THE SELECTED CANDIDATE WILL BE OFFERED A SALARY BETWEEN $100,000 - $120,000.

The New York City Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) is seeking an outstanding candidate to serve as the Executive Director of the Permanency Practice and Consultation Unit within the Office of Strategic Planning and Support (OSPS), division of Family Permanency Services (FPS). FPS works with ACS’ contracted foster care provider agencies and other key stakeholders to support the delivery of services to achieve positive safety, permanency, and well-being outcomes for children in foster care and families. The Executive Director of the Permanency Practice and Consultation Unit guides the strategic design, implementation and monitoring of data-driven initiatives that apply new and/or enhanced program practices, work processes, and targeted technical assistance strategies designed to reduce the length of stay in foster care, improve permanency outcomes for children and youth in foster care, and are aligned with FPS’ Core Collective Priorities and ACS’ mission.

The Executive Director will oversee the administrative functions and day to day business operations for the unit, made up of five (5) Senior Practice Consultants, the Permanency Monitoring Unit, and one Wendy’s Wonderful Kids Recruiter. The Executive Director of this team must have extensive child welfare and social work experience, including a vast understanding of the foster care system and operations. Additionally, the Executive Director must have knowledge of ACS’ policies, procedures and resources, and experience working with families, foster care agencies, advocates, and systems.

The Executive Director’s specific duties will include:

- Lead the Divisional core collective priorities related to expediting permanency: family engagement, family time, concurrent planning, trial discharge, Reunification, work with kin, KinGAP, and Adoption.

- Implement the new Enhanced Family Foster Care (EFFC) model systemwide, including but not limited to advancing case practice related to the new program model design, collecting, and analyzing implementation metrics, providing technical assistance in response to agency challenges, sharing best practices, and developing TA tools and resources to advance EFFC implementation.

- Effectively use qualitative and quantitative data to support progress in achieving better permanency outcomes through reunification, KinGAP and adoption; and identify categories of cases and areas of practice where foster care agency may benefit from consultation and support.

- Provide guidance and supervision to permanency units who provide technical assistance and case practice support to all foster care agencies.

- Develop and maintain systems to track inquiries and trends to inform TA planning and supports.

- Assess agency for best practices to share systemwide as lessons learned. This includes gathering and understanding agency business processes and business plans in critical EFFC and permanency areas.

- Identify case practice obstacles and challenges and co-develop solutions.

- Collaborate with other ACS divisions, such as FCLS, PPM, DCP, and DPS to improve service delivery.

- Respond to requests for assistance on individual cases from foster care agency staff. This includes answering questions, clarifying policy and procedures, troubleshooting issues, providing linkages to units with expertise in particular areas within ACS, as well as working with other NYC agencies (OMH, DOHMH, OPWDD, NYCHA, HRA, etc.).

1. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university and four years of progressively responsible experience, in a large governmental agency, business firm, civic or community organization operating in the area of social services, including one year at the administrative or managerial level; or

2. Education and/or experience equivalent to "1" above. Graduate education or a license may substitute for up to a maximum of three years of experience in the area of social services, but not for the one year of experience at the administrative or managerial level as described in "1" above, as follows:

(A) A master’s degree from an accredited college or university in accounting, business, child welfare, counseling, economics, education, finance, human resources, labor relations, management, management science, nursing, operations research, organizational behavior, personnel or public administration, political science, psychology, sociology, social work, statistics, and/or urban studies may substitute for two years of experience; and/or

(B) Graduate education beyond the baccalaureate degree may be substituted at the rate of 30 semester credits from an accredited college or university in the area(s) listed in “2(A)” above for each year of experience up to a maximum of three years; or

(C) A valid New York State Registration as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or Licensed Master of Social Work (LMSW) may substitute for three years of experience.

However, all candidates must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college and one year of experience at the administrative or management level as described in "1" above.

Strong consideration will be given to candidates with a record of proven leadership and middle management accomplishment dealing with child welfare issues knowledge of guidelines, policies and procedures related to child welfare, foster care, safety, permanency, well-being and out of home placement of children and expertise in culturally competent social work practice. The Executive Director should have knowledge of various systems impacting children and families in foster care, strong clinical and interpersonal skills excellent written and verbal communication skills excellent analytical and organizational skills proficiency in the use of CONNECTIONS, Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint and Word.

This position is also open to qualified persons with a disability who are eligible for the 55-a Program. Please indicate at the top of your resume and cover letter that you would like to be considered for the position through the 55-a Program.

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 not required for this position

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.