GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE 1 DIRECTOR OF BOARDS AND APPOINTMENTS (#449-26)

New Jersey Department of Children and Families; Trenton (NJ); On-site; USD 98,000 - 143,000; Full time

Job summary

The New Jersey Department of Children and Families seeks a dynamic leader to serve as Director of Boards and Appointments, directing governance, appointments, onboarding, and compliance across all department boards and committees.

Responsibilities include advising chairs, ensuring legal and ethical standards, and coordinating governance initiatives with the Chief of Staff and Commissioner. Flexible collaboration with senior leadership is essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
• Master’s degree in Law, Public Administration, Social Work, Political Science, or related field preferred.
• Seven years of progressive leadership experience in government or nonprofit management; two years in supervisory roles.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the principal liaison between the Department and all boards, commissions, and committees.
• Provide strategic oversight of board operations, member appointments, compliance, and cross-board coordination.
• Direct and coordinate all board-related operations, including appointments, onboarding, and administrative support.
• Establish and implement standardized governance policies, procedures, and frameworks.
• Provide strategic guidance to board chairs and members on engagement, ethics, and effectiveness.
• Ensure compliance with laws, regulations, and policies governing public boards.
• Identify opportunities for governance improvement and stakeholder engagement.
• Prepare and submit reports on board activities and outcomes to leadership and stakeholders.
• Supervise DCF staff assigned to support boards and committees.

Skills

Leadership experience

Board governance

Stakeholder engagement

Project management

Communication skills

Ethics compliance

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree preferred

Job description

Job Title: GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE 1 DIRECTOR OF BOARDS AND APPOINTMENTS

(Job Posting #449-26)

SALARY: $98,048.35 - $143,278.17

The Department of Children and Families (DCF) seeks a dynamic and innovative leader to serve as Director of Boards and Appointments, responsible for providing strategic leadership, oversight, and coordination of all boards and committees in, but not of, DCF. This position reports directly to the Chief of Staff.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serve as the principal liaison between the Department and all boards, commissions, and committees affiliated with the Department, ensuring alignment with departmental priorities and statutory mandates.
• Provide strategic oversight of board operations, member appointments, compliance requirements, and coordination of cross-board initiatives to advance child welfare outcomes across New Jersey.
• Direct and coordinate all board-related operations, including appointments, onboarding, compliance, communications, and administrative support.
• Establish and implement standardized policies, procedures, and governance frameworks to ensure consistency, transparency, and accountability across all boards.
• Provide strategic guidance to board chairs and members to strengthen effectiveness, engagement, and adherence to ethical and legal standards.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and policies governing public boards and commissions.
• Identify opportunities for innovation and continuous improvement in board governance, stakeholder engagement, and service delivery.
• Prepare and submit comprehensive reports on board activities, recommendations, and outcomes to the Chief of Staff, Commissioner, and external stakeholders as required.
• Supervise DCF staff assigned to support individual boards and committees.

REQUIREMENTS

EDUCATION

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. A master’s degree in Law, Public Administration, Social Work, Political Science, or a related field is preferred.

EXPERIENCE

Seven (7)years of progressive leadership experience in government, nonprofit management, or related field. Two (2) of the years of experience must involve supervisory or managerial responsibilities.

Preference will be given to candidates who possess the following:

• Demonstrated experience managing multiple advisory boards, commissions, or committees
• Knowledge of New Jersey State government operations, ethics requirements, and public meeting laws
• Strong understanding of child welfare systems and DCF programs
• Excellent project management, organizational, and coordination skills
• Superior written and oral communication skills
• Experience with appointment processes and stakeholder engagement

RESUME NOTE

Eligibility determinations will be based upon information presented on the resume only along with other supporting documents. Applicants who possess a degree from a college or university outside the United States must provide an evaluation of one’s transcripts from a recognized evaluation service at the time of submission by the above closing date. Failure to do so may result in your ineligibility.

LICENSE

Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.

IMPORTANT NOTICES

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

The Department of Children and Families provides many employee benefits, including but not limited to:

• Health, Dental and Life Insurance
• Flexible and Health Spending Accounts
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness
• Benefit Leave (Vacation, Sick, Administrative Leave)
• Pursuant to Department policy, procedures and/or guidelines

PUBLIC SERVICE LOAN FORGIVENESS

As a prospective employee of the State of New Jersey, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education’s website at StudentAid.gov/PSLF.

SAME APPLICANTS

If you are applying under the NJ SAME program, you must submit any of the supporting documentation specified in N.J.S.A. 11A:7-13.3 along with your resume by the closing date indicated above.

RESIDENCY LAW

Please refer to the New Jersey Department of Children and Families website at https://www.nj.gov/dcf/stay-connected/employment-opportunities/index.shtml

The Department of Children and Families is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and is committed to fostering a respectful and inclusive work environment which reflects the diversity of the state we serve.