of children pending formal action by the Board of Social Services.
Communicate and plan with other human services administrators and interpret policies and programs to other agencies.