Wabasha County Human Services Director

PURPOSE OF POSITION:

The purpose of this position is to administer an income maintenance and social service program under the administrative supervision of the County Board and Human Services Board and the technical supervision of the State Department of Human Services; supervise professional, support and clerical staff; participate with the community in developing and administering programs; is responsible for providing reports required by county, state, and federal laws; to develop and implement agency goals, programs, plans and schedules; to develop and administer the agency budget;  to assist the Board in formulating plans, programs, and policies; to assign work and supervise subordinate personnel; to select, evaluate, and train subordinate personnel; to communicate and coordinate with the public and outside agencies; to develop, apply, and enforce policies, procedures, and work-related behaviors; to communicate and coordinate with other counties, AMC, professional groups, and State departments and perform related work as required.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Policy Development

·Conduct weekly supervisory staff meetings on assessing, establishing and implementing Agency policy.

·Consult with individual supervisors on policy needs and implementation.

·Meet as needed with County Board and Human Services Board to recommend policy changes requiring Board approval.

·Meet with community organizations and advisory committees to assess community needs.

·Meet at regional and state level with other agency Directors to discuss implementation and effect of State policy changes.

Community Resource Management

·Meet with a variety of public citizens to discuss community needs and problems.

·Attend meetings with managers of related agencies to discuss, plan and/or develop community resources including the Regional Directors meetings.

·See to the establishment of, and monitor, several large and small contracts for services annually. 

Agency and Personnel Management

·Facilitate the smooth and orderly operation of the agency in order to achieve the goals of providing services to clients in an efficient manner.

·See to the selection, training, retention, and overall well-being of all staff.

·Train, supervise and consult with all supervisors within the agency.

·Assign jobs and duties to appropriate staff.

·Obtain necessary equipment and supplies.

·Hold management team meetings as needed.

• Maintain staff performance for compliance with state and local policies.
• Perform supervisory performance appraisals and review/sign off on all performance appraisals.
• Organize and assign staff in the most efficient manner.

Executive and Administrative Duties

·Meet with and act for the Wabasha County Human Services Board in order to carry out policy decisions.

·Research and study items prior to Board meetings.

·Act for and respond for the Board, write letters, arrange meetings, attend meetings, conduct meetings, prepare plans, etc.

·Represent the Board and Agency at various meetings.

·Correspond with State Agencies, other agencies, and Legislators concerning various policy, programs or consumer matters.

·Be a liaison between the Board, and the staff in matters as it affects their duties.

• Confer with County Attorney regarding problems confronting the agency or Human Services Board Attend county, regional, and state meetings that relate to Human/Social service issues.
• Attend appropriate seminars, workshops and conferences.

Financial Management

·Direct the preparation of, and present the annual budget request to the County Board and Human Services

·Board.

·Meet with appropriate accounting and supervisory personnel to plan and prepare budget.

·Present the annual budget to the Human Services Board and answer questions and make adjustments where necessary.

·Present the approved Human Services Budget to the Wabasha County Board of Commissioners.  Answer questions and make adjustments where necessary.

·Direct the monitoring and assessment of the agency budget during the year to assure that expenditures are within tolerance; report to the Board monthly.

·Review expenditures, develop, recommend and implement spending methods to insure the largest amount of Federal and/or State Financial Participation.

·Monthly, review and analyze agency financial report and submit to Human Services Board.

MINIMUM TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

Minimum of a high school degree, or equivalent, and a Bachelor's degree in social work, psychology, sociology, or related field and four years of supervisory experience in a public or private social services agency involving supervision of income maintenance or social services programs or fiscal operations, or a Bachelor's degree in social work, psychology, sociology, or related field and six years of professional or technical experience in a county social services agency performing work according to complex federal/state regulations in income maintenance/social services programs, or fiscal operations; e.g., at the level of Social Worker, Financial Worker, Fiscal Officer. A master's degree in social work, public administration or related field may be substituted for one year of the supervisory experience or two years of the professional or technical experience requirement as specified herein.

Regular and reliable attendance is a necessary component of job/position. Individuals are required to use County vehicles and equipment must have a valid driver’s license and be free of any major traffic violations.

MINIMUM ABILITIES REQUIRED:

·Knowledge of:  state and federal laws and regulations relating to human services.

·Knowledge of principles and practices of public administration.

·Knowledge of the principles and practices of social services/human services administration.

·Knowledge of organizational theory and effective management practice.

·Knowledge of organization and functions of federal, state and local agencies in the human services fields.

·Knowledge of community structure and resources including those aspects of political, economic and social activities capable of lending support to human services programs.

·Knowledge of  public budgeting, accounting, and programming.

·Thorough knowledge of the principles of social work.

·Knowledge of social-economic conditions in rural and urban areas.   

·Ability to: develop and implement short and long-range administrative objectives.

·Ability to plan and organize work effectively by function.

·Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with other county officials, employees, professional societies, civic and community groups and the general public.

·Ability to work with others in a consulting capacity.

·Ability to write and speak effectively on human services subjects and all aspects of the programs.

·Ability to manage and supervise subordinates in a wide variety of tasks and services.

·Ability to plan and organize work effectively.

·Ability to establish and maintain good working relationships with staff, citizens, and community officials.

·Ability to make sound decisions.

·Ability to formulate new methods and techniques to meet changing needs

·Ability to persuade or influence people in favor of specific actions, changes in attitude, or insights.·

Physical Requirements:

The work is sedentary.  Typically, the employee may sit comfortably to do the work.  However, there may be some walking, standing, bending, carrying of light items such as papers, books, and files.  The work may require on-site inspections, so the ability to drive an automobile is required.  Otherwise, no special physical demands are required to perform the work.

Licensing Requirements:

Valid driver’s license.

Language Ability and Interpersonal Communication:

Must be able to communicate effectively in writing and orally, with a wide variety of county personnel, personnel in other governmental and private organizations and the public. 

Supervision of Others:

Direct supervision of four social services supervisors.  Indirect supervision of a 34 member team.

Confidentiality:

Incumbent has access to, and deals with, a great deal of confidential data pertaining to clients.

Consequences of Error:

Errors could potentially lead to substantial monetary loss to the County, as well as resulting in potential embarrassment to the County and inconvenience and monetary loss to clients and their families.

Behavior Standard:

Maintain a positive work atmosphere by acting and communicating in a manner so that you get along with clients, co-workers, and management.