Director, Office of Family Voice

Director

Office of Family Voice

The NJ Department of Children and Families (DCF) seeks a proven leader to serve as the Director of the Office of Family Voice (OFV).

This position will report to the Commissioner and is responsible for planning, designing, implementing, and evaluating constituent engagement efforts. The Director provides oversight to implementation of the DCF’s efforts to maintain essential feedback loops with parents, youth, kin and resource parents throughout the state to guide system transformation. Embedded in the department’s strategic plan as a core approach to achieving our stated goals is the significance of incorporating individuals with lived

experience as essential to helping guide DCF policy, practice and decision making. OFV uses innovative approaches and engages with community to organize and elevate the voice of constituents.

OFV is staffed with community members with lived experience who are focused on achieving a higher level of staff awareness around the breadth and depth of constituent challenges to help address any concerns related to social justice. Through OFV, families, youth, parents, men and women are all welcome as active partners in the department’s efforts to ensure all NJ families are safe, healthy and connected.

The OFV works cooperatively and in partnership with the four primary operation divisions: DCPP, CSOC, FCP and DOW, and the DCF Offices of Resilience, Diversity, Equity, and Belonging, and Staff Health and Wellness, which are the other three units identified as the core approaches needed to achieve the DCF goals and objectives.

This position is located in Trenton, NJ.

NOTE: This position may be eligible to work remotely for up to two days in a calendar week.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

This work is conducted in partnership with staff from across the Department and from the larger external stakeholder community. The Director implements meetings with community stakeholders and constituents that help the department understand strengths and challenges of the services, policies and practices both proposed and in place and their impact on the youth, parents and caregivers that we serve.

Specific responsibilities include:

* Create and implement opportunities for constituent involvement (i.e., Youth Council, Parent Council, Fatherhood Engagement Committee).

* Utilize the information collected through community engagement and parent partnerships to inform DCF policy and practice.

* Clearly communicate through presentations, reports and formal meetings, the community’s thoughts, ideas and challenges to other representatives from offices within DCF.

* Team with offices within DCF to advocate for the needs of the community that will achieve long term sustainable outcomes.

* Incorporate ideals that reflect the community’s culture and economic conditions.

* Create and implement opportunities for constituent involvement in systems review processes Develop peer support with an ultimate goal of helping constituents master self-advocacy skills.

* Benchmark similar efforts across the United States to inform NJ’s work in incorporating the perspective of those with lived experience in the work of the department.

* Scan and evaluate strengths and areas in need of improvement related to organization and incorporation of constituents with lived experience, within DCF and its service network.

* Successfully manage internal and external relationships to further the work in the portfolio.

* Develop and support staff with lived experience in the Office of Family Voice.

REQUIREMENTS

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.

EXPERIENCE: At least six (6) years of social service experience which should include substantive experience in the management and leadership of social service programs, three (3) years which shall have involved management responsibilities, including personnel and supervision, policy, budget and fiscal accountability and oversight.

RESUME NOTE: Eligibility determinations will be based upon information presented on the resume only. Applicants who possess a degree from a college or university outside the United States must provide an evaluation of one’s transcripts from a recognized evaluation service at the time of submission by the above closing date. Failure to do so may result in your ineligibility.

RESIDENCY LAW: Please refer to the New Jersey Department of Children and Families’ website at www.state.nj.us/dcf.

COVID-19 VACCINATION/TESTING REQUIREMENT: Per Executive Order 253, all State employees are required to be vaccinated by October 18, 2021 or undergo frequent testing. Please do not submit your vaccination card at this time.

LICENSE: Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.

SALARY: Commensurate with education and experience.

TO APPLY: You must submit a cover letter and resume as a single PDF document, saving the file by your Last Name, First Name to: Job.Posting@dcf.nj.gov

The Department of Children and Families is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and is committed to fostering a respectful and inclusive work environment which reflects the diversity of the state we serve.