Description
The Chesterfield-Colonial Heights Department of Social Services is a dynamic, mission-driven agency serving one of Virginia’s largest and most diverse communities. We are committed to strengthening families, protecting vulnerable children and adults, and delivering innovative, high-quality services that meet evolving community needs.
The Assistant Director for Family Services provides strategic, operational, and visionary leadership for all family services programs, including Child Protective Services, Foster Care, Adoption, Prevention, Adult Protective Services/Adult Services, Employment Services (VIEW), Crisis Assistance (housing, food insecurity, utility assistance) and related initiatives. This executive leader partners closely with the Director and senior leadership team to ensure regulatory compliance, advance innovation, develop the workforce, and cultivate a high-performance culture that delivers measurable outcomes for children and families. Perform other work as required.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Innovation
Lead the development and execution of a clear strategic vision for Family Services aligned with agency priorities and community needs
Champion innovation, continuous improvement, and the use of data-driven practices to improve service delivery and outcomes.
Identify emerging trends, regulatory changes, and best practices and translate them into actionable strategies.
Operational Excellence & Compliance
Ensure full compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, including Virginia Department of Social Services standards and court mandates.
Oversee quality assurance, performance management, audits, and corrective action planning.
Strengthen internal controls, policies, and procedures to promote accountability and consistency.
Workforce Development & Culture
Build, mentor, and sustain a high-performing leadership team and frontline workforce.
Develop succession plans, leadership pipelines, and targeted professional development opportunities.
Foster a culture of trust, transparency, collaboration, and results-oriented performance.
Cross-Divisional Collaboration
Partner with Benefits, Finance, Human Resources, Legal, community agencies, and other stakeholders to deliver coordinated services.
Represent the department with courts, community partners, VDSS, and regional leadership groups.
Fiscal & Resource Management
Contribute to budget planning, forecasting, and resource allocation to ensure effective use of public funds.
Monitor program expenditures, grants, and performance metrics to ensure sustainability and efficiency.
Requirements
Master's degree in social work, a behavioral science, counseling, business or public administration or related field supplemented with professional experience in social work or other human services field with some supervisory or other management work experience or any equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities required.
We’re Looking for Ideal Candidates Who Have:
Master’s degree in Social Work, Public Administration, Human Services, or a related field.
Extensive progressively responsible management experience in public social services, child welfare, or human services.
Demonstrated expertise in regulatory compliance, workforce development, and operational leadership.
Virginia Social Work License or eligibility.
Experience leading large, complex divisions in a local or state social services agency.
Or an equivalent combination of education and experience
The successful candidate will be:
A visionary leader who can balance compassion with accountability.
An innovator who thrives in complex systems and embraces continuous improvement.
A developer of people who builds strong leaders and engaged teams.
A strategic thinker with a firm grasp of compliance, performance management, and public accountability.
Current valid driver's license and good driving record required. Based on the Virginia DMV point system, record must not reflect a total of six or more demerit points within the twenty-four months preceding the anticipated hire date, or one major violation of six demerit points within the preceding thirty-six months. Out of state driving records must be obtained by applicant and presented at time of interview. Records must reflect at least three years of history and be dated within thirty days of interview date. Pre-employment drug testing, FBI criminal background check and education/degree verification required. A Chesterfield County application is also required and must be submitted online by the deadline.
