DCS ADOPTIONS PERMANENCY PROGRAM COORDINATOR - STATEWIDE - 10202026-82055

State of Tennessee; Nashville (TN); On-site; USD 62,000 - 77,000; Full time

Job summary

The State of Tennessee's Department of Children's Services is seeking a Program Coordinator in the Permanency Unit of the Adoptions Team. This role supports permanency services for children and families through partnerships with Tennessee Kids Belong and Wendy's Wonderful Kids.

Based in Davidson County with potential for statewide placement, the position requires a bachelor's degree and several years of experience in counseling, case management, or program evaluation, including work with

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with four years of professional work in counseling, case management, or program evaluation.
• Three years must involve services to children/juveniles.
• Graduate coursework may substitute for experience, but not the three years of children's services work.

Responsibilities

• Monitor contracts related to permanency services in partnership with Tennessee Kids Belong and Wendy's Wonderful Kids.
• Support statewide recruitment opportunities for children in need of permanent families.

Skills

Time Management

Critical Thinking

Instructing

Judgment and Decision Making

Operations Analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Office Equipment

Computer

Mobile Phone

Job description

State of Tennessee Job Information

Opening Date/Time 10/20/2026 12:00AM Central Time

Job Information

Opening Date/Time 10/20/2026 12:00AM Central Time

Closing Date/Time 10/26/2026 11:59PM Central Time

Salary (Monthly) $5,151.00 - $6,437.00

Salary (Annually) $61,812.00 - $77,244.00

Job Type Full-Time

City, State Location

Dresden, TN

Jackson, TN

Memphis, TN

Nashville, TN

Clarksville, TN

Murfreesboro, TN

Columbia, TN

Cookeville, TN

Chattanooga, TN

Oak Ridge, TN

Knoxville, TN

Maryville, TN

Johnson City, TN

Department Children's Services

LOCATION OF (1) POSITION(S) TO BE FILLED: DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN'S SERVICES, DAVIDSON COUNTY

This is a DCS Program Coordinator in the Permanency Unit of the Adoptions Team in the Statewide Specialized Support Services Division.

This position is currently located in Davidson County but can potentially sit in any county across the state.

This position requires a criminal background check. Therefore, you may be required to provide information about your criminal history in order to be considered for this position.

Qualifications

Education and Experience: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree and experience equivalent to four years of professional work in one or a combination of the following: counseling or case management services, or program evaluations of counseling or case management services, three years of which must involve providing these services to children and/or juveniles.

Substitution of Education for Experience: Graduate course work credit received from an accredited college or university in social work, criminal justice, psychology, sociology, human services, and/or child development may substitute for the required experience on a year-for-year basis to a maximum of one year, there being no substitution for the required three years of children's services work (e.g. 36 graduate quarter hours in one or a combination of the above listed fields may substitute for one year of the required experience).

Substitution of Experience for Education: Experience equivalent to one year as a DCS Program Specialist or a DCS Case Manager 3 with the State of Tennessee.

Necessary Special Qualifications

Applicants for this class must:

• Must be at least twenty-one (21) years of age on the date of application;
• Be a citizen of the United States;
• Possess a valid driver's license prior to and during employment;
• Have a good moral character, as determined by investigation;
• Complete a criminal history disclosure form in a manner approved by the appointing authority;
• Have no conviction for a felony;
• Agree to release all records involving their criminal history to the appointment authority;
• Supply a fingerprint sample in a manner prescribed by the TBI for a fingerprint based criminal history records check.
• Submit to and pass a pre-employment screening test for use of illegal drugs.

Overview

This position helps to aid the agency in monitoring contracts related to supporting permanency services for children and families through partnership with Tennessee Kids Belong and Wendy's Wonderful Kids.

Responsibilities

This position also supports the Mid-state, Mid-west, and East Regions in supporting timely permanency for children/youth in full guardianship. This position will also be responsible for working with DCS, providers, and stakeholders to identify recruitment opportunities across the state for children in need of permanent families.

Competencies (KSA's)

Competencies

• Decision Quality
• Manages Complexity
• Action Oriented
• Organizational Savvy
• Nimble Learning

Knowledge

• Customer and Personal Service
• English Language
• Law and Government
• Public Safety and Security

Skills

• Time Management
• Critical Thinking
• Instructing
• Judgment and Decision Making
• Operations Analysis

Abilities

• Deductive Reasoning
• Inductive Reasoning
• Problem Sensitivity
• Information Ordering

Tools & Equipment

• Office Equipment
• Computer
• Mobile Phone

TN Driver Standards

State of Tennessee positions that may involve driving responsibilities require candidates to meet the following minimum driver qualifications:

• A valid driver's license
• For the past five years, the candidate's driver record must not have record of the following violations: driving under the influence (DUI), reckless driving, license suspension for moving violations, more than 4 moving violations.

Please include your Driver's License Information under the Licenses and Certifications section of your application.

• Agencies may allow an exception based on other factors.