Senior Consultant, Child Welfare Subject Matter Expert

Guidehouse; McLean (VA); On-site; USD 98,000 - 163,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Rx, Dental & Vision Insurance

401(k) Retirement Plan

Parental Leave and Adoption Assistance

Short-Term & Long-Term Disability

Mobility Stipend

Employee Referral Program

Student Loan PayDown Tuition Reimburs

Tuition Reimbursement

Job summary

Guidehouse is seeking a Strategy & Transformation Consulting professional to support federal child welfare technology modernization initiatives. You will join a multidisciplinary team to translate program needs into actionable business and technology recommendations, and collaborate with states and federal partners on CCWIS projects.

The role requires obtaining public trust, extensive experience in child welfare, and strong communication skills to deliver executive briefs and strategic

Qualifications

• Active or ability to obtain Public Trust clearance.
• 8+ years of professional experience in child welfare or related field.
• Direct experience supporting child welfare programs or federal child welfare initiatives.
• Experience with CCWIS modernization efforts or large-scale child welfare technology projects.
• Experience developing, reviewing, or supporting APDs, implementation planning activities, waiver requests, or federal funding requests.
• Knowledge of federal child welfare regulations and technology modernization requirements.
• Experience supporting procurement, governance, IV&V oversight, or organizational change management.
• Experience conducting stakeholder interviews, facilitating workshops, listening sessions, or requirements-gathering.
• Experience developing executive-level communications, reports, presentations, and decision-support materials.

Responsibilities

• Provide subject matter expertise on child welfare modernization initiatives.
• Translate program needs into actionable business and technology recommendations.
• Collaborate with states and federal partners on CCWIS projects and related efforts.
• Analyze modernization strategies, risks, governance, procurement approaches, and outcomes.
• Review planning documents, APDs, implementation plans, waiver requests, and related artifacts.
• Conduct interviews, workshops, and stakeholder meetings with federal and state partners.
• Develop reports, executive briefs, presentations, and strategic recommendations.
• Support data collection and analysis on modernization performance and operations.

Skills

Stakeholder engagement

Federal procurement

Child welfare expertise

Interoperability

Data governance

Project management

Strategic communication

Policy and regulation

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

Job description

Job Family

Strategy & Transformation Consulting

Travel Required: Up to 10% | Clearance Required: Ability to Obtain Public Trust

What You Will Do

As part of a multidisciplinary team, support federal initiatives focused on child welfare technology modernization, program improvement, and systems transformation.

• Provide subject matter expertise on child welfare technology modernization initiatives.
• Provide expertise on child welfare ecosystem from business processes, federal reporting requirements, interoperability, data governance, user adoption, and system operations to program and policy.
• Collaborate with technology, data, and program teams to translate child welfare program needs into actionable business and technology recommendations.
• Support states and federal partners in planning, implementing, and operating CCWIS projects and related technology transformation efforts.
• Analyze modernization strategies, project risks, governance structures, procurement approaches, and implementation outcomes to identify leading practices and lessons learned.
• Support the review and assessment of planning documents, Advanced Planning Documents (APDs), implementation plans, project artifacts, waiver requests, and other modernization-related deliverables.
• Conduct interviews, facilitate workshops, listening sessions, and stakeholder meetings with federal and state partners.
• Support development of reports, executive briefings, presentations, research summaries, technical assistance materials, and strategic recommendations.
• Support research, data collection, and analysis activities related to child welfare system modernization, project performance, operational effectiveness, and implementation challenges.
• Assist with the development of modernization guidance, technical assistance resources, playbooks, toolkits, and knowledge-sharing products to support state agencies.

What You Will Need

Must be able to OBTAIN and MAINTAIN a Federal or DoD "PUBLIC TRUST"; candidates with an ACTIVE PUBLIC TRUST or SUITABILITY are preferred.

Bachelors Degree EIGHT (8) or more years of professional experience in child welfare or a related field, with demonstrated qualifications that support the responsibilities above in two or more of the following areas:

• Direct experience supporting child welfare programs, child welfare agencies, or federal child welfare initiatives.
• Experience with Comprehensive Child Welfare Information Systems (CCWIS) modernization efforts, or large-scale child welfare technology implementation projects.
• Experience developing, reviewing, or supporting APDs, implementation advance planning activities, waiver requests, project artifacts, or federal funding requests.
• Knowledge of federal child welfare regulations, Children's Bureau guidance, and technology modernization requirements.
• Experience supporting system modernization efforts involving procurement, vendor management, governance, project management, Independent Verification & Validation (IV&V) oversight, or organizational change management.
• Experience conducting stakeholder interviews, facilitating workshops, listening sessions, or requirements-gathering activities.
• Experience developing executive-level communications, reports, presentations, briefing materials, and decision-support products.

What Would Be Nice To Have

• Bachelor's degree in human services or related field
• Master’s degree in social work or related field
• Familiarity with data quality, federal reporting, interoperability, business process improvement, data governance, and system operations best practices.
• Excellent verbal and written communication and collaboration skills to work effectively with federal leaders, state child welfare agencies, technology partners, and cross-functional teams.
• Excellent organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects and competing priorities.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including PowerPoint, Excel, Word, and Teams.
• Experience supporting the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Children's Bureau (CB), state child welfare agencies, or related human services programs.
• Exposure to federal oversight, approval, or funding processes that shape CCWIS modernization strategy.
• Knowledge of modular system development, agile delivery methods, and digital service modernization approaches.
• Familiarity with data analysis, data visualization, and reporting tools.

Salary

The annual salary range for this position is $98,000.00-$163,000.00. Compensation decisions depend on a wide range of factors, including but not limited to skill sets, experience and training, security clearances, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs.

What We Offer

Guidehouse offers a comprehensive, total rewards package that includes competitive compensation and a flexible benefits package that reflects our commitment to creating a diverse and supportive workplace.

• Medical, Rx, Dental & Vision Insurance
• Personal and Family Sick Time & Company Paid Holidays
• Position may be eligible for a discretionary variable incentive bonus
• Parental Leave and Adoption Assistance
• 401(k) Retirement Plan
• Basic Life & Supplemental Life
• Health Savings Account
• Dental/Vision & Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
• Short-Term & Long-Term Disability
• Student Loan PayDown Tuition Reimbursement, Personal Development & Learning Opportunities
• Skills Development & Certifications
• Employee Referral Program
• Corporate Sponsored Events & Community Outreach
• Emergency Back-Up Childcare Program
• Mobility Stipend

About Guidehouse

Guidehouse is an Equal Opportunity Employer-Protected Veterans, Individuals with Disabilities or any other basis protected by law, ordinance, or regulation. Guidehouse will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable law or ordinance including the Fair Chance Ordinance of Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Guidehouse is a global AI-led professional services firm delivering advisory, technology, and managed services to the commercial and government sectors. With an integrated business technology approach, Guidehouse drives efficiency and resilience in the healthcare, financial services, energy, infrastructure, and national security markets. Built to help clients across industries outwit complexity, the firm brings together approximately 18,000 professionals to achieve lasting impact and shape a meaningful future. guidehouse.com