Protective Services Specialist 4
State of Alaska
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Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
The State of Alaska, Office of Children's Services in Ketchikan, seeks a Protective Services Specialist 4 to lead a team and oversee complex child welfare cases. The role emphasizes collaboration with communities and state partners to safeguard children.
The position involves system leadership, policy development, and responsible recordkeeping, with a focus on safety, permanency, and well-being in a diverse team environment.
Qualifications
- Leads a Protective Services team and makes sound, well-informed decisions.
- Manages employee performance with clear expectations and feedback.
- Stays resilient and adapts under pressure to meet organizational goals.
Responsibilities
- Supervise and support a team of Protective Services staff, including hiring decisions, performance evaluations, training, and disciplinary actions.
- Oversee and coordinate social service programs, ensure quality casework, and handle complex or high-need cases directly.
- Develop resources, collaborate with community and state partners, and represent the agency in court and public education settings.
- Recommend policies and procedures, maintain effective working relationships, and prepare required records and reports.
Skills
Job description
Protective Services Specialist 4 (PCN 063192) | Workplace Alaska page has loaded.
This position is open to Alaska Residents only. Please check our residency definition to determine if you qualify. The Department of Family and Community Services, Office of Children's Services (OCS) is recruiting for a full‑time Protective Service Specialist 4 located in Ketchikan, Alaska.
Supervise and support a team of Protective Services staff, including hiring decisions, performance evaluations, training, and disciplinary actions.
Oversee and coordinate social service programs, ensure quality casework, and handle complex or high‑need cases directly.
Develop resources, collaborate with community and state partners, and represent the agency in court and public education settings.
Recommend policies and procedures, maintain effective working relationships, and prepare required records and reports.
The Office of Children's Services strives for a diverse and inclusive workforce where safety and wellbeing are paramount and employees at all levels promote a culture where everyone is valued, treated equitably, and treated respectfully.
The Mission of the Office of Children's Services is: Ensuring the safety, permanency and well‑being of children by strengthening families, engaging communities, and partnering with Tribes.
Everything we do is underpinned by our Core Values .
We work as a team through collaboration towards common goals to serve positive outcomes for families. We strive for a tight knit group, offering support to one another and contributing to a positive atmosphere. The Office of Children's Services has great potential for career advancement.
Full‑time benefits of this position include but are not limited to: Insurance Benefits; Retirement Benefits; Paid Leave; and twelve paid holidays per year. Please see the benefits tab on this posting for more information.
The Office of Children’s Services Ketchikan Field Office is located in the downtown State Office Building across the street from the Ketchikan Police Department. We are conveniently located near shops, restaurants, as well as the bus line. We serve the City of Ketchikan along with residents in the Ketchikan Gateway Borough; the combined population is approximately 14,000. Ketchikan is the hub community for lower Southeast Alaska, located in the most southern end of the State of Alaska. The Ketchikan Office also provides backup to the Craig Field Office which is located on Prince of Wales Island.
For information on the Ketchikan community (including schools, hospitals, housing) please review the Alaska Community Profiles.
- Decision Making | Makes sound, well‑informed, and objective decisions; perceives the impact and implications of decisions; commits to action, even in uncertain situations, to accomplish organizational goals; causes change.
- Managing Performance | Takes responsibility for employees' performance by setting and communicating expectations and goals that are specific and measurable, tracking progress against the goals, supporting employees' efforts to achieve job goals (by providing resources, removing obstacles, acting as a buffer, etc.), ensuring feedback, and addressing performance problems and issues promptly.
- Resilience | Deals effectively with pressure; remains optimistic and persistent, even under adversity. Recovers quickly from setbacks.
- This position requires a valid Alaska driver's license.
- Additionally, while the Division does have vehicles assigned to it, they may not always be available for staff use. Mileage reimbursement is available when a personal vehicle is used for work‑related matters. Current automotive insurance must be in place prior to use of a personal vehicle while conducting business on behalf of the State.
- For positions in this job class, a child protective history check will be performed per AS 12.62.160 and/or 13 AAC 68.315 including a background and fingerprint check.
- The successful candidate may be required to attend multiple training courses normally located in Anchorage.
A cover letter is NOT required for this position. Your complete application will be used to determine which applicants will advance to the interview phase of the recruitment and selection process.
To view the general description and example of duties for a Protective Services Specialist 4 please go to the following link: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/alaska/classspecs/892158?keywords=protective%20services%20specialist&pagetype=classSpecifications
- Supervise and support a team of Protective Services staff, including hiring decisions, performance evaluations, training, and disciplinary actions.
- Oversee and coordinate social service programs, ensure quality casework, and handle complex or high‑need cases directly.
- Develop resources, collaborate with community and state partners, and represent the agency in court and public education settings.
- Recommend policies and procedures, maintain effective working relationships, and prepare required records and reports.
The Office of Children's Services strives for a diverse and inclusive workforce where safety and wellbeing are paramount and employees at all levels promote a culture where everyone is valued, treated equitably, and treated respectfully.
The Mission of the Office of Children’s Services is: Ensuring the safety, permanency and well‑being of children by strengthening families, engaging communities, and partnering with Tribes.
Everything we do is underpinned by our Core Values .
We work as a team through collaboration towards common goals to serve positive outcomes for families. We strive for a tight knit group, offering support to one another and contributing to a positive atmosphere. The Office of Children’s Services has great potential for career advancement.
Full‑time benefits of this position include but are not limited to: Insurance Benefits; Retirement Benefits; Paid Leave; and twelve paid holidays per year. Please see the benefits tab on this posting for more information.
The Office of Children’s Services Ketchikan Field Office is located in the downtown State Office Building across the street from the Ketchikan Police Department. We are conveniently located near shops, restaurants, as well as the bus line. We serve the City of Ketchikan along with residents in the Ketchikan Gateway Borough; the combined population is approximately 14,000. Ketchikan is the hub community for lower Southeast Alaska, located in the most southern end of the State of Alaska. The Ketchikan Office also provides backup to the Craig Field Office which is located on Prince of Wales Island.
For information on the Ketchikan community (including schools, hospitals, housing) please review the Alaska Community Profiles.
- Decision Making | Makes sound, well‑informed, and objective decisions; perceives the impact and implications of decisions; commits to action, even in uncertain situations, to accomplish organizational goals; causes change.
- Managing Performance | Takes responsibility for employees' performance by setting and communicating expectations and goals that are specific and measurable, tracking progress against the goals, supporting employees' efforts to achieve job goals (by providing resources, removing obstacles, acting as a buffer, etc.), ensuring feedback, and addressing performance problems and issues promptly.
- Resilience | Deals effectively with pressure; remains optimistic and persistent, even under adversity. Recovers quickly from setbacks.
- This position requires a valid Alaska driver's license.
- Additionally, while the Division does have vehicles assigned to it, they may not always be available for staff use. Mileage reimbursement is available when a personal vehicle is used for work‑related matters. Current automotive insurance must be in place prior to use of a personal vehicle while conducting business on behalf of the State.
- For positions in this job class, a child protective history check will be performed per AS 12.62.160 and/or 13 AAC 68.315 including a background and fingerprint check.
- The successful candidate may be required to attend multiple training courses normally located in Anchorage.
A cover letter is NOT required for this position. Your complete application will be used to determine which applicants will advance to the interview phase of the recruitment and selection process.
To view the general description and example of duties for a Protective Services Specialist 4 please go to the following link: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/alaska/classspecs/892158?keywords=protective%20services%20specialist&pagetype=classSpecifications
Any combination of education and/or experience that provides the applicant with competencies in
- Analytical Thinking/Problem Solving: Uses a logical, systematic, and sequential approach to address problems or opportunities or manage a situation by drawing on one’s knowledge and experience base and calling on other references and resources as necessary.
- Integrity/Honesty: Behaves in an honest, fair, and ethical manner. Shows consistency in words and actions. Models high standards of ethics.
- Interpersonal Skills: Shows understanding, friendliness, courtesy, tact, empathy, concern, and politeness to others; develops and maintains effective relationships with others; may include effectively dealing with individuals who are difficult, hostile, or distressed; relates well to people from varied backgrounds and different situations; is sensitive to cultural diversity, race, gender, disabilities, and other individual differences.
- Oral Communication: Makes clear and convincing oral presentations. Listens effectively; clarifies information as needed.
- Writing: Recognizes or uses correct English grammar, punctuation, and spelling; communicates information (for example, facts, ideas, or messages) in a succinct and organized manner; produces written information, which may include technical material, that is appropriate for the intended audience.
- Technical Credibility: Understands and appropriately applies principles, procedures, requirements, regulations, and policies related to specialized expertise.
- Developing Others: Develops the ability of others to perform and contribute to the organization by providing ongoing feedback and by providing opportunities to learn through formal and informal methods.
- Influencing/Negotiating: Persuades others; builds consensus through give and take; gains cooperation from others to obtain information and accomplish goals.
equivalent to those typically gained by Training in a social science, behavioral science, health science, guidance and counseling, or a closely related field and/or progressively responsible professional experience providing assistance, information or referrals to the general public related to social services, health care, or legal services; in child, adult, family, or group case management, licensing, or probation services; or providing care or services to delinquent juveniles.
“Typically gained by” means the prevalent, usual method of gaining the competencies expected for entry into the job.
“Training” and “education” in this guidance are synonyms for the process of acquiring knowledge and skills through instruction. It includes instruction through formal and informal methods such as classroom, online, self‑study, and on‑the‑job, from accredited and unaccredited sources, and long‑duration such as a post‑secondary degree and short‑duration such as a seminar programs.
“Progressively responsible” means indicating growth and/or advancement in complexity, difficulty, or level of responsibility.
“Professional experience” means work that is creative, analytical, evaluative, and interpretive; requires a range and depth of specialized knowledge of the profession's principles, concepts, theories, and practices; and is performed with the power or right to decide or act according to one's own judgment.
Some positions require a valid Alaska driver's license and/or a background investigation including fingerprinting. These requirements will be indicated at the time of recruitment.
At time of interview applicant is requested to submit
- A copy of academic transcripts (unofficial are acceptable but must include the institution name/URL on documents provided) if required to meet minimum qualifications.
- A list of three (3) professional references including daytime telephone numbers and email address; at least two (2) of these must be from a current or former supervisor.
- Professional is defined as a supervisor or an individual who has direct knowledge of your work performance.
NOTE: Attaching a resume or curriculum vitae is not an alternative to filling out the application in its entirety. Noting “see resume or CV” or any similar response on any portion of your application may lead to a determination your application is incomplete and removal from consideration for this job posting.
To verify education being used to meet the required minimum qualifications, you must fill in the Education section of the application. If you have not obtained a degree, please indicate the number of units completed. Copies of transcripts are required to verify educational credentials being used to meet the minimum qualifications for a position and are required with each application. (Unofficial are okay, please ensure that the institution/URL name is listed on the transcripts). Transcripts can be attached at the time of application, provided at the time of interview or if not provided, transcripts will be required prior to appointment.
Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the above requirements, if applicable. If utilizing this education you must show that the education credentials have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and that such education has been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs; or an accredited U.S. state university reports the other institution as one whose transcript is given full value, or full value is given in subject areas applicable to the curricula at the state university. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. Omission of required documentation listed will result in an incomplete application and you will not receive further consideration.
When using work experience not already documented in your application, please provide the employer name, your job title, dates of employment, and whether full‑or part‑time. Applications will be reviewed to determine if the responses are supported and minimum qualifications are clearly met. Work experience needed to meet the minimum qualifications must be documented in the application. If the application does not support minimum qualifications, the applicant may not advance to the interview and selection phase of the recruitment. A resume will not be used to determine that minimum qualifications have been met for the position in which you are applying.
If you are currently or previously been appointed to a flexibly staffed position please ensure your work experience within a flexibly staffed position indicates the actual dates employed at each level. Ensure your time and any subsequent flex promotion(s) are documented as a separate position. This is required as there are minimum qualifications that require experience at a particular level in which the lower level may not be considered. If this information is not accurately reflected in your application this may cause the processing of your application for consideration to be delayed.
The State’s online recruitment system, Workplace Alaska, requires applicants to certify that they have a legal right to accept employment in the United States. It is the responsibility of the employee to maintain the appropriate documentation to accept or continue legal employment. The State of Alaska does not function in the role as an employer sponsor.
The State of Alaska does not provide VISA Employer sponsorship.
This position is open to Alaska Residents only. Please check our residency definition to determine if you qualify.
Questions regarding the application process can be directed to the Workplace Alaska hotline at 800-587-0430 (toll free) or (907) 465-4095. If you choose to be contacted by email, please ensure your email address is correct on your application and that the spam filter will permit email from the ‘governmentjobs.com’ domains. For information on allowing emails from the ‘governmentjobs.com’ domains, visit the Lost Password Help page located at https://www.governmentjobs.com/OnlineApplication/User/ResetPassword.
The State of Alaska complies with Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Individuals with disabilities, who require accommodation, auxiliary aides or services, or alternative communication formats, please call 1-800-587-4095 in Juneau or TTY: Alaska Relay 711 or 1-800-770-8973 or correspond with the Division of Personnel & Labor Relations at: P. O. Box 110201, Juneau, AK 99811-0201. The State of Alaska is an equal opportunity employer.
WORKPLACE ALASKA APPLICATION QUESTIONS & ASSISTANCE
Questions regarding application submission or system operation errors should be directed to the Workplace Alaska hotline at 1-800-587-0430 (toll free) or (907) 465-4095 if you are located in the Juneau area. Requests for information may also be emailed to recruitment.services@alaska.gov.
For applicant password assistance please visit: https://www.governmentjobs.com/OnlineApplication/User/ResetPassword
For specific information in reference to the position please contact the hiring manager at:
Name: Amber Cunningham, Administrative Officer
Phone: (907) 465-3206
Email: amber.cunningham@alaska.gov
Phone (800) 587-0430 (Statewide toll‑free number)
(907) 465-4095 (Juneau and out‑of‑state callers)
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