Are you a courageous leader with personal integrity and have a human centered approach? This leadership opportunity will oversee the high-performing team in our Adult Services Division.
The Department of Community and Human Services values diverse perspectives and life experiences. The Department encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ, people with disabilities, veterans, and those with lived experiences.
At King County, Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS), we believe in working as one team that solves problems—striving to be customer-focused and drive for the best results. We envision a welcoming community that is racially just because the field of human services exists to undo and mitigate unfair structures. We seek to lead the way by working as respectful and responsible stewards for our community.
WHO MAY APPLY: This Appointed position is open to all candidates who believe they meet the minimum qualifications.
REQUIRED MATERIALS: Candidates who wish to be considered for the position must submit a cover letter , complete the King County application online and respond to the supplemental questions . The first round of interviews will occur on or around November 20, 2024.
WORK SCHEDULE/CONDITIONS: This position is exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and not eligible for overtime. Typical hours are Monday - Friday 8am-5pm. This position is not represented by a union.
MISSION CRITICAL POSITION STATUS: This position has been designated Mission Critical. Unless otherwise directed by the County Executive, department director or agency head, all employees, regardless of designation, are expected to report to work or request leave during an emergency or inclement weather. For more detailed information, please visit HR Policy County Operations During Emergency Situations and the King County Guidelines for Workforce Management in an Emergency .
TELEWORKING REQUIREMENT: The work associated with this position will be performed through a combination of teleworking complemented with onsite work and meetings as needed. Employees will have access to shared workspaces at various King County facilities. Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.
Employees will be provided with a County issued laptop and must maintain a workspace with an internet connection (access may be supplemented in some situations) where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours. Please note that when an employee conducts work that is likely to bring them in contact with another individual, safety precautions are required, including the wearing of masks in some situations . King County is doing its part to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and remains committed to reducing our carbon footprint. King County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely. The individual selected for this opportunity will be joining an innovative and progressive team that is redefining how we work as we transition to the department's hybrid environment.
RECRUITER: Lead a high-performing team of elite public servants- Lead, support, coach, learn from and inspire the Department of Community and Human Services Adult Services Division (ASD), consisting of approximately 75 staff.
- Exhibit courage, consistent personal integrity, a human centered approach, and values in decision making.
- Skillfully manage change, promoting a collaborative and transparent approach.
- Model DCHS’s Leadership Behaviors, while seeking constant personal growth and growing more leaders within ASD.
- Lead with initiative and considerable autonomy while promoting alignment across the department and Executive branch.
- Set and communicate a powerful vision and path to implement and achieve that vision.
- Steward data-driven change based on research, feedback, and program results.
- Apply continuous improvement and visual management to support the Division in delivering results for the region and communities.
- Serve as primary advisor to the DCHS Director and the King County Executive on the Division’s goal areas and programs, including but not limited to:
- Veteran homelessness
- Serving immigrants and refugees
- Reducing loneliness and social isolation in older adults
- Preventing and responding to gender-based violence.
- Have the clarity, courage, and skill to envision equity, identify and take responsibility when we fall short, and inspire and guide transformation that promotes racial justice.
- With humility and candor, lead within a department that defines human services as the field of mitigating and undoing inequities.
- Inspire and support practices and principles of anti-racism inside and outside of the organization.
- Lead the ASD in delivering anti-racist systems change in the work it’s responsible for.
- Serve as the Department’s and County’s lead expert and advocate on matters within ASD’s business.
- Advance the division’s work to meaningfully partner with community members, including but not limited to building and sustaining relationships with contracted community-based organizations and other interested community partners and regularly soliciting and acting on feedback.
- Maintain and foster understanding of the latest best practices, research, and data in relevant community needs and service results.
- Steward a biennial budget of more than $210Million, including proposing changes and maximizing community benefit through timely contracting and spending.
- Oversee frequent, fair, and competitive public procurement and contracting processes to achieve desired results.
- Foster and implement skillful management of more than 200 service agreements.
- Propose and implement strategies to strengthen the sustainability of regional human services providers and secure a robust and representative human services workforce.
- Routinely update the County Council, other governments, and community groups on ASD’s work, including through digital communication tools and verbal presentations.
- Communicate clearly and powerfully in print, radio, digital and televised media interviews to convey the importance of the Division’s work and enhance the organization’s credibility.
- Convene and facilitate public meetings.
- Serve as a member of the Department’s Leadership Team
- Contribute positively to an effective, collegial work environment that fosters psychological safety and belonging for staff.
- Establish and maintain strong relations within and between King County departments, branches, other governments, and other community leaders.
- Perform and support other duties as assigned to advance the Countywide direction to make King County a welcoming place where every person can thrive.
At least ten years of recent experience successfully leading a team, including experience leading a team of at least 10 people. Demonstrated experience leading with love, transparency, honesty, humility, and compassion.
Extensive knowledge of human services landscape
At least ten years of combined experience in leading, policymaking, planning, and decision making in human services.
A Record of Delivering Results
The ability to describe how the candidate achieved tangible results through leading or substantially contributing to completion or delivery of specific projects, programs or initiatives that made a material difference for the people they served.
Experience Implementing Equity
Knowledge, commitment, and leadership experience in understanding and applying equity, racial, and social justice principles and practices, including an understanding of the effects of place, race, policy and systemic inequities on marginalized communities and populations.
Experience Managing a Large Budget
In-depth knowledge of public sector or nonprofit budgeting and fund management, including previous responsibility for a budget of at least $100Million.
Familiarity with Public Procurement Practices and Processes
Professional experience with effectively and ethically administering competitive procurement processes, like requests for proposals.
Comfort with Healthy and Productive Problem-Solving and Conflict Management
- The ability to describe previous professional experience in identifying and productively resolving interpersonal conflict.
- The ability to describe previous professional experience shaping conflict to build connection.
- The ability to identify, describe, or provide past examples of effective spoken or written communication on high-impact issues.
- The ability to communicate and coach with humility and candor.
Desirable Qualifications
- Experience managing a public sector or nonprofit budget.
- Demonstrated experience with elected or appointed officials, key community leaders, or Executive-level policy makers.
- Veteran status, or experience working closely with veterans to promote housing stability, financial security, and community connection.
- Experience with or knowledge of local, state, and federal funding and programs that serve older adults, including the region’s Area Agency on Aging.
- Experience with or understanding of services and laws applicable to support immigrants and refugees, including those seeking asylum.
- Experience implementing or knowledge of services to prevent and reduce gender-based violence.
Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.
Guided by our "True North" , we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles - we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.
King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer
No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.
To Apply
If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.#J-18808-Ljbffr