Child Welfare Director- (CQI & Training)

State of Louisiana; Baton Rouge (LA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

The State of Louisiana, Department of Children and Family Services, seeks a Child Welfare Director - Training & CQI to align policy, training, and CQI across statewide programs, turning statutes into high-quality daily practice.

This executive leadership role oversees design and implementation of Louisiana's child welfare training system and continuous quality improvement, providing statewide guidance and coordinating with regional offices.

Qualifications

• Eight years of experience in child welfare; supervisory level or above required.
• Experience substitution: every 30 semester hours earned from an accredited college or university counts as one year of experience toward the six years of full-time experience.
• Possession of a high school diploma or equivalent; valid driver's license and access to a personal vehicle.
• The incumbent must not have been convicted or pled nolo contendere to a crime listed in R.S. 15.587.1 (c).

Responsibilities

• Provide statewide leadership and direction for child welfare training.
• Direct statewide CQI framework.
• Formulate, implement, and update short-term and long-range plans, policies, and strategic priorities for child welfare training and CQI programs.
• Coordinate and prioritize the assignment of work for subordinate staff based on agency needs, risk, and priorities.
• Represent DCFS in meetings with governmental officials, judicial partners, external stakeholders, private organizations, and professional entities to advance training, quality improvement, and system performance objectives.
• Provide statewide guidance to regional and parish Child Welfare Offices to ensure adherence to requirements and policy across programs.
• Analyze the impact of federal and state legislation, regulations, and administrative policies.
• Support regional and parish administrators in developing budget requests for training and CQI activities.
• Perform other duties as assigned for the smooth operation of the Department.

Job description

Department MISSION

To protect children, empower families, and strengthen communities so every child grows up safe, stable, and strong.

Department VISION

A future where every child thrives in a loving environment, supported by empowered families and resilient communities.

Department VALUES

Treating all people with dignity, compassion and respect, while providing services with integrity.

At The Department of Children and Family Services, our mission is to empower communities and improve lives by delivering responsive, inclusive, and forward-thinking public services. We are proud to serve the people of Louisiana with integrity, innovation, and a deep commitment to equity.

Join Our Team at DCFS: Child Welfare Director - Training & CQI

This position within the Office of Child Welfare is responsible for aligning policy, law, training, supervision, and quality review into a cohesive system that translates statutory and policy requirements into consistent, high-quality daily practice across all child welfare programs. The incumbent of this position provides statewide executive leadership for the design, implementation, and oversight of Louisiana's Child Welfare training system and continuous quality improvement (CQI).

If you're driven, collaborative, and ready to make an impact—this could be the opportunity for you!

Two years of the required experience for the following minimum qualifications must have been at the supervisory level or above:

• Eight years of experience in child welfare; OR
• Six years of full-time work experience in any field plus five years of experience in child welfare; OR
• A bachelor’s degree plus five years of experience in child welfare; OR
• An advanced degree in a social science or behavioral health field, nursing, or a juris doctorate plus four years of experience in child welfare.

EXPERIENCE SUBSTITUTION:

Every 30 semester hours earned from an accredited college or university will be credited as one year of experience towards the six years of full-time work experience in any field. The maximum substitution allowed is 120 semester hours which substitutes for a maximum of four years of experience in any field.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENT:

Possession of a high school diploma or equivalent.

A current driver's license and access to a personal vehicle.

NOTE:

The incumbent of this position must not have been convicted or pled nolo contendere to a crime listed in R.S. 15.587.1 (c).

The official job specifications for this role, as defined by the State Civil Service, can be found here.

Job Duties:

• Provide statewide leadership and direction for child welfare training
• Directs and oversees the statewide CQI framework
• Formulates, implements, and periodically updates short-term and long-range plans, policies, and strategic priorities for child welfare training and CQI programs
• Coordinates and prioritizes the assignment of work for subordinate staff based on agency needs, risk, and strategic priorities
• Represents DCFS in meetings and collaborative engagements with governmental officials, judicial partners, external stakeholders, private organizations, and professional entities to advance child welfare training, quality improvement, and system performance objectives consistent with agency policy and statutory mandates
• Provides statewide guidance and technical leadership to regional and parish Child Welfare Offices to support the consistent implementation of and adherence to federal and state requirements, the Louisiana Children's Code, and DCFS policy across all programs
• Analyzes the impact of federal and state legislation, regulations, and administrative policies
• Supports regional and parish Child Welfare administrators in the development of budget requests related to training and CQI activities
• Performs other duties as assigned for the smooth operation of the Department

Position-Specific Details:

Appointment Type: Probational, Promotional, or Job Appointment. This position may be filled as a probational appointment or a job appointment that may last up to 48 months. Job appointments may convert to probational appointments. Also, it may be filled as a detail and promoted within 12 months or by promotion of a permanent classified employee.

Work Schedule: Typically, work hours are 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, Monday – Friday. Flexible work schedules are available after meeting certain criteria and is dependent upon the position you are applying for. Some positions require working shifts.

Work Location: East Baton Rouge Parish

Louisiana HB 420 requires all prospective DCFS employees to complete and clear multiple background clearances prior to employment with this agency.

DCFS is an "Equal Opportunity Employer," and Louisiana is a State As a Model Employer (SAME) that supports the recruitment, hiring, and retention of individuals with disabilities.