General Description

POSTING TYPE: Open Competitive
DEPARTMENT: Social Services
HOURS: Full-time
PREFERRED HIRING RANGE: $115,457.00 - $129,889.00/year (113 Grade Level; 2023 RATES)
SALARY RANGE: $115,457.00 - $180,401.00/year (2023 RATES)
LOCATION: Hybrid; telework and in person at Western Service Center, Apple Valley, MN
UNION: None
CLOSE DATE: Open until filled; first review of applications January 13th, 2023

Come join us at Dakota County and "Be more"! The work County government does is unique. You will not be just another employee; you'll be a valued employee making a difference in the lives of Dakota County residents every single day. We employ nearly 2,000 skilled individuals whose talents and contributions makes Dakota County a premier place to live and work. Will you be the next person to join us at Dakota County?

The Director serves as the Social Services Administrator for the Children & Family Services area of Social Services, ensuring state rules, laws and requirements for the State Department of Human Services are met. The Director directly supervises the Deputy Director(s), Administrative Manager and other roles as needed. The Director is a member of the Community Services Director Team and reports directly to the Community Services Division Director.

To view additional information for the Director of Social Services, please click here (Download PDF reader).

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Social Work, Sociology, or in a related field, AND
• Minimum of 5 years experience managing/leading social services or related field

OR

• An equivalent combination of education and experience.

PREFERRED EDUCATION BEYOND MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master's Degree in Social Work, Sociology or a related field
• Experience overseeing a large Children and Family Services agency

Duties & Responsibilities

These examples do not include all possible tasks in this work and do not limit the assignment of related tasks in any position of this classification. Regular attendance according to the position's management approved work schedule is required for all positions.

• 
  Provide leadership in establishing and achieving an integrated service delivery vision and model of care for Children and Family Services, Social Services, and the Community Services Division in Dakota County.
• Actively participate in and contribute to the divisional and departmental leadership teams.
• Directly supervise the work of the Deputy Director(s) and Administrative Manager for Children and Family Services.
• Work closely with the Adult Services, Social Services Director on common goals, initiatives, and administration functions.
• Oversee the preparation and ongoing administration of the department budget and the comprehensive strategic plan.
• Responsible for the effective and efficient management of resources allocated to the department.
• Analyze and evaluate program performance and manage change necessary to continually improve the delivery of department programs and services.
• Manage the development and maintenance of effective Social Services policies and practices.
• Review and recommend legislative initiatives related to Social Services on a state and national level.
• Represent Dakota County and department on special committees and before governmental bodies.
• Direct the presentation of public communications concerning Social Services in concert with divisional leadership.
• Engage community partners and work cross-divisionally to facilitate and promote joint efforts that best support people served in a holistic manner.
• Provide departmental and divisional leadership to advance county goals related to inclusion, diversity, equity and access within the workplace and as a public-serving agency.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS: Duties 1-12 are essential functions.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities and Work Environment

• Knowledge of human resource policies and procedures in the public sector.
• Knowledge of principles, techniques and laws related to strategic planning, management analysis and program evaluation, budgeting, information systems and contracting for services.
• Skill in developing written presentations, making oral presentations, listening, interpersonal relations, mediation and negotiation.
• Demonstrated skills in analyzing project needs and in preparing long-range and strategic responses to meet those needs.
• Demonstrated skills in analyzing, preparing and managing a budget to achieve mission and vision.
• Ability to inspire others to achieve results by promoting involvement, participation and cooperation
• Ability to organize, direct and coordinate the activities of professional and administrative support personnel.
• Ability to effectively manage a wide variety of programs and services.
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Ability to build and maintain positive working relationships with others.
• Ability to understand trends and interpret research that may affect the provisions of services.
• Vision: Makes the vision shareable, tangible and operational by everyone in the department.
• Budget Performance & Financial Mgmt.: Identify strategies for determining budget priorities based on federal, state, and local financial contributions, thoughtfully forecasts potential budget shortfalls, and develops/implements appropriate oversight and auditing procedures to ensure adherence to fiscal policies, and problem solves budget issues.
• Employee Development and Supervision: Establishes training plans for each direct report, ensures best practice training for staff in department, and participates in mentoring and peer review or coaching opportunities.
• Performance & Project Management (Outcomes/Impact): Engaged in a least 1 new process improvement initiative in calendar year. Establishes key outcomes that are measurable for program areas in department, monthly data analysis on programmatic outcomes in key identified areas of practice, and actively uses data to influence management decisions.
• Adaptive Leadership: Participates with staff and other managers to identify key values and shared vision as guiding principles for service implementation and operational integration. Leadership style is adapted to current needs of department, and is timely, responsive, and considerate to all management and staff within the department and division.
• Teamwork: Works respectfully & effectively with managers and leadership within department/division, and creates a work environment amongst direct reporting staff that encourages and proves impactful outcomes through teamwork.
• Analytical & Assessment Skills: Identifies sources of data and information and demonstrates quantitative and qualitative applications, and identifies gaps in data sources and recommends solutions.
• Customer Services: Leads in the design and delivery of services where the consumer remains the responsibility of the organization, and recognizes community linkages and relationships among multiple factors impacting services.
• Professionalism: Practices personal and professional accountability, creates an environment in which others are setting expectations and holding each other accountable, and demonstrates active involvement in professional organizations that pertain to role.
• Administrative Management: Successfully runs the day to day operations of the department/section, returns phone/email messages, ensures county policies/safety/rules/procedures are followed, helps managers and staff problem solve issues, performs appropriate decision making, follows through on projects and work product is consistently of high quality.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: Work is primarily sedentary; it is usually accomplished while incumbent is comfortably seated at a desk or table. Work is typically performed in an adequately lighted and climate controlled office. There is some walking and some travel to meetings and conferences away from the regular place of work. Items carried typically include light objects such as briefcases, notebooks, work papers, and data printouts.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: Work is performed in a County office building. Some travel is required. Lifting requirement of up to 20 pounds on an occasional basis. Equipment used may include, but is not limited to, computer, printer, telephone, calculator, copy and fax machines.

SELECTION PROCESS: The examination/selection process for this classification will consist of a rating of your training and experience from the application materials submitted. The top scoring candidates will be forwarded to the hiring department for further consideration.