Community Services Economic Supports Division Manager

Washington County (MN); Penn Hills (Allegheny County); Hybrid; USD 124,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Washington County (MN) seeks a Division Manager for the Community Services Department to lead the Economic Support Division in delivering SNAP, Medical Assistance/Medicaid, cash assistance, and related services. This senior leader will shape strategy, oversee performance, and ensure equitable, high-quality outcomes for residents.

The role advances diversity, equity, and inclusion, drives organizational readiness, and navigates evolving state/federal requirements, with a focus on program

Qualifications

• Master's or Bachelor's degree with supervisory experience in public human services.
• Seven (7) years of full-time experience with seven years for Master’s path and eight for Bachelor’s path, with three in supervision.
• Equivalent education/experience combination allowed with supervisory requirement.

Responsibilities

• Manage assigned department staff.
• Interview and make staff recommendations.
• Create and manage work schedules.
• Provide work direction and review work for accuracy.
• Develop and facilitate staff training.
• Guide staff through changes in processes, services or programs.
• Respond to grievances or special issues.
• Conduct performance reviews.
• Provide guidance and interpretation of policies and regulations.
• Ensure staff compliance with federal, state and local standards.
• Ensure division goals and objectives are achieved.
• Administer Community Service Department programs.
• Lead the division management team.
• Research, select and recommend programs.
• Provide implementation support for new programs and services.
• Compile and analyze data, prepares statistical and narrative reports.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Policy interpretation

Data-driven decision making

Diversity, equity, inclusion

Public sector administration

Education

Master's Degree in Social Work / Public Administration / Business Administration or related field

Bachelor's degree in Social Work / Public Administration / Business Administration or related field

Job description

Washington County is currently hiring for a Division Manager within the Community Services Department. This position provides visionary, strategic, and operational leadership for the Economic Support Division. The Division Manager leads a large and complex division that administers critical public assistance programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Medical Assistance/Medicaid, cash assistance, and other economic support services that promote stability, well-being, and opportunity for residents.

As the division’s senior leader, this position establishes the strategic direction, operational priorities, and performance expectations for all Economic Supports programs and services. The Division Manager ensures the effective delivery of high-quality, equitable, accessible, and compliant services while advancing continuous improvement, innovation, and organizational readiness in an evolving policy and regulatory environment. Central to this role is a commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion by identifying and addressing barriers to access, promoting equitable outcomes, and ensuring services are responsive to the diverse needs and experiences of the communities served.

This role is critical to positioning the County to successfully navigate significant state and federal reforms, systems modernization efforts, and changing legislative requirements affecting public assistance programs. The Division Manager leads division-wide strategy related to policy implementation, operational transformation, program integrity, financial stewardship, and service excellence. This includes ensuring compliance with complex state and federal mandates, mitigating financial and operational risk, and leveraging data to improve outcomes for residents and the organization.

The Division Manager directly leads and develops supervisory and management staff, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, continuous learning, and belonging. Through strong leadership and deep program expertise, this position builds an inclusive workplace where diverse perspectives are valued and employees are empowered to contribute fully. In doing so, the Division Manager ensures the division is well‑positioned to meet current needs while preparing for future opportunities and challenges.

DESIRABLE EXPERIENCE:

• Extensive leadership experience in economic assistance, human services, or public sector administration, including strategic planning, operational oversight, and organizational performance
• Deep knowledge of economic support programs, including SNAP, Medical Assistance/Medicaid, cash assistance, and related public benefit programs
• Demonstrated success leading large, complex teams and implementing organizational, programmatic, or systems change initiatives
• Significant experience interpreting and implementing complex federal and state laws, regulations, policies, and system changes
• Strong expertise in program integrity, compliance, quality assurance, and risk management, including reducing error rates and safeguarding funding
• Experience using data, performance metrics, and outcome analysis to inform strategy, improve operations, and enhance service delivery
• Proven ability to manage state and federal funding, budgets, and associated accountability requirements
• Demonstrated success building collaborative partnerships with government agencies, community organizations, and other key stakeholders
• Strong understanding of legislative and policy processes, including assessing impacts and advising leadership on emerging issues
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion through advancing equitable access, addressing disparities, and fostering an inclusive workplace culture
• Proven ability to lead, coach, and develop leaders while promoting accountability, innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning
• Exceptional communication, relationship-building, and stakeholder engagement skills

SELECTION TECHNIQUE:

Your training and experience will be rated based on the required application material submitted and the top scoring candidates will be forwarded to the hiring department for further consideration.

HOURS / DAYS:

8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday. This position is eligible for a hybrid work environment. Work schedules (hours and days) and location are subject to change based on department needs.

ANTICIPATED HIRING RANGE:

$123,718.40 - $170,019.20 Annually

E-Verify Participation:

Washington County participates in the federal E-Verify program. This means that Washington County will provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with information from each new employee's Form I-9 to confirm work authorization. If the Government cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, Washington County is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact DHS and/or the SSA before taking adverse action against you, including terminating your employment. Employers may not use E-Verify to pre-screen job applicants and may not limit or influence the choice of documents you present for use on the Form I-9.

E- Verify Participation Poster

Right to work Poster

The Division Manager administers programs in a major division of the Community Services Department, develops policies and maintains standards, coordinates work within the division and manages assigned staff.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• A Master's Degree in Social Work, Public Administration, Business Administration or a related field with seven (7) years of full-time experience in a public human services agency and/or a private human services agency that contracts services with a public agency in areas related to the division programs, three years of which must have been in a supervisory capacity; OR
• A Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Public Administration, Business Administration or a related field with eight (8) years of full-time experience in a public human services agency and/or a private human services agency that contracts services with a public agency in areas related to the division programs, three years of which must have been in a supervisory capacity; OR
• An equivalent combination of education and job-related work experience; no substitution for three years of supervisory experience as defined above.

CORE COMPETENCIES, JOB SPECIFIC KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED FOR SUCCESSFUL JOB PERFORMANCE

Core Competencies outline essential business and professional traits necessary to perform this job.

• Support and prioritize a welcoming and respectful workplace that fosters diversity and encourages contributions from all individuals.
• Provide inclusive and equitable service to all members of the community with dignity and respect.
• Demonstrate support for the County’s diversity, equity and inclusion program.
• Promotes a culture of continuous quality improvement in the workplace.
• Demonstrates knowledge of, or ability to learn, quality/continuous improvement.
• Promotes the engagement of staff and use of data in continuous quality improvement.
• Demonstrates thorough knowledge of the principles, techniques, and practices of social work and the methods and practices of public welfare administration.
• Demonstrates thorough knowledge of federal and state human services laws and a broad understanding of the objectives and functions of human services programs.
• Demonstrates considerable knowledge of court procedures, including preparations and the presentation of evidence in the filing of legal actions.
• Demonstrates considerable familiarity with related resources of professional literature.
• Demonstrates ability to use a personal computer and new technology including software relating to personnel, budget, financial case management and program eligibility.

1. Manage assigned department staff.
2. Interview and make staff recommendations.
3. Create and manage work schedules.
4. Provide work direction and review work for accuracy.
5. Develop and facilitate staff training.
6. Guide staff through changes in processes, services or programs.
7. Respond to grievances or special issues.
8. Conduct performance reviews.
9. Provide guidance and interpretation of policies and regulations.
10. Ensure staff compliance with federal, state and local standards.
11. Ensure division goals and objectives are achieved.
12. Administer Community Service Department programs.
13. Lead the division management team.
14. Research, select and recommend programs.
15. Provide implementation support for new programs and services.
16. Compile and analyze data, prepares statistical and narrative reports.
17. Recommend departmental goals and objectives.
18. Determine division standards and practices.
19. Analyze, evaluate, modify and approve administration procedures.
20. Evaluate and monitor current service delivery.
21. Identify divisional process improvements.
22. Assist with grant and contract management.
23. Collaborate with other departments, agencies or service organizations to assess needs.
24. Recommend legislative changes, as needed.
25. Analyze, evaluate and recommend management systems and equipment.
26. Project expenditures and prepare budget proposals.
27. Monitor expenses and revenue.
28. Identify ways to maximize revenue.
29. Recommend departmental goals and objectives.
30. Ensure program compliance.
31. Collaborate with other departments, agencies or service organizations to assess service needs and recommend legislative changes.
32. Analyze and develop legislative proposal and testifies at legislative hearings.
33. Lead citizen advisory committees to gain input for program planning.
34. Direct the development and oversight of contractual agreements with private and public vendors.

Perform other duties as assigned.

Essential functions: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, and 34.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Sedentary work involving office and limited fieldwork. Lifting requirement may include occasional lifting of up to 20 pounds. Exposures to infectious diseases, bodily fluids, and persons with behavioral challenges are rare to occasional in nature. Use of general office equipment to include, but not be limited to: personal, lap top, or handheld computers, pagers, cellular phone, telephone, fax and copy machines, calculator, audio and video recording equipment. Additional physical/mental requirements that occur may not be listed above, but are inherent in performing the position's essential functions.

This job description is intended to describe the kinds of tasks and level of work difficulty being performed by people assigned to this classification. The list of responsibilities is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, responsibilities, and skills required of personnel so classified. The County retains the discretion to add or change the contents of this job description at any time.