Director of Health & Human Services

The Director of the Department of Health and Human Services is responsible for the coordination, development, direction, implementation, and quality of the services provided by the integrated department of Health and Human Services to the County's diverse and growing population. The Director will have significant interaction with County Commissioners, the senior leadership team and other County department leaders.

The role and responsibilities of the Department Director include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Oversee the strategic direction and overall operation of the county's Health and Human Services Department, with an annual budget of $478 million and a staff of 590.
• Lead the ongoing integration of services provided within the Department and establish links with other County departments to achieve maximum coordination.
• Ensure services of Health and Human Services are accessible to county residents and delivered in a consumer-friendly, equitable, respectful, culturally appropriate and responsive manner.
• Analyze financial and service-related outcome data to ensure quality, effectiveness, and cost effectiveness of services.
• Review national, state, and local programs and service delivery models to introduce best practices and evidence-based models of care.
• Develop strategic, collaborative community partnerships and establish and maintain positive working relationships with contracted provider network to meet the mission and goals of the department.
• Ensure engagement and participation of staff, providers, other county offices and consumers in provision of services.
• Provide department-wide approaches to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion for employees and those served.
• Assume responsibility for the hiring, supervision and performance review process for administrators and other direct reports within the Department.
• Mentor and develop leadership skills among program and strategic office administrators.
• Oversee the development and execution of the Department's financial plan.
• Act as a key spokesperson for enterprise efforts within the Department.
• Lead the implementation of the Department-wide strategic plan, including creating long and short-range goals, objectives, policies, and practices.
• Work with regional and state-wide partners to better coordinate services and to share and learn best practices.
• Ensure offices comply with county, state and federal policy, procedures, and regulations.

A Department Director should possess the following qualifications, or related qualifications, at a minimum:

• Master's degree in public administration, public health, social work, or a related field is strongly preferred; Bachelor's degree in related field is required.
• Minimum of 10+ years of progressively responsible experience in health and human services, social services, or public administration experience, including at least 5 years in senior leadership or executive management roles overseeing large, complex, multi-service organizations.
• Proven ability in strategic planning, program development, budgeting, supervision, and leading diverse public sector teams with significant interaction with stakeholders, citizens, and policy makers.
• Extensive knowledge of processes, procedures and best practices related to at least one of the health and human services areas, including Pennsylvania's programs, funding streams, and requirements.
• Deep understanding of the local conditions of poverty and factors related to the social determinants of health.
• Comprehensive understanding of the diversity of needs and complexities inherent in the delivery of services within the community, as well as an understanding of the importance of facilitating collaboration with non-profit, state, and other agencies.
• Thorough knowledge of principles and best practices related to the planning, direction, and management of an organization providing a broad array of county health and human services.
• Ability to act as an effective spokesperson for the Department and County leadership within the health and human services program areas.
• Overall commitment to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion both internally and externally in service to a diverse community.
• Ability to work collaboratively with staff, other internal and external leaders, service providers and recipients, and the general public.
• Outstanding oral and written communication skills, including the ability to be effective in making presentations to the community and elected officials.

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential function. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.