PRACTICE AND PROGRAM MANAGER

DEPARTMENT OF CHILD SAFETY

The Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS) is a social and human services agency whose mission is to successfully engage children and families to ensure safety, strengthen families, and achieve permanency. DCS has field office locations located throughout the state of Arizona, with its central office located in Downtown Phoenix. DCS employs over 2,800 employees who share the common vision of ensuring children thrive in family environments free from abuse and neglect.

PROGRAM MANAGER

Job Location:

PRACTICE AND PROGRAM MANAGER

3003 N Central Ave

Phoenix, AZ 85012

Posting Details

Salary: $74,000 - $79,000 Salary

Grade: 23

Closing Date: June 12, 2024

Job Summary

Under the direction of the Program Administrator of Practice Improvement, the Practice and Program Services Manager leads a team that explores, designs, installs, monitors, and supports quality and fidelity of modern DCS case management practices and contracted services, using best practices in change and implementation to achieve desirable child and family safety, permanency and well-being outcomes, including racial equity. This team includes service coordinators, child safety practice experts, child permanency practice experts, and program development specialists. This position requires knowledge of child welfare practice, child welfare data, change management, implementation science, coaching in child welfare programs, continuous quality improvement, national and state laws, rules and regulations, and best practices and emerging trends in child protection and family engagement.

This position may offer the ability to work remotely, within Arizona, based upon the department's business needs and continual meeting of expected performance measures.

The State of Arizona strives for a work culture that affords employees flexibility, autonomy, and trust. Across our many agencies, boards, and commissions, many State employees participate in the State’s Remote Work Program and are able to work remotely in their homes, in offices, and in hoteling spaces. All work, including remote work, should be performed within Arizona unless an exception is properly authorized in advance.

Job Duties

• Under direction of the Program Administrator, provides leadership and project management to explore, design, install and sustain DCS practice models, contracted service programs and other initiatives as assigned, using change and implementation best practices. Monitors project statuses to evaluate progress towards objectives. Consults and collaborates with various areas of the Department to identify problem areas related to child welfare practice, model and program fidelity and impact, and outcome achievement. Consults and collaborates with other units within the Office of Accountability and with Field Operations regarding case management and practice models. Serves as a Department expert on practice models and direct service programs, including but not limited to SAFE AZ.
• Engages in collaborative problem-solving with child welfare system stakeholders inside and outside DCS to identify, design and install improvement initiatives. Meets with national experts, Procurement and agency leadership to assist in the development, implementation and review of scopes of work and program manuals for contracted services. Engages with youth and parents who have lived experience with child protection services and historically marginalized populations to co-design practice models and contracted services.
• Oversees and provides direct supervision and professional development to all staff in the Practice and Program Services Unit.
• Conducts literature reviews and attends educational events on current best practices in family engagement, the SAFE model, safety assessment, permanency and service planning, and evidence-based assessment and treatment programs for families with risk factors associated with child abuse and neglect. Monitors and interprets data relevant to child welfare practices. Manages and participates in the identification and development of goals, objectives, initiatives, and data plans.
• Conducts, or oversees the DCS Safety Practice Experts and Permanency Practice Experts conducting, Case Consultation Reviews of the Department's most complex child protection cases to provide coaching, education, or guidance to field operations staff and DCS Senior Leadership Team members. Oversees and provides coaching, education, or guidance to Practice Experts who provide observation and feedback to the Supervision Coach Program Program Manager and Supervisors.
• Other duties as assigned as related to the position.
  
  

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSAs): Knowledge of:

• Policy development and implementation
• Program development and implementation science
• Child welfare and related federal and state laws, rules and regulations
• Coordination and facilitation strategies
• Current child welfare principles and best practices
• Evaluation methodologies
• Project management
• Principles and practices in management and supervision
• Group dynamics
• Conflict resolution
• Principals of continuous quality improvement
• Software applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Vizio)
  
  

Skills In

• Public and community relations
• Project management
• Quality assurance
• Evaluating programs
• Written and verbal communication
• Effective group facilitation
• Problem identification and resolution
• Organization
• Research, analyze and interpret data
• Establishing and maintaining interpersonal relationships
• Collaborative problem solving
• Time Management
• Synthesizing and presenting information
  
  

Ability To

• Solve difficult or complex problems
• Research best practices
• Facilitate work groups
• Manage project plans
• Develop and give presentations
• Provide constructive feedback to staff
• Prioritize tasks
• Concentrate for long periods
• Be flexible and adapt to changing priorities
• Communicate complex material using various methods of communication
  
  

Selective Preference(s)

Bachelor's degree in related field of study. Master's Degree in Social Work or Public Administration preferred. Understanding of state and federal requirements.

Pre-Employment Requirements

Five (5) years experience in child welfare. Three (3) years of experience in program development, macro-practice social work or operational management of large and complex problems.

The ability to secure and maintain an Arizona Fingerprint Clearance Card and the ability to secure and maintain clearance from the DCS Central Registry.

This position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply: Driver’s License Requirements.

All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

Benefits

The State of Arizona provides an excellent comprehensive benefits package including:

• Affordable medical, dental, life, and short-term disability insurance plans
• Top-ranked retirement and long-term disability plans
• 10 paid holidays per year
• Vacation time accrued at 4.00 hours bi-weekly for the first 3 years
• Sick time accrued at 3.70 hours bi-weekly
• Deferred compensation plan
• Wellness plans
  
  

By providing the option of a full-time or part-time remote work schedule, employees enjoy improved work/life balance, report higher job satisfaction, and are more productive. Remote work is a management option and not an employee entitlement or right. An agency may terminate a remote work agreement at its discretion.

Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave pilot program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

Retirement

Positions in this classification participate in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS). Enrollment eligibility will become effective after 27 weeks of employment.

Contact Us

The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer. Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation such as a sign language interpreter or an alternative format by contacting 602-255-3141 or by email at ADA@AZDCS.GOV. Requests should be made as early as possible to allow time to arrange the accommodation. The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer.

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Having trouble applying for this position?

Email HRIShelpdesk@azdoa.gov or call (602) 542-4700 for assistance.

Salary : $74,000 - $79,000