Associate Director, Permanency

Depelchin-Children; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 95,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

Texans Together in Houston seeks an Associate Director, Permanency to lead placement, permanency, family connections, and assessments across multiple programs. This role drives system-wide improvements and ensures timely, stable, child-centered outcomes.

The Associate Director will oversee TARE, CANS, ICPC, and Family Finding, supervise program leaders, and collaborate with DFPS and community partners to advance permanency and well-being for children and families.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, human services or closely related field.
• Eight (8) years’ professional experience in child welfare, social services, behavioral health, or related field.
• Four (4) years’ management or supervisory experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for Intake & Placement, Child Watch & Placement Support, TARE, CANS, ICPC, and Family Finding.
• Oversee integrated service delivery to strengthen placement stability, family connections, adoption recruitment, and permanency outcomes.
• Lead strategies to address complex placement needs, reduce placement disruptions, and improve child- and family-centered services.
• Evaluate program performance, identify opportunities for improvement, and ensure compliance with regulatory and contractual requirements.
• Supervise and develop program managers and leaders, promoting accountability, collaboration, and operational effectiveness.
• Collaborate with DFPS, caregivers, providers, and community partners to strengthen placement resources and permanency outcomes.
• Lead process improvements and innovative strategies to enhance service coordination, program efficiency, and outcomes for children and families.
• Serve as a key operational partner to the Director of Permanency, providing leadership, consultation, and decision-making support.

Skills

Permanency planning

Family engagement

Foster care

Adoption

Kinship care

Data-driven decisions

Program leadership

Staff development

Education

Bachelor’s degree in social work

Job description

Position: Associate Director, Permanency

Comparable DFPS Position: No DFPS Equivalent

Classification: Full-time, Exempt

Reports to: Director, Permanency

Company: Texans Together

Location: Regions 6a and/or 6b (Specific work locations will be assigned and communicated as staffing plans are finalized)

Position Description:

The Associate Director, Permanency provides strategic and operational leadership for key placement, permanency, family connection, and assessment functions within Texans Together Community Based Care. This position oversees Intake & Placement, Child Watch & Placement Support, Texas Adoption Resource Exchange (TARE), Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS), Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC), and Family Finding.Working in partnership with the Director, Permanency, the Associate Director ensures these functions operate as an integrated system focused on timely and stable placements, family connections, child well-being, and permanency outcomes. The position provides continuity of leadership and operational direction while evaluating and improving systems, processes, partnerships, and performance.The Associate Director ensures compliance with applicable federal and state requirements, agency policies, contractual obligations, Community Based Care expectations, and Texas Child-Centered Care principles while promoting family-centered, evidence-informed practices that support safe, stable, connected, and permanent outcomes for children and families.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for Intake & Placement, Child Watch & Placement Support, TARE, CANS, ICPC, and Family Finding programs.
• Oversee integrated service delivery to strengthen placement stability, family connections, adoption recruitment, and permanency outcomes.
• Lead strategies to address complex placement needs, reduce placement disruptions, and improve child- and family-centered services.
• Evaluate program performance, identify opportunities for improvement, and ensure compliance with regulatory and contractual requirements.
• Supervise and develop program managers and leaders, promoting accountability, collaboration, and operational effectiveness.
• Collaborate with DFPS, caregivers, providers, and community partners to strengthen placement resources and permanency outcomes.
• Lead process improvements and innovative strategies to enhance service coordination, program efficiency, and outcomes for children and families.
• Serve as a key operational partner to the Director of Permanency, providing leadership, consultation, and decision-making support.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, human services or closely related field. Relevant experience considered in lieu of education requirement.
• Eight (8) years’ professional experience in child welfare, social services, behavioral health, or a related human services field.
• Four (4) years’ management or supervisory experience, preferably managing multiple programs, teams, or operational functions.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in Community Based Care, Texas Child Centered Care, or a similar child welfare system.
• Experience with placement, permanency, family finding, adoption, kinship care, or related child welfare functions.
• Experience leading organizational change, process improvement, or system transformation.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Demonstrated knowledge of child welfare practice, permanency planning, foster care, placement, adoption, kinship care, and family engagement.
• Knowledge of federal and state child welfare laws, regulations, and applicable court procedures.
• Knowledge of Community Based Care and Texas Child Centered Care.
• Knowledge of placement resources, placement matching, placement stability, and caregiver support strategies.
• Understanding of family finding and family connection practices.
• Understanding of adoption recruitment and permanency strategies.
• Familiarity with CANS and the use of assessment information to inform service and placement decisions.
• Familiarity with ICPC processes and interstate placement requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to develop, implement, and evaluate policies and procedures.
• Demonstrated ability to use data to drive operational and strategic decisions.
• Ability to translate organizational goals into clear expectations and measurable outcomes.
• Ability to manage multiple programs and competing priorities simultaneously.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Ability to lead through ambiguity, organizational change, and complex system conditions.
• Ability to build trust and productive relationships across organizational boundaries.
• Strong written, verbal, presentation, and facilitation skills.
• Ability to work effectively in complex, high-risk, and high-profile situations.
• Demonstrated ability to coach, develop, and hold leaders accountable.
• Ability to identify systemic barriers and develop practical solutions.
• Ability to balance regulatory and contractual requirements with individualized, child- and family-centered practice.

Work Conditions:

• Environment: Office-based
• Conditions: Frequent interaction with children, families, stakeholders, providers, and governmental agencies. Work may involve emotionally challenging, crisis-oriented, or high-stress situations.
• Work Schedule: Monday through Friday during standard business hours.
• Travel: Frequent - Regular travel across Harris County and the 12- county service region. Reliable transportation required.

DePelchin is Proud to be an Equal Opportunity Workplace.

DePelchin is committed to selecting and employing the best and most qualified person available for each job opening without unlawful discrimination of any kind. Additionally, DePelchin is committed to providing a work environment free of discrimination and harassment on the basis of race, color, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation and gender identity), marital or parental status, veteran status, religion, national origin, age, disability, family medical history, genetic information, or political affiliation.