American Indian Child Wellbeing Unit Manager / State Prog Admin Manager Sr

State of Minnesota; Saint Paul (MN); Hybrid; USD 94,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Telework Eligible

5% Travel

Job summary

The State of Minnesota invites applications for the American Indian Child Wellbeing Unit Manager / State Prog Admin Manager Sr. This full‑time, exempt leadership role oversees the American Indian Child Welfare Program within the CSP division, guiding policy, staff supervision, and tribal partnerships.

You will coordinate with counties, tribes, and state partners to ensure compliance with ICWA and related statutes, manage budgets and contracts, and advance culturally informed child welfare

Job description

Working Title: American Indian Child Wellbeing Unit Manager / State Prog Admin Manager Sr

Job Class: State Program Administrator, Manager Senior

Agency: Children Youth & Families Dept

• Job ID : 97286

• Location : St. Paul

• Telework Eligible : Yes

• Full/Part Time : Full-Time

• Regular/Temporary : Unlimited

• Who May Apply : Open to all qualified job seekers.

• Date Posted : 09/25/2026

• Closing Date : 10/26/2026

• Hiring Agency/Seniority Unit : Children Youth & Families Dept / DeptChildYth&Fam-Managerial

• Division/Unit : DCYF/CS&P Deputy Staff

• Work Shift: Day Shift

• Work Hours : 8:00 am - 4:30 pm

• Days of Work : Monday - Friday

• Travel Required : Yes, 5%

• Salary Range: $44.80 - $64.46 / hourly; $93,542 - $134,592 / annually

• Classified Status : Classified

• Bargaining Unit/Union : 220 - Manager/Unrep

• FLSA Status : Exempt - Executive

• Designated in Connect 700 Program for Applicants with Disabilities (https://mn.gov/mmb/careers/diverse-workforce/people-with-disabilities/connect700/) : Yes

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families is unable to provide sponsorship for work visas. Applicants must be eligible to work in the United States at the start of employment. DCYF does not participate in E-Verify.

The work you'll do is more than just a job.

At the State of Minnesota, employees play a critical role in developing policies, providing essential services, and working to improve the well-being and quality of life for all Minnesotans. The State of Minnesota is committed to equity and inclusion, and invests in employees by providing benefits, support resources, and training and development opportunities.

* Telework (https://mn.gov/mmb-stat/policies/1422-telework.pdf) (Within Minnesota or neighboring states) and flexible hours options are available.)

**Statewide travel is possible 5 percentage of the time.

The purpose of this position is to provide lead management of American Indian Child Welfare Program in the Child Safety and Permanency (CSP) administration. There are specific requirements, outlined in the federal Indian Child Welfare Act, (25 U.S.C. §§ 1901-63), the Minnesota Indian Family Preservation Act, MN Statute 260.751, the Bureau of Indian Affairs guidelines, and the Tribal State Agreement. These provisions govern service delivery to Native American children and families receiving child welfare services in Minnesota. These requirements span the entire continuum of child welfare service and are necessary to support family preservation, and ultimately the tribal nations to whom these children and families belong.

In support of the protections afforded with these requirements, the person in this position is responsible to oversee a program that delivers practice guidance, consultation, and supports to the Child Safety & Permanency administration to meeting the specific requirements of the program. Similarly, this position is responsible for providing guidance, and technical assistance to local county child welfare agencies and tribes, which includes responding to, and resolving disputes between counties and tribes.

Responsibilities include:

• Providing leadership for the overall American Indian Child Welfare (AICW) unit to ensure the program is fully staffed with a supervisor and staff capable of carrying out the strategic direction of the unit in keeping with the established goals of the department and tribal leadership.

• Ensuring the required routine engagement, guidance and collaboration across the division, county, tribal, private agency, state partners, and other child welfare stakeholders in strategic planning, development and delivery of child welfare services for American Indian children and families, with the goal of advancing/supporting Indian child welfare practice in accordance with ICWA, MIFPA, BIA, and TSA.

• Providing ongoing leadership to the unit supervisor and staff as needed to meet unit objectives in effort to achieve the objectives of the ICWA, MIFPA, BIA, and TSA. In this role, the manager makes recommendations or exercise of authority to hire, promote, evaluate performance, reward, discipline, suspend, discharge, assign work, adjust grievances, write position descriptions and provide administration of applicable labor contracts and plans.

• Managing the administrative functions required to operate the American Indian Child Welfare Initiative Program (AICWI) by providing leadership, technical expertise, oversight, strategic and program management and development to support the on-going implementation of the American Indian Child Welfare Initiative.

Minimum Qualifications

_To facilitate proper crediting, please ensure that your resume clearly describes your experience in the areas listed and indicates the beginning and ending month, day and year for each job held._

Demonstrated leadership experience*

*Leadership experience can include:

• Experience as a supervisor, lead worker, team lead, project lead;

• A project lead provides leadership, guidance, and advanced specialized technical expertise for a team doing evaluation, development, design, testing, and/or implementation in a project environment.

• Completion of a State of Minnesota leadership program (e.g. ELI, L4);

• A paid/unpaid position leading a program or chairing a committee (e.g. ERG). Experience must include:

• 1+ year of experience identifying issues, goals and strategic actions

• 100+ hours per year time commitment

Five (5) years of work experience with state child welfare laws. Experience must demonstrate the following:

• Knowledge of federal and state child welfare laws such as ICWA (Indian Child Welfare Act), MIFPA (Minnesota Indian Family Preservation Act), or similar child- and family-related Tribal policies and statutes

• Administrative skills at a county or tribal social services agency in the role of a manager, director

• Administering and overseeing budget, contract and grants management, and legislative processes

• Thorough and extensive knowledge and experience in child welfare programs and operations

• Public policy analysis and development sufficient to develop and coordinate policy and programs to improve performance outcomes

• Working directly with Tribal governments, Tribal Nations, or Tribal communities and demonstrating knowledge and respect for Native American values, cultures, traditions, and Tribal sovereignty.

Preferred Qualifications

• Lived experience in a Tribal community or as a citizen of a federally recognized Tribe.

• Analyzing and interpreting federal, state Tribal, or other governmental laws, policies, regulations, or agreements affecting Tribal Nations or Native American communities.

• Master’s degree in social work, child welfare, public administration, or related field.

• Experience preparing legislative proposals that implement federal child welfare, Title IV-B and E laws, rules and policies.

• Knowledge of the complexities of the child welfare continuum and of the need for child welfare reform.

• Understanding of the contemporary issues on a national level affecting families and children, and the impact on families and children in Minnesota such as rising child poverty and immigration.

• Experience interpreting, evaluating, and assessing the impact of policy, legislative, and legal changes on program initiatives.

• Prior experience working in a state or federal agency in a Tribal liaison or Tribal affairs role.

• Knowledge of the state’s 11 federally recognized Tribes and their unique histories, cultures, and governance structure.

• Variety of experiences working effectively with others from different backgrounds and cultures.

Additional Requirements

It is the policy of the Department of Children, Youth, and Families that the individual selected for this position successfully complete a background investigation prior to employment, that may include the following components:

• Reference check
• Criminal Background check
• Fingerprinting check (MNJIS/CJIS)
• Driver’s License Check
• Personnel File Review: all current and former public sector employees
• Additional assessment may be required during the interview process

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Minnesota State Colleges and Universities is an Equal Opportunity employer/educator committed to the principles of diversity. We prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their race, sex, color, creed, religion, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or membership in a local commission as defined by law. As an affirmative action employer, we actively seek and encourage applications from women, minorities, persons with disabilities, and individuals with protected veteran status.

Reasonable accommodations will be made to all qualified applicants with disabilities. If you are an individual with a disability who needs assistance or cannot access the online job application system, please contact the job information line at 651-259-3637 or email [e-mail] . Please indicate what assistance is needed.