Area Administrator

Position Overview

The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services is seeking an organized, professional, and results oriented individual to serve as Area Administrator of Permanency Services. Subject to management approval, this position will oversee Permanency Team Supervisors who are responsible for comprehensive child welfare services throughout the region. The position provides input into regional planning activities for child protection and child welfare and coordinates community and field office support with its counterparts in the Child Protection service area. This position provides a great opportunity for someone who is passionate about children and interested in being a leader in the administration of child welfare services. DCFS offers a competitive compensation plan, excellent benefits, and a pension program. The ideal candidate for this position will have excellent organizational skills and strong leadership skills. We invite you to join our innovative team to help make a positive difference in the lives of the children and families of Illinois.

Essential Functions

• Plans, develops, and oversees the administration and integration of comprehensive child welfare services for assigned areas within the region.
• Maintains authority and accountability for system outcomes and continuity of care in designated areas.
• Directs, coordinates, and reviews the activities of program personnel.
• Provides extensive input into the formulation and development of policies and procedures for program services and directs their implementation within area of oversight.
• Interacts with and coordinates community and field office support with the appropriate Area Administrators for Child Welfare Services.
• Advises the Regional Administrator of program needs, achievements, and problematic issues, developing strategies and proposals to address problem areas and enhance operations.
• Drives or travels to various locations in the performance of duties.

Minimum Qualifications

• Requires an MSW or master’s degree in a related human services field, in business administration, or a juris doctorate.
• Requires four years of progressively responsible administrative child welfare experience with an MSW OR five years of progressively responsible administrative child welfare experience with a master’s degree in a related human services field, in business administration, or a juris doctorate

Preferred Qualifications

• 5 years of experience managing or conducting child welfare casework services.
• 3 years of experience supervising professional staff.
• Professional experience in the oversight of a large program with multiple sites or multiple teams of subordinate professional staff.
• Professional experience conducting quality review of team functioning.
• Professional experience in the development and implementation of policies and procedures.
• Professional experience conducting planning activities for a social work program on a regional or statewide basis in a management capacity.
• Professional experience conducting community outreach as a representative of a public or business organization.

Conditions of Employment

• Requires the ability to pass a background check.
• Requires ability to travel in the performance of duties. Requires appropriate, valid driver’s license.
• The conditions of employment listed here are incorporated and related to any of the job duties as listed in the job description.