Description

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, HOUSING (Job Posting #269-26)
SALARY:  $144,900 - $150,000

NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES (DCF)
The Department of Children and Families (DCF), Division of Family and Community Partnership, Office of Housing is seeking a qualified individual to fill the Assistant Director, Housing position located in Trenton. This position may be eligible to work remotely for up to two days in a calendar week.

The Office of Housing (OOH) leads the Department’s Statewide network of housing and related services through three (3) main functions; Program Implementation, System Integration and Capacity Building. The OOH supports the network of community based contracted Provider Partners and partners with community stakeholders, constituents with lived expertise and internal DCF Divisions to ensure the modernization of DCF’s service array and align maltreatment prevention efforts within the broader child and family serving eco-system.

DEFINITION: The Department of Children and Families is seeking an experienced, visionary leader with senior level management and administrative experience to oversee the Department’s contracted network of housing and related services and shape housing policy and practice at scale.  This position is responsible for working in partnership with the DCF Division of Child Protection and Permanency, contracted providers, constituents with lived experience and system stakeholders to ensure that the network of housing and related services is accessible, of high quality, culturally competent, and effectively meets child and family needs.

Strategic Leadership and Service Network Oversight

• Steward the Department’s response to the housing needs of DCF-involved constituents,
• Lead the review, analysis, and implementation of procedures, policies, organizational structure, and performance for the Office of Housing.
• Manage a robust network of housing related services in collaboration with DCF’s Operational Offices.
• Leverage research, evidence-based practices, emerging trends and constituent feedback to inform program strategy.
• Oversees the Office operations and ensures effective development, evaluation, selection and recommend approval for inclusion of housing services and providers in the DCF network.

Program Implementation

• Champion the implementation of evidence-based and evidence-informed interventions that address youth and family housing instability; staying abreast of research and publications in the areas of prevention, housing, family preservation and reunification, community change initiatives and population health.
• Manage workflows and processes to ensure programmatic compliance, timely reporting, resource allocation and program sustainability.
• Partner with internal and external partners to improve the effectiveness, accessibility, cultural competence and quality of the organization's response to housing concerns for families at risk of losing custody of their child(ren), families seeking to reunify with their child(ren), at-risk families, and youth transitioning to adulthood through Office programs including Keeping Families Together, youth transitional living, youth shelter, and other housing and supportive housing programs.
• Works as part of the management team with all Division of Family and Community Partnership Offices, and in close collaboration with other offices and divisions throughout the Department.

Team Management

• Provide leadership and direction to operating units regarding the organization, functions, staffing patterns, and work procedures. Working in partnership with Division leadership and with appropriate DCF offices, design and manage productivity data, Key Performance Indicators, Continuous Quality Improvements and Objectives & Key Results and to continually assess the performance of the network of housing services and recommend needed adjustments to the network in order to maintain strong operational outcomes.
• Supervises a team of staff; monitors work concerned with data processing, administrative practices, and other operational areas of the agency.
• Plans, organizes, and assigns work of the organizational unit and evaluates employee performance and conduct, enabling the effective alignment of staff resources to operational needs.

Public Engagement and Advocacy

• Deliver presentations to lay/professional, legislative and community audiences; plan, conduct, and participate in workshops, conferences and training programs.
• Author executive-level policy briefs, memos, and sustainability plans to guide senior level decision-making.
• Represent the Department with community groups, grantees and other public entities.
• Convene stakeholders to advance collective learning and deepen cross sector collaboration.
• Develop, manage and strengthen multisectoral stakeholder collaborations with State Agencies, National stakeholders and other partners.

REQUIREMENTS
EDUCATION: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree.  A master’s degree in social work or related field is preferred.

EXPERIENCE:  At least five (5) years of social service experience which should include substantive experience in the management and leadership of social service programs, including personnel and supervision, policy, budget and fiscal accountability and oversight.  Minimum of three (3) years’ experience working on housing, homelessness and housing instability issues.

RESUME NOTE: Eligibility determinations will be based upon information presented on the resume only. Applicants who possess a degree from a college or university outside the United States must provide an evaluation of one’s transcripts from a recognized evaluation service at the time of submission by the above closing date. Failure to do so may result in your ineligibility.

LICENSE:  Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.

IMPORTANT NOTICES

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS: The Department of Children and Families provides many employee benefits, including but not limited to:

•                 Alternative Workweek Program*
•                 Deferred Compensation
•                 Health, Dental and Life Insurance
•                 Flexible and Health Spending Accounts
•                 Pension
•                 Telework*
•                 Public Service Loan Forgiveness
•                 Benefit Leave (Vacation, Sick, Administrative Leave)
•                 13 Paid Holidays

*Pursuant to Department policy, procedures and/or guidelines

PUBLIC SERVICE LOAN FORGIVENESS: As a prospective employee of the State of New Jersey, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education’s website at StudentAid.gov/PSLF.

SAME APPLICANTS:  If you are applying under the NJ “SAME” program, you must submit any of the supporting documentation specified in N.J.S.A. 11A:7-13.3 along with your resume by the closing date indicated above.

RESIDENCY LAW:  Please refer to the New Jersey Department of Children and Families’ website at www.state.nj.us/dcf.

TO APPLY: You must submit a cover letter, resume, and completed Application for Employment as a single PDF document, saving the file by your Last Name, First Name.  Please indicate in your cover letter where you found this job opportunity and send the file to: Email:  [email protected]

NOTE: Applicants are required to submit a completed State of New Jersey Application for Employment with their resume at the time of application.  Failure to do so will result in disqualification for this position.

The Department of Children and Families is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and is committed to fostering a respectful and inclusive work environment which reflects the diversity of the state we serve.