DCFS Area Director (Child Support Enforcement)

State of Louisiana; Baton Rouge (LA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

State of Louisiana in Louisiana seeks a senior administrator to lead the Child Support Enforcement program within the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), directing day-to-day operations and service delivery for New Orleans and Thibodaux districts.

The role oversees four districts, analyzes program effectiveness, and develops strategies to meet performance goals while ensuring compliance with state laws. Flexible scheduling may apply per department policy.

Qualifications

• Three years of the required experience for the following minimum qualifications must have been at the supervisory level or above in Child Support Enforcement, Child Welfare, or Economic Stability programs.

Responsibilities

• Analyze and assess the effectiveness of child support enforcement programs to ensure performance and outcome measures are achieved.
• Develop and implement strategies to address areas that need improvement.
• Monitor and evaluate the work of staff for four district offices.
• Provide guidance and oversight to child support enforcement managers in four districts to ensure programs are properly administered.
• Interviews applicants and employees for vacancies and promotional positions.
• Develop and maintain working relationships with internal and external entities including district attorneys.
• Represent DCFS at meetings, conferences, hearings and other proceedings or events.

Skills

Supervisory experience

Child Support Enforcement

Social services experience

Policy compliance

Education

Bachelor's degree

Advanced degree or JD

Job description

Department MISSION

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

About This Job

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.

This position is responsible for the administration of the Child Support Enforcement (CSE) program within the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) and directs all day-to-day administrative, operational and service delivery activities for New Orleans and Thibodaux districts within the child support section. The goal of CSE is to ensure that parents fulfill their obligation to provide financial and medical support for their child/children.

This position will be domicile in the New Orleans or Thibodaux region based on the candidate selected.

Minimum Qualifications

• Three years of the required experience for the following minimum qualifications must have been at the supervisory level or above in Child Support Enforcement, Child Welfare, or Economic Stability programs:
• Nine years of social services experience; OR
• Six years of full-time experience in any field plus six years of social services experience; OR
• A bachelor's degree plus six years of social services experience; OR
• An advanced degree in a social sciences field, business, public, or health administration, or a Juris Doctorate plus five years of social services experience.

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.

Job Specification

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

Job Duties

• Analyze and assess the effectiveness of child support enforcement programs to ensure performance and outcome measures are achieved.
• Develop and implement strategies to address areas that need improvement.
• Monitor and evaluate the work of staff for four district offices.
• Provide guidance and oversight to child support enforcement managers in four districts to ensure programs are properly administered.
• Interviews applicants and employees for vacancies and promotional positions.
• Develop and maintain working relationships with internal and external entities including district attorneys.
• Represent DCFS at meetings, conferences, hearings and other proceedings or events.

Position-Specific Details

Work Location

This position can be domiciled in the New Orleans or Thibodaux region office depending on the candidate selected.

Appointment Type

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.

In accordance with La. R.S. 46:51.2 the department shall conduct a State Central Registry (SCR) check for a potential employee of the department to determine whether or not said individual's name appears on a SCR subsequent to December 31, 2009, and whose duties include: investigations of child abuse or neglect, supervisory or disciplinary authority over children, direct care to a child, or performance of licensing surveys.

In accordance with state laws, selected candidates must pass the following checks before any final job offer will be made: Drug Test, Criminal Background, State Central Registry, and Louisiana State Police Sex Offender and Child Predator Registry.

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).

Must possess a valid driver's license & access to a personal vehicle.

Contact Information

For further information about this vacancy, contact:

Shelby Young

[e-mail]

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

Louisiana State Government represents a wide variety of career options and offers an outstanding opportunity to make a difference through public service. With an array of career opportunities in every major metropolitan center and in many rural areas, state employment provides an outstanding option to begin or continue your career.

As a State Employee, You Will Earn Competitive Pay, Choose From a Variety Of Benefits, And Have Access To a Great Professional Development Program:

Insurance Coverage

More information can be found at https://info.groupbenefits.org/

Parental Leave

– Up to six weeks paid parental leave

More information can be found at https://www.civilservice.louisiana.gov/Parental-Leave/Default.aspx

Holidays and Leave

State employees receive the following paid holidays each year:

• New Year's Day
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Day,
• Mardi Gras,
• Good Friday,
• Memorial Day,
• Independence Day,
• Labor Day,
• Veteran's Day,
• Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
• Additional holidays may be proclaimed by the Governor

State employees earn sick and annual leave which can be accumulated and saved for future use. Your accrual rate increases as your years of service increase.

Retirement

State Of Louisiana Employees Are Eligible To Participate In Various Retirement Systems (based On The Type Of Appointment And Agency For Which An Employee Works). These Retirement Systems Provide Retirement Allowances And Other Benefits For State Officers And Employees And Their Beneficiaries. State Retirement Systems May Include (but Are Not Limited To):

• Louisiana State Employees Retirement System (www.lasersonline.org). LASERS has provided this video to give you more detailed information about their system
• Teacher's Retirement System of Louisiana (www.trsl.org),
• Louisiana School Employees Retirement System (www.lsers.net), among others