Children and Families Program Director 1(Hybrid)

Introduction

We are currently recruiting for one full-time (40 hours) Children and Families Program Director 1 who will be responsible for leading the practice and administrative direction over the Meriden area office, which is part of DCF's Region 6: Meriden and New Britain.
This outstanding role will allow you to lead and craft the practice and administrative direction of our office. Join us in crafting and implementing world-class programs that strictly align with our mission to support and uplift families within our community. This role is an anticipated vacancy and is a high priority need for the agency to maintain operational leadership within the regional office. Your contribution will be vital in helping us achieve our mission and continue providing world-class support to children and families.

Key Responsibilities

• Direct and guide the activities and personnel of the area office, ensuring they operate in harmony with our mission and departmental policies.
• Formulate and flawlessly implement program goals that strictly conform with departmental policies, driving forward our family-centered approach.
• Conduct detailed assessments to gauge staff performance, encouraging a culture of continuous improvement and professional growth.
• Successfully develop and monitor budgets for specific program or administrative areas, ensuring the efficient use of resources.
• Act as a liaison with individuals and organizations that impact area or program activities, encouraging strong community partnerships.

Work Environment

• Hybrid Work Model: Enjoy the flexibility of a hybrid work environment that balances remote work and on-site presence.
• Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM, providing a consistent and predictable work schedule.

At the State of Connecticut, Department of Children and Families (DCF), we have a mission of partnering with communities and empowering families to raise resilient children who thrive. We are proud of our diverse and dedicated workforce who strive every day to meet the needs of those we encounter. Our family-centered, strength-based approach to our work seeks to improve the well-being of the children and families we serve.

Selection Plan

• In order to be considered for this job opening you must be a current State of CT employee of the agency listed above for at least six (6) months of full-time service or full-time equivalent service, absent any applicable collective bargaining language, and meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening.  You must specify your qualifications on your application. 
• Please visit our 'Applicant Tips on How to Apply' page or view our tutorial.
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  The only way to apply to this posting is via the ‘Apply’ or ‘Apply Online’ buttons on the official State of Connecticut Online Employment Center job posting.
  
  
• The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
• Although applicants will receive correspondence via email, as a backup they are also encouraged to sign on to their Personal Status Board on a daily basis to monitor their status, view all emailed notices and complete tasks required in the recruitment process. 
• In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process.  
• This posting may require completion of additional referral questions (RQs). You can access these RQs via an email that will be sent to you after the posting's closing date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section). Your responses to these RQs must be submitted by the question's expiration date. Please regularly check your email and JobAps Personal Status Board for notifications. Please check your SPAM and/or Junk folders on a daily basis in the event an email provider places auto-notification emails in a user's spam. 
• Note:  At any point during the recruitment process, applicants may be required to submit additional documentation which support their qualification(s) for this position.  These documents may include:  a cover letter, resume, transcripts, diplomas, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency.  Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications as indicated to apply for this position. 
• Should you have questions pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Liz Pinette at elizabeth.pinette@ct.gov.
• This position will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules.
• The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.
• All application materials must be received by the recruiting agency by the time specified on the job opening for the position for which you are applying. Late applications may not be submitted and will not be considered. Exceptions are rare and limited to documented events that incapacitate a candidate during the entire duration of the job posting time period.  It is the candidate’s obligation and responsibility to request an exception and provide a legally recognized justification to accommodate such exception.  Requests should be made to DAS.SHRM@ct.gov.
• For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from one of the three branches of state government (i.e., Executive, Legislative, Judicial) to the other.
• Read through this helpful link to prepare for your interview.

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In the Department of Children and Families this class is accountable for directing administrative support and/or program services.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

• Directs staff and operations of the assigned area of responsibility;
• Coordinates, plans and manages program activities; 
• Formulates program goals and objectives; 
• Develops or assists in development of related policy; 
• Interprets and administers pertinent laws;
• Evaluates staff;
• Develops and monitors budgets for specific program or administrative areas;
• Maintains contact with individuals and organizations within and outside of agency which impact on area or program activities;
• Assists in directing and coordinating allocation of staff and resources to maintain service delivery system or program; 
• Manages systems and/or programs to ensure compliance with federal, state and department mandates; 
• Identifies training and development needs of staff;  
• Speaks before professional and lay groups; 
• Represents Commissioner in community and public relations activities within area as assigned; 
• Prepares and/or analyzes management reports including reports detailing area activities, program operations and client statistics; 
• Evaluates programs and professional social work services provided to children and families;
• Identifies needs of children and families for purposes of determining available community resources; 
• Reviews work of assigned areas for general efficiency and effectiveness with target client populations; 
• Leads the recruitment and hiring of staff, including outreach, interview and selection;
• Performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

• Considerable knowledge of relevant state and federal laws, statutes and regulations; 
• Knowledge of
  • and ability to apply management principles and practices;
  • standards of practice and administration of programs dealing with children and youth; 
  • impact of cultural issues on service delivery and staff relationships;
• Considerable
  • interpersonal skills; 
  • oral and written communication skills.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Nine (9) years of professional experience in the field of child welfare programs, children's protective services, foster services, adoption or social and human services.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SPECIAL EXPERIENCE

Two (2) years of the General Experience must have been in a managerial or supervisory capacity with responsibility for planning, development, implementation or supervision of administrative or program services in child welfare, children's protective services, children's mental health or juvenile justice.

NOTE: For state employees this experience is interpreted at the level of a Children and Families Program Supervisor.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

• College education may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equalling one-half (1/2) year of experience to a maximum of four (4) years for a Bachelor's degree.
• A Master's degree or other advanced degree in the behavioral sciences, public administration, education, social work or a closely related field may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.

NOTE: Closely related fields are child welfare, applied sociology, social and/or human services, clinical psychology, child development, criminal justice, counseling, human development and family relations, human service, marriage and family therapy.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Recent (within the last 2 years), Child Protection experience in an Area Office.
• Prior Intake experience as a Program Supervisor.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Incumbents in this class may be required to possess and retain a valid Motor Vehicle Operator's license.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.

Conclusion

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes.  As such, a job class is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.