DCS PROGRAM SUPERVISOR

Arizona Department of Child Safety; Phoenix (AZ); On-site; USD 56,000 - 76,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid sick leave

Paid vacation

Parental Leave

Health insurance

Life insurance

Long-term disability

Bi-Lingual Stipend

Job summary

Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS) seeks a Program Supervisor for Investigations in Phoenix. The role manages a unit of DCS Specialists, Case Aides and support staff handling child safety services.

Responsibilities include directing staff, reviewing case work, training, scheduling, and performance evaluations to ensure safety and compliance across cases.

Qualifications

• Master’s or bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
• Three (3) years of experience with the Arizona Department of Child Safety.
• Must secure and maintain DPS Level One Fingerprint Clearance.

Responsibilities

• Directs, supervises and instructs direct reports according to department and regional policies pertaining to child protective services.
• Reviews work products and analyzes facts obtained by DCS specialists. Provides input on cases and evaluates plans.
• Interviews and trains staff within the unit and develops work schedules.
• Meets monthly with employees to discuss performance and completes evaluations.

Skills

Verbal and written communication

Staff supervision

Policy and procedures knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

Tools

Guardian system

Job description

ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF CHILD SAFETY

The Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS) is a social and human services agency whose mission is to successfully partner with families, caregivers, and the community to strengthen families, ensure safety, and achieve permanency for all Arizona’s children through prevention, services, and support.

DCS PROGRAM SUPERVISOR INVESTIGATIONS

Job Location:

1925 West Pinnacle Peak Road

Phoenix, AZ 85027

Posting Details

Salary: $31.6827 hourly / $65,900.0200 annual

Grade: 21

Closing Date: 9/29/2026

Job Summary

Under the direction of the Department of Child Safety Program Manager, this position serves as a supervisor and is responsible for managing the workflow of a Unit of DCS Specialists, Case Aides and support staff that are engaged in child safety services.

Job Duties

• Directs, supervises and instructs direct reports according to department and regional policies pertaining to child protective services.
• Reviews work products and analyzes facts obtained by DCS specialists. Provides input on cases. Evaluates appropriateness of assessments and decisions made as well as intervention plans, case plans, progress, barriers, placement, services, visitation, etc. to ensure child safety and compliance.
• Interviews and trains staff within the unit. Develops work schedules.
• Meets monthly with employees to discuss performance. Completes employee evaluations. Initiates disciplinary actions, if necessary.
• Responds/resolves problems and questions presented by customers, case participants, internal DCS staff, and other stakeholders to address concerns involving policy, procedures and issues related to specific cases.
• Attends management staff meetings, training, professional seminars, conferences and participates in problem-solving/decision-making.
• Produces, utilizes and sends reports.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Training

• DCS Specialist Training track classroom sessions unless this training has been completed within the previous two years.
• DCS Program Supervisor Training Track.

Note: Training will be provided. Classroom sessions are held in Phoenix.

Knowledge Of

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSAs):

• Federal and State laws, regulations and directives governing child protective services.
• Risk assessment practices and procedures.
• Principles and Practices of work leadership and management.
• Theories of personality development and adjustment.
• Policies and procedures of court systems.
• Community Resources.

Skill In

• Verbal and written communication.
• Eliciting information through interviews.
• Establishing and maintaining work relationships with children, their families, and court representatives.
• Resolving problems.
• Delivering public speeches.
• Supervision techniques.

Ability To

• Apply the principles and practices of work leadership and the DCS Management System.
• Maintain professional boundaries.
• Lead by example.
• Work as a team member.
• Recognize employee strengths and development opportunities.
• Prepare detailed documentation of parent, child, and professional contacts to ensure that the records accurately convey reported information and minimize misinterpretation.
• Perform after-hour duties.
• To learn policies and procedures of Guardian and automated systems.

Selective Preference(s)

• Lateral Transfers will be given preference. Qualifications for lateral transfers:
• Must be a current DCS employee.
• Must currently be in a Program Supervisor position for 12 consecutive months.
• Must be meeting expectations in current position (Performance Evaluation score of meets expectations on last evaluation), not currently under a Performance Improvement Plan or under review as part of a Memo of Concern.
• No discipline within the last 12 months.

Pre-Employment Requirements

Master’s or bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, AND three (3) years of experience with the Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS).

OR

Master’s or bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, AND two (2) years of combined experience in the DCS Specialist Trainee, DCS Specialist, DCS Program Specialist, Investigator Sr., or Assistant Manager role, AND Six (6) months of experience in a DCS Program Supervisor Special Assignment role.

OR

Master’s or bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, AND two (2) years of combined experience in the DCS Specialist Trainee, DCS Specialist, DCS Program Specialist, Investigator Sr., or Assistant Manager role, AND one (1) year of professional-level supervisory experience.

Note: Proof of professional-level supervisory experience will be requested after candidate has been recommended for hire. Professional-level supervisory experience is defined as being responsible for managing personnel, allocating resources, conducting performance evaluations, reviewing salaries, and making personnel action recommendations.

OR

Master’s or bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, AND five (5) years of combined experience with a Government or Tribal Child Welfare agency or an Arizona agency that specializes in child welfare practice.

AND

Must be able to secure and maintain clearance from the Central Registry.

Must be able to obtain and maintain a valid Arizona Department of Public Safety Level One Fingerprint Clearance Card.

Must be able to pass a DCS background check.

This position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, and the following requirements apply: Driver’s License Requirements.

All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

Benefits

As an employee of the Department of Child Safety you will be entitled to a comprehensive benefits package that can become effective as soon as two weeks after starting!

Benefits Include

• Paid sick leave
• Paid vacation that includes ten (10) holidays per year.
• Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly placed. foster/adopted child (pilot program).
• Competitive health and dental insurance plans.
• Life insurance and long-term disability insurance.

We Also Offer Optional Employee Benefits That Include

• Vision coverage.
• Short-term disability insurance.
• Deferred compensation plans.
• Supplemental life insurance.
• Employee wellness plans.
• Bi-Lingual Stipend

Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

Retirement

Positions in this classification participate in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS).

ASRS participation may begin immediately (if you were a previous member) or upon your 27th week of employment (if you have never been an ASRS member previously).

Contact Us

Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation such as a sign language interpreter or an alternative format by contacting 602-255-3141 or by email at [e-mail]. Requests should be made as early as possible to allow time to arrange the accommodation. Should you have any further questions regarding the interview process you can reach out to a member of our recruitment team at 602-255-2903 or by email at [e-mail]. The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer.