Title: Division Director (Office of Continuous Quality Improvement) #W5130
State Role Title: Policy & Planning Specialist IV
Hiring Range: $110,000 - $130,000/yr.
Pay Band: 7
Agency: Department of Social Services
Location: DSS HOME OFFICE
Agency Website: www.dss.virginia.gov
Recruitment Type: General Public - G
Job Duties
At the Virginia Department of Social Services, we put people at the center of everything we do. We believe that every Virginian can live a life of dignity and that all voices, ideas and experiences contribute greatly to our pursuit of excellence. Inspired by continuous improvement, we commit ourselves to listening, learning and cultivating environments of trust, respect and positive engagement. Together, we are mission-driven, eager to achieve, and passionate about bringing the best of who we are to those we serve.
We design and deliver high-quality human services that help Virginians achieve safety, independence and overall well-being. We are a $2 billion agency – one of the largest in the Commonwealth of Virginia – partnering with 120 local departments of social services and 31 community action agencies, along with faith-based and non-profit organizations, to promote the well-being of children, adults, and families statewide. We proudly serve alongside 1,650 (state) and 12,200 (local) human services professionals throughout the Social Services System, who ensure that thousands of Virginia’s most vulnerable citizens have easy access to the services and benefits available to them.
In addition to a rewarding work experience, VDSS offers excellent health and life insurance benefits, pre-tax spending accounts, state funded Short and Long Term Disability, paid holidays, vacation, tuition assistance, free wellness programs, and a state retirement plan with options for tax-deferred retirement savings including employer matching – Employee Benefits.
The Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) is currently seeking a Division Director in our Office of Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI). The CQI Director reports to the Deputy Commissioner of Human Services. The position is responsible for designing, implementing, and embedding continuous quality improvement across all human services Divisions within the Department.
This position manages a team of employees and is required to work collaboratively across Divisions, with local departments of social services, and other state agency and stakeholder leadership to institute comprehensive and aligned programming to ensure outcomes are met and exceeded.
The CQI Director is responsible for planning and implementing process improvements independently and in cross-functional teams to improve customer service, program and operational efficiency, and effectiveness while promoting the mission, vision, values and goals of the Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS). This position maximizes the effective and efficient use of resources and methods through which data driven improvements across all services, programs, fiscal, training and workforce systems can occur, in collaboration and direct partnership with State and local leaders.
Minimum Qualifications
- Knowledge and experience leading and managing teams.
- Experience in quality improvement initiatives, preferably within a human services environment.
- Considerable experience in data collection, analysis, and presentation.
- Project management and/or business process reengineering experience.
- Knowledge of the operations and workings of the Commonwealth’s state supervised, locally administered social services system.
- Excellent leadership and interpersonal skills, including negotiating and influencing across state functions and with local partners.
- Excellent team management and supervisory skillsets.
- Strong relationship management skills; able to develop credibility with people at all organizational levels and have a strong executive presence.
- Ability to integrate team practices and communication channels across state and local program administration, to shape optimal management practice.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, and facilitation and presentation skills.
- Ability to plan and implement process improvements independently and as a team member to improve customer service, program and operational efficiency, and effectiveness.
- Ability to lead change initiatives, cross-functional teams and projects.
- Skill in analyzing complex problems, collecting and analyzing qualitative and quantitative data and assessing current business processes, practices and procedures to identify gaps, reaching logical solutions and working with stakeholders to implement change.
- Ability to identify training needs, engage and lead stakeholders and others to develop and deliver curriculum to address the needs.
- Skill in the use of software applications including Microsoft Office Suite and project management tools.
Key competencies:
Effective Communication – Effectively corresponds in verbal and non-verbal ways with emotional intelligence that gets the messages across and has the desired effects.
- Treats others with respect.
- Acts in an honest and trustworthy manner.
- Uses judgement to resolve conflict in a positive way.
- Maintains confidentiality.
- Expresses facts and thoughts verbally and in writing in a clear and organized way.
- Listens to and recognizes the needs, feelings and opinions of others.
Driving Results – Sets goals and works steadfastly to achieve them.
- Pursues work with positive energy, drive and a need for completion.
- Produces quality results that are timely, accurate and complete.
- Adapts to varying work situations and is flexible in approach to resolving challenges.
- Takes initiative with a clear business purpose in mind.
- Continually demonstrates improvement in a variety of processes and attains identified goals and positive results within the context of CQI.
Problem Solving – Builds a logical approach to address issues or opportunities or, to manage the situation at hand by drawing on one’s knowledge and experience base, and calling on other references and resources as necessary.
- Employs a methodical step-by-step approach to break down complex problems into single and, manageable components and solves them quickly and effectively.
- Compiles several possible explanations or alternatives for a situation and anticipates potential obstacles and develops contingency plans to overcome them.
- Presents problem analysis and recommended solution to others rather than just identifying or describing the problem itself.
- Acknowledges when one doesn’t know something and conducts research to follow up.
- Looks beyond the obvious and probes all sources for answers.
Establishing Focus
- Develops and communicate goals, ensuring employees understand how their work aligns to the organization’s mission and goals
Develop Others
- Delegates responsibility and provides people with the opportunity to develop new skills, strengthen areas needing improvement, carry out challenging assignments, and accept new responsibilities. Empowers others by conveying confidence in others’ ability to be successful
Drive for Results
- Communicates business goals, outcomes and performance measures, and clarify priorities. Translates ideas into actions and looks for ways to quickly overcome barriers.
Build Coalitions
- Recognizes the interests of other parts of the organization and establishes alliances to achieve business goals.
Foster Innovation
- Fosters a climate that encourages creativity and innovation, while building and maintaining open channels of communications for the sharing of ideas, new and improved methods, products, procedures, or technologies
Lead Change
- Demonstrates support for innovation and for organizational changes needed to improve the organization’s effectiveness, by initiating, sponsoring and implementing them.
Additional Considerations
- Leadership experience in a state or local human services environment.
Special Instructions
You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.
Selected candidate(s) must successfully pass a fingerprint-based criminal history background check. A record of criminal history does not automatically bar an applicant from consideration. Employment verification will be conducted to include current/previous supervisory employment reference checks.
VDSS will record information from each new employee’s Form I-9 (Employment Eligibility Verification) into the Federal E-Verify system to confirm identity and work authorization.
Selected candidate may be required to assist the agency or state government generally in the event of an emergency declaration by the Governor.
Frequent in-state, overnight travel may be required. Selected candidate(s) may be required to use their personal vehicle or state vehicle as available for business use.
To be considered for this position, you must submit a Commonwealth of Virginia application or resume through the on-line “Virginia Jobs” (PageUp) employment site no later than 11:55 p.m. on the closing date listed. Each application is reviewed for documentation that shows the applicant meets the minimum and additional considerations as stated in the job announcement. The decision to interview an applicant is based on the information provided. Multiple positions may be filled from this recruitment within 90 days of the closing date.
The Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages diversity within its workforce.
VDSS does not provide sponsorship.
VDSS is an official certified state agency that values the service and experience of our Veterans. As such, Veterans are encouraged to apply and receive preference in the hiring process. AmeriCorps, Peace Corps and other national service alumni also are encouraged to apply. Reasonable accommodations are available to applicants, if requested, during the application and/or interview process.
If you have been affected by Policy 1.30 Layoff as a state employee and possess a valid Interagency Placement Screening Form (Yellow Form) or a Preferential Hiring Card (Blue Card), you must submit this document through the “Virginia Jobs” (PageUp) employment site when you apply.
Contact Information
Name: VDSS - Division of Human Resources
Phone: dssrecruitment@dss.virginia.gov
Email: dssrecruitment@dss.virginia.gov
In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.
Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.