What You'll Be Doing

Lead the engine that protects kids and powers family stability. Step into the seat where vision, policy, data, and heart collide-every decision you make moves hundreds of children closer to safety, permanence, and well-being. Wake County’s Child Welfare Division is a state-supervised, county-administered system serving 500+ children in foster care and thousands more through Prevention and Child Protective Services.

We are accountable to clear mandates and MOU goals, and we meet them through supportive accountability-setting high expectations and backing them with coaching, data, technology, contracts, and fiscal muscle.

As the Child Welfare Division Director, you:

• Set strategy and culture
• Translate federal and state mandates into clear priorities, metrics, and practice standards
• Champion continuous quality improvement driven by cumulative case data
• Ensure compliance with laws, policies, and benchmarks
• Guide case review and placement decisions
• Lead corrective action when needed

You steward people and resources-overseeing 350+ staff across multiple sites, buildings, business justifications for staffing and infrastructure, and managing a multimillion-dollar budget with strong fiscal stewardship. You strengthen the infrastructure of care and cultivate productive partnerships. You ensure services are family-centered, culturally responsive, and ethical, and you respond effectively to client and public complaints and critical incidents.

You bring documented mastery of:

• Federal, state, and local child welfare policy
• Proven managerial, programmatic, and supervisory leadership
• Expertise in CQI
• Experience leading cross-functional projects
• The ability to mobilize data and technology to support practice
• Clear, persuasive communication across all levels and a record of fiscal stewardship

If you’re ready to lead with purpose and make measurable impact every day, this role is where you belong.

About Our Team

The Wake County Department of Social Services team is grounded in a deep commitment to connection, compassion, and community. We bring together experienced professionals who collaborate to support individuals and families through complex challenges, connect them with critical resources, and promote long-term stability. We value insight, innovation, and a solutions-focused approach, and we welcome those who are ready to contribute their expertise to meaningful, community-centered work. Join us in making a lasting difference!

The Basics (Required Education and Experience)

• Bachelor's degree in Human Services, Health or related field
• Six years of social services management experience including at least two years of supervisory experience
• Valid Driver's License and "safe" driving record
• Equivalent education and experience are accepted

• Please include ALL prior work experience on your application and resume.

Beyond the Basics (Preferred Education and Experience)

• Master's Degree in Social Work or a related field
• Ten (10) years of child welfare program management experience
• Excellent communication and leadership skills
• Experience working with the community
• Strong business skills to include process improvement and the use of technology to improve access and efficiency
• Knowledge of Social Services at the state or federal level
• Track record of accountability developing outcome based managerial systems
• Strong commitment to client service and a passion to lead as a visionary

How Will We Know You're 'The One'?

• Documented knowledge and application of federal, state and local child welfare laws, policies, procedures and regulations
• Documented experience and skills in managerial, programmatic and supervisory oversight of a child welfare department or division, including ensuring compliance with federal, state and local expectations
• Ability to provide oversight and guidance in reviewing cases and making determinations of placements
• Competency in reviewing individual cases, and establishing continuous quality improvement procedures with staff based on analysis and review of cumulative case data
• Leading work groups charged with implementing policy or developing protocols or other high level, special projects
• Developing key partnerships to support the mandates of child welfare
• Documenting need for and mobilizing information technology resources
• Ability to communicate with all levels of staff, chain of command, and community partners
• Build business justifications based on data, and advocate for resources needed to staff at caseload standards and add infrastructure to support service delivery, safety of children, permanency of children, and reunification of families
• Documented ability to develop and maintain positive working relationships with community partners to that enhance and contribute to the quality of child welfare work
• Documented experience managing a division level budget, assuring good fiscal stewardship of county funds, and operating in conformance with fiscal guidelines and functions within budget
• Documented success and ability to ensure that all services are family centered, culturally acceptable and ethical
• Knowledge of policy and ability to provide guidance and establish internal protocol for receiving, investigating, and resolving complaints from clients, family members, and the public
• Ability to represent the department in policy level, planning, and other meetings with state government partners

About This Position

Location: HSC Swinburne Raleigh, NC 27610

Employment Type: Regular

Work Schedule: Mon-Fri 8:30 am - 5:15 pm

Hiring Range: 99,333 - 139,065 Commensurate with Experience

Market Range: 99,333.00 - 178,793.00

Please include ALL prior work experience on your application and resume.

Posting Closing Date: 7:00 pm on 8/13/2025

What Makes Wake Great

Home to the State Capital, Wake County is one of the fastest growing areas in the nation and the most populous county in the state, with more than 1.1 million residents. The County has received national and international rankings and accolades from publications such as Money, Fortune, and Time magazines as being one of the best places to live, work and play. The central location of the County allows for a short drive to the spectacular mountains or coast. Wake County Government is governed by a seven-member Board of Commissioners, who are elected at-large to serve two-year terms. Wake County Government has a general operating budget of $1.874 billion, employs over 4400 employees, experiences minimal turnover, and is an award-winning leader in wellness and technology initiatives; such as offering employees and covered spouses free access to the Employee Health Center. Wake County Government offers a wide range of training and development opportunities, a stable career in public service with a balance of work and family life, flexible work schedules and a competitive salary and benefits package.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Wake County provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics.

Background Check Statement

Position may require a background check that may include: criminal, credit, motor vehicle, education, and sexual offender registry or others based on job requirements. Unless required by state law, a record of conviction will not automatically exclude you from consideration for employment. Wake County Government is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Emergency Service Worker Statement

In the event of an emergency, as determined by the County Manager or designee, participation in preparedness and response operations should be expected. Employee may be required to fill a temporary assignment in a role different from standard duties, work hours and/or work location in preparation for, during and after the emergency. Employee may also be required to participate in relevant exercises and regular preparedness training.

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• Wake County Government

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