POSTING TYPE: Open Competitive
DEPARTMENT: Employment & Economic Assistance
HOURS: Full-time
PREFERRED HIRING RANGE: $106,438.00 - $133,047.00/year
FULL SALARY RANGE: $106,438.00 - $166,309.00/year (112 Salary grade)
LOCATION: West St. Paul
UNION: None
CLOSE DATE: Applications will be accepted until the position is filled

About the Position
The Employment & Economic Assistance Deputy Director is responsible for the Child Support, Welfare Fraud, and County Fee Collections functions including direct supervision of Program Supervisors. This position works closely with the County Attorney's Office to administer the child support program. Strong leadership, decision-making, and relationship building skills are necessary to assess potential impact and formulate strategic recommendations in response to changes in legislation, funding, program policies and practices while maintaining standards within the units to meet agency objectives.

Location & Schedule
This hybrid position offers telework and in-person work at our Northern Service Center in West St Paul, MN, and department representation throughout Dakota County and the Metro area. Work is performed primarily Monday through Friday during regular business hours (8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.).

About Dakota County
Dakota County is Minnesota's third largest county and home to more than 400,000 residents. Our motto is "Be More" and we strive every day to achieve excellence in public service, with a focus on four values: Service, Integrity, People, and Innovation.

Dakota County aims to create an environment that is welcoming and inclusive of diverse people, backgrounds, and experiences. Our goal is to have a workforce that is reflective of the communities and individuals we serve. We promote an equitable and culturally aware work environment where everyone can be their authentic selves.

• Bachelor's Degree in Public Administration, Business Administration or a related Human Services field; AND
• Five years of progressive leadership experience in a Human Services Agency; AND
• Three years' experience supervising professional level staff.

These examples do not include all possible tasks in this work and do not limit the assignment of related tasks in any position of this classification. Regular attendance according to the position's management approved work schedule is required for all positions.

1. Develop and oversee the continuum of Employment and Economic Assistance services in Child Support and County Fee Collections areas.
2. Promote a diverse, inclusive, culturally competent, and respectful workplace.
3. Direct, supervise, and coach personnel.
4. Establish and actuate program philosophy, goals and objectives for the section and department.
5. Determine annual budget requests, goals, objectives, and outcomes for continuous improvement for sustaining programs throughout Dakota County.
6. Direct the provision of a staff development program that promotes quality services to the people we serve and encourages professional development.
7. Direct and coordinate all administrative and operational activities of the section and collaborates on department-wide development operation.
8. Implement and refine program processes and maintain liaisons within community agencies and organizations.
9. Analyze legislation, develop legislative proposals, and recommend changes in policies.
10. Implement standards, controls, and policies necessary for the administration of the Child Support area while maintaining program compliance standards.
11. Direct change to reduce program-related disparities and systemic barriers.
12. Assist the director in strategic planning, policy formulation and modification, budgeting, staffing, and implementation of programs by identifying and assessing strategic initiatives and providing guidance on process and methodology.
13. Assess potential impact and formulate strategic recommendations in response to changes in legislation, funding, program policies and practices.
14. Pro-actively develop in partnership with other Dakota County departments and external partners, new business models that enhance consumer access to eligibility services and improve overall outcomes for participants.
15. Develop and maintain contacts throughout County government to efficiently and effectively carry out the responsibilities of the position.
16. Represent the Department Director in Division, inter-divisional, and inter-county meetings, as assigned or requested.
17. In partnership with E&EA leadership respond to large scale challenges, e.g., COVID Pandemic.
18. Perform other duties assigned by the Department Director and maintains confidentiality of all matters requiring the Director's attention.

Following are areas of competence and knowledge, skills and abilities necessary for success in this position:

Visioning

• Ability to assist the department director in establishing and implementing the department vision.
• Ensure the vision shareable, tangible, and operational by everyone in the department.

• Ability to identify strategies for determining budget priorities based on federal, state, and local financial contributions, thoughtfully forecasts potential budget shortfalls.
• Ability to develop and implement appropriate oversight and auditing procedures to ensure adherence to fiscal policies, and problem-solves budget issues.

• Ability to ensure training plans, goals and objectives are established for direct reports and upper-level management within the department.
• Ability to identify best practice training for staff in department and participate in mentoring and peer review or coaching opportunities.
• Ability to organize, supervise, direct, train, coach, and coordinate activities of professional personnel.

• Engage in new process improvement initiatives to continually enhance the departmental operations.
• Establish measurable key outcomes for program areas in department
• Analyze data on programmatic outcomes in key identified areas of practice monthly.
• Possess strong analytical skills.

• Ability to use good judgement.
• Ability to exercise sound decisions and judgements within the framework of State, County, Division, and Department guidelines.
• Ability to apply strong analytical skills and actively use data to inform recommendations and management decisions.
• Ability to analyze complex data and identify organizational and policy problems and choose an appropriate resolution.

• Participate with staff and other managers to identify key values and shared vision as guiding principles for service implementation and operational integration.
• Leadership style is adapted to current needs of department, and is timely, responsive, and considerate to all management and staff within the department and division.
• Ability to exercise initiative and sound judgment in making decisions conforming with laws, rules, regulation and policies.
• Demonstrated ability to resolve conflict and build consensus.
• Ability to analyze complex data and identify organizational and policy problems and choose an appropriate resolution.

• Work respectfully & effectively with managers and leadership within department, division.
• Create a work environment amongst direct reporting staff that encourages and proves impactful outcomes through teamwork and supports inclusion, equity, access and diversity.
• Ability to organize, supervise, direct, train, coach, and coordinate activities of professional personnel.
• Ability to create and support effective working relationships between departments, divisions, and outside agencies.

• Ability to keep up to date with industry and regulatory changes and professional standards.
• Comprehensive knowledge of principles, techniques, practices, laws, and regulations relating to Employment and Economic Assistance and administration, as well as a broad understanding of the objectives and functions of the Child Support program.
• Considerable knowledge of legislative proceedings, statutory time deadlines, and court procedures and rules.

• Ability to distill complex information and communicate effectively to those not familiar with the subject matter.
• Skill in written and verbal communication.
• Ability to communicate with a wide variety of people, both individually and in groups.

• Comprehensive and affordable medical, dental, vision, and other benefits insurances.
• Excellent work-life balance.
• Generous paid time off (accrual rate starts at four weeks per year).
• Eleven paid holidays each year and one floating holiday.
• Pension with a generous employer contribution.
• Ability to work from home some of the time.

• You submit an online application that includes supplemental questions.
• Your application is scored based on your qualifications.
• Top scoring candidates are referred to the hiring manager for interview consideration.
• Interviews and reference checks are conducted.
• Dakota County extend a conditional offer and conducts a background check on its preferred candidate.