Dakota Central Human Service Zone - Zone Director
Serving the citizens of McLean, Mercer, Oliver and Sheridan counties
Create pathways so people can access the right service at the right time for better well-being - economic, physical and behavioral - as the Dakota Central Human Service Zone Director.
As the Dakota Central Human Service Zone (HSZ) Director for McLean, Mercer, Oliver, and Sheridan counties, you'll be focused on delivery of service and effective operations. You'll coach and lead the Child Welfare, Administrative, and Economic Assistance teams to ensure children and families in the zone are safe and secure. You will also be the acting legal custodian of children in care. You will advocate for the HSZ at the county, community, and state levels, as well as build strong partnerships with providers and service agencies. Ultimately, you'll ensure the HSZ is meeting its mission as the first contact for resources for those in need.
To thrive as the Dakota Central HSZ director, you must be a collaborator capable of smoothly navigating the layers of relationships between the public, stakeholders, county and state leaders, and 17 peers. You must be an effective manager who creates an environment where employees thrive and are held accountable. You must be committed to transparency, integrity, and accountability, even when challenged by stakeholders. In other words, you're able to explain clearly decisions made - even the unpopular ones. Finally, you must embrace challenges as opportunities to serve the public better.
To be considered for this position, you must have a bachelor's degree and six (6) years of professional work experience working in human service programs, such as Child Welfare, Economic Assistance, or Adult Services that included at least two (2) years of leadership in which you were responsible for managing, retaining, and developing team members.
Location: This role is based in Washburn, North Dakota (McLean County). To ensure reliable commute times and availability, candidates must reside within approximately 1 to 1.5 hours of Washburn, ND.
About Dakota Central Human Service Zone
The North Dakota Department of Health & Human Services, the North Dakota Association of Counties and local social services leaders worked together with the support of former Gov. Doug Burgum and state lawmakers to redesign social services to better serve North Dakotans and deliver effective services in a more efficient way. That redesign was implemented in January 2020 when the 46 individual county social service agencies became 19 Human Service Zones. These Human Service Zones serve as the first point of contact for people who need access to the foundations of well-being - economic, behavioral and physical health services. Through the Human Service Zones, North Dakotans now have the ability to go to any social service office and receive the same quality services across the state.
Dakota Central Human Service Zone serves the vibrant four-county region of Mercer, McLean, Oliver, and Sheridan - an area rich in North Dakota history, community spirit, and prairie heritage. Mercer County, established by the territorial legislature in 1874-1875 and named for early rancher William Henry Harrison Mercer, anchors the region with deep agricultural roots. To the north and east, McLean County - founded in 1883, six years before North Dakota achieved statehood, remains one of the state's largest counties by land area and home to roughly 10,000 residents. Oliver County, created in 1885 and named for legislator Harry S. Oliver, offers wide-open landscapes and close-knit rural living. Sheridan County, originally mapped in the early 1870s and named after Civil War General Philip Henry Sheridan, officially became its own county in 1909 after separating from McLean County. Together, these four counties form a region defined by strong communities, scenic Missouri River views, abundant outdoor recreation, and a shared commitment to supporting the well-being of the people who call central North Dakota home.
Guiding this work is the Dakota Central Human Service Zone Board, composed of county commissioners and residents from each member county who collaborate to provide oversight, strategic direction, and unified leadership across the zone. Their partnership ensures that services are delivered consistently, responsibly, and with a strong local voice representing the people of central North Dakota. Furthermore, Dakota Central HSZ is backed with resources from the state's largest agency - Department of Health and Human Services.
About Team ND
"Far and away the best prize life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." - Theodore Roosevelt
Application Procedures
Your resume should include information to demonstrate how you meet the minimum qualifications as posted. If the Department's Human Resource Division is unable to determine that you meet the minimum qualifications credit will not be given. All application material must be received on or before the closing date by 11:59 pm.
Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. The Department of Health & Human Services does not offer or provide sponsorships.
This employer participates in E-Verify. Please visit the following website for additional information: https://www.hhs.nd.gov/careers/e-verify
A copy of your qualifying degrees transcript and any applicable certifications or licensures must be provided at the time of an interview.
For more information about the position or if you need an accommodation, please contact:
Maurice Hardy at [email protected] or at (701) 462-3581.
Employing Unit: Dakota Central Human Service Zone
TTY Number: ND Relay Service 1-800-366-6888 (text); 1-800-366-6889 (voice)
If you are experiencing technical difficulties with the Application Process or uploading attachments, please contact [email protected] or (701)328-3290.
Equal Employment Opportunity
The State of North Dakota and this hiring agency do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity), genetics, religion, age or disability in employment or the provisions of services and complies with the provisions of the North Dakota Human Rights Act.
As an employer, the State of North Dakota prohibits smoking in all places of state employment in accordance with N.D.C.C. Sect. 23-12-10.
