Wheaton, IL – Director of Community Services

DuPage County; Wheaton (IL); On-site; USD 185,000 - 192,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Blue Cross Blue Shield health plans

Dental/Vision coverage

Optional Life insurance

Vacation, Sick, and Paid Leave Time

12 paid holidays

IMRF pension plan

Job summary

DuPage County is seeking a Director of Community Services in Wheaton, IL, to lead a team focused on strengthening the community through expanded direct client services and the new Housing & Community Development Department. The role requires strategic leadership and strong collaboration with county officials.

The Director will guide program operations, manage budgets, partner with other departments, and oversee grants to advance health and human services across the county.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Business or Public Administration, Social Work, or a related field.
• Eight (8) years of related experience.
• Five (5) years in a management-level position.
• Must possess and maintain a valid Illinois Driver’s License.
• Pre-employment background check required.

Responsibilities

• Plans for and directs the operations of multiple programs and resources to fill defined needs within DuPage County
• Functions as a member of the County’s management team to resolve issues and implement plans of action
• Acts as the County liaison in coordination with County Department Heads and Elected Officials to other counties and State and Federal agencies
• Meets with government officials, community leaders, service providers, and other funding organizations to promote support for, and efficiency of, the community-wide health and human services system
• Coordinates programs with other County departments and offices including the Health Department, the courts, and law enforcement, and develops requirements and eligibility guidelines for programs
• Oversees County grant programs including working with oversight boards and policy groups on the allocation of grant funds and monitoring compliance with grant provisions
• Establishes policies to assess needs, assign contracts, and monitor contract performance
• Maintains up-to-date knowledge of applicable State and Federal statutes, legislation, and regulations impacting services
• Delegates authority to subordinate managers in specialized areas and assures that work is completed thoroughly and efficiently
• Ensures staff are properly trained and compliant with policies, procedures, and local, State and Federal laws and ordinances Recommends hires and promotions, directs and evaluates employment decisions for all assigned positions
• Manages the Department’s budget process and ensures that the department functions within budget appropriations

Education

Master's degree in Public Administration or related field

Job description

Director of Community Services

Position: Director of Community Services

Department: Community Services Department

Salary: $185,000.00 – $192,000.00 Annually

Opening Date: 08/28/2026

Location: 421 N. County Farm Road, Wheaton, IL

Hours: Monday- Friday 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

POSITION SUMMARY

We are pleased to offer the opportunity to work for DuPage County as the Director of Community Services. Due to an upcoming retirement, the Community Services department is embarking on an exciting reorganization that will create a renewed focus on direct client services and establish a new Department of Housing & Community Development. This is a unique opportunity to join the DuPage County team at an important time of transformation and growth.

The Director of Community Services will lead a dedicated team of professionals committed to strengthening the community and improving the lives of County residents. We are seeking a collaborative, strategic leader who can embrace change, build strong partnerships, lead complex initiatives, and translate community needs into effective programs and services.

For more information about this exciting opportunity, please check out the Director of Community Services Recruitment Brochure.

Director of Community Services Recruitment Brochure

Benefits:

• There are four medical plans to choose from, all through Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL): Blue Advantage HMO, Blue Choice PPO, PPO 1 and Blue Edge Health Savings Account (HSA).
• Dental/Vision
• Optional Life
• Vacation, Sick, and Paid Leave Time
• 12 paid holidays
• Pension Plan: The Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) is a public pension fund that administers retirement, disability, and death benefits for employees of local government in Illinois. IMRF serves more than 3,000 employers and manages about $52 billion in assets. With a funded status of 96.6%, IMRF is one of the best-funded public pension systems in the country.
• To learn more about the cost and coverage of the benefits plan, visit Employee Benefits Information.

For detailed information on paid time off, visit Employee Policy Manual, Section 5

DuPage County is an Equal Opportunity Employer

RESPONSIBILITIES

Responsibilities Include:

• Plans for and directs the operations of multiple programs and resources to fill defined needs within DuPage County
• Functions as a member of the County’s management team to resolve issues and implement plans of action
• Acts as the County liaison in coordination with County Department Heads and Elected Officials to other counties and State and Federal agencies
• Meets with government officials, community leaders, service providers, and other funding organizations to promote support for, and efficiency of, the community-wide health and human services system
• Coordinates programs with other County departments and offices including the Health Department, the courts, and law enforcement, and develops requirements and eligibility guidelines for programs
• Oversees County grant programs including working with oversight boards and policy groups on the allocation of grant funds and monitoring compliance with grant provisions
• Establishes policies to assess needs, assign contracts, and monitor contract performance
• Maintains up-to-date knowledge of applicable State and Federal statutes, legislation, and regulations impacting services
• Delegates authority to subordinate managers in specialized areas and assures that work is completed thoroughly and efficiently
• Ensures staff are properly trained and compliant with policies, procedures, and local, State and Federal laws and ordinances Recommends hires and promotions, directs and evaluates employment decisions for all assigned positions
• Manages the Department’s budget process and ensures that the department functions within budget appropriations

Requirements

Requirements Requirements include the following experience or equivalent combination of training and experience:

• Completion of a Master’s Degree in Business or Public Administration, Social Work, or a related field
• Eight (8) years of related experience
• Five (5) Years in a management-level position
• Must possess and maintain in good standing a valid Illinois Driver’s License
• A pre-employment background check is required.

Physical Requirements and Work Environment

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Position is typically office or administrative work and is not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions.