The Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) protects and promotes the safety and well-being of New York City’s children and families by providing child welfare, juvenile justice, and early care services. In child welfare, ACS contracts with private nonprofit organizations to support and stabilize families through community-based programming and preventive services and provides foster care services for children not able to safely remain at home. Each year, the agency’s Division of Child Protection responds to more than 50,000 reports of suspected child abuse or neglect. In juvenile justice, ACS manages and funds services including detention and placement, intensive community-based alternatives for youth, and support services for families. ACS is also a key part of NYC’s early childhood and education continuum, providing childcare assistance to thousands of child welfare involved and low-income children so they can access safe, affordable, quality care.

ACS is seeking an exceptional candidate to join our team as the Deputy Commissioner of the Division of Preventive Services, the branch of ACS that provides family services, therapeutic treatment, home care and other support to New York City's families through a network of community-based nonprofit organizations. These services are designed to stabilize and strengthen families, prevent the need for foster care, expedite permanency and prevent the replacement of children into foster care.

- Reporting directly to the ACS Commissioner and serving as a member of the ACS Executive Team, the Deputy Commissioner of the Division of Preventive Services is responsible for the direction, administration, and effective functioning of the division's wide range of programs and initiatives. Specific responsibilities include:

- Develop and implement a clear and flexible vision for the future of Child Welfare Prevention Services in New York City that includes supporting and strengthening families, keeping children safe, reducing unnecessary child welfare investigations, and reducing the need for children to enter foster care placement.

- Convene and listen to key stakeholders, especially families, to inform the development of programs, practices, and policies.

- Support Provider Agency partners to build and deepen community connections to best serve families and reduce unnecessary further system involvement.

- Develop and implement approaches that support Provider Agency effectiveness and health., including advocacy for maximum federal and state dollars for prevention funding.

- Work closely with other ACS Divisions and Offices to implement key initiatives related to ACS’s Strategic Priorities, including the new School-Based Early Support programs.

- Partner with other key systems and agencies (NYC Public Schools, Department of Social Services, Health and Hospitals, Health and Mental Hygiene and others) to develop and sustain swift access to family services and supports including pathways that do not require a child protective investigation.

- Create and sustain effective processes to deploy help to families, which they identify as helpful.

- Effectively use data to track the utilization of services across New York City and by service type; manage the capacity of our preventive system in accordance with utilization and need for services.

- Manage critical cross-divisional project areas to improve outcomes for the children and families ACS serves.

- Ensure that program areas within the Division of Preventive Services are sufficiently staffed, equipped, trained and capable of carrying out responsibilities, and that the professional development of staff throughout the division is prioritized.

1. A master's degree from an accredited college in economics, finance, accounting, business or public administration, human resources management, management science, operations research, organizational behavior, industrial psychology, statistics, personnel administration, labor relations, psychology, sociology, human resources development, political science, urban studies or a closely related field, and two years of satisfactory full-time professional experience in one or a combination of the following: working with the budget of a large public or private concern in budget administration, accounting, economic or financial administration, or fiscal or economic research; in management or methods analysis, operations research, organizational research or program evaluation; in personnel or public administration, recruitment, position classification, personnel relations, employee benefits, staff development, employment program planning/administration, labor market research, economic planning, social services program planning/evaluation, or fiscal management; or in a related area. 18 months of this experience must have been in an executive, managerial, administrative or supervisory capacity. Supervision must have included supervising staff performing professional work in the areas described above; or
2. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college and four years of professional experience in the areas described in "1" above, including the 18 months of executive, managerial, administrative or supervisory experience, as described in "1" above.

Leadership and Visionary Skills - Ability to develop and implement a clear, flexible vision for the future of Child Welfare Prevention Services in New York City. - Strong leadership skills to guide and direct the division effectively. Stakeholder Engagement - Excellent skills in convening and listening to key stakeholders, particularly families, to inform program, practice, and policy development. - Ability to build and maintain strong relationships with Provider Agency partners and community organizations. Strategic Planning and Implementation - Expertise in developing and executing strategies that support Provider Agency effectiveness and community health. - Experience in advocating for funding and resources at federal and state levels. Collaborative and Inter-Agency Coordination - Strong ability to work collaboratively with other ACS Divisions, Offices, and external partners like NYC Public Schools, Department of Social Services, and Health agencies. - Experience in developing partnerships and coordinating with other key systems to provide accessible family services. Program Development and Management - Proven track record in managing and implementing large-scale programs and initiatives, particularly in child welfare, family services, or related fields. - Experience in creating effective processes for deploying family support services. Data Utilization and Management - Strong analytical skills with the ability to effectively use data to inform strategic decisions, track service utilization and manage system capacity. - Experience in data-driven decision-making and outcome tracking. Project Management - Ability to manage critical cross-divisional projects aimed at improving outcomes for children and families. Human Resources and Staff Development - Skills in ensuring that program areas are well-staffed, equipped, and trained. - Commitment to the professional development and capacity building of staff. Communication Skills - Excellent verbal and written communication skills, necessary for both internal coordination and external advocacy. Educational and Professional Background - A degree in Social Work, Public Administration, Child Welfare, or a related field. - Significant professional experience in child welfare, family services, or a related sector. Cultural Competence and Sensitivity - Understanding of and sensitivity to the diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds of the families served. Adaptability and Flexibility - Ability to adapt to changing circumstances and challenges, maintaining a focus on the division's objectives.

As a prospective employee of the City of New York, 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 https://studentaid.gov/pslf/.

New York City residency is generally required within 90 days of appointment. However, City Employees in certain titles who have worked for the City for 2 continuous years may also be eligible to reside in Nassau, Suffolk, Putnam, Westchester, Rockland, or Orange County. To determine if the residency requirement applies to you, please discuss with the agency representative at the time of interview.

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.