Follow Your Calling, Find Your Career!!
Salary Range: $163,602.00 to $245,403.00 per year. This is an exempt (salaried) position.
Pay rates are based on education, skill, experience level and internal equity. Internal equity considerations include an assessment of the applicant’s salary history and qualifications in comparison to the market rate and requirements for the job.
At Mecklenburg County, you’ll have the chance to build a career as unique as you are with support, inclusive culture, and technology to become the best version of you. We’re counting on YOUR unique voice and perspective to help Mecklenburg County become even better, too. Join us and build an exceptional experience for yourself, and a better working world for all.
The Mecklenburg County Department of Child, Family, & Adult Services (CFAS) strives to strengthen families and communities through a safety-net of services, collaborations, and hope. Our vision is to define and cultivate an organizational culture that is more compassionate and understanding toward each other and our clients.
Position Specific Information
Position will primarily be responsible for the Youth & Family Services (YFS) division, a part of the Child, Family, & Adult Services Department – Department of Social Services.
Desired candidate will:
- Be a mission-driven, service centered leader who builds momentum through strategic vision and collaborative partnership.
- Demonstrate success in shaping and implementing culture strategies that deepen connection to the department’s vision.
- Lead strategic planning efforts that translate departmental goals into actionable short-term priorities and long-range initiatives.
- Be experienced in identifying emerging risks and applying innovative, practical solutions that enhance performance and operational stability.
- Be highly knowledgeable in human services policies and regulations, with the ability to apply them strategically across Youth and Family Services programs.
- Thrive in building trusted partnerships with public officials, community organizations, customers, and government leaders to advance shared priorities.
- Excel in collaborative, forward-thinking environments that encourage creativity, innovation, and shared problem-solving.
- Maximize services and outcomes through sharp business acumen and strategic operational insight.
- Maintain composure and clarity under pressure, build trust-centered relationships, strengthen collaboration, and champions employees as key drivers of the organization’s impact.
- Be experienced in guiding teams through change with clarity, diplomacy, and a strong foundation of trust.
- Focus on aligning services and optimizing processes to deliver streamlined, high-quality results for the community.
- Demonstrate exceptional communication skills that are easily understood by frontline staff, supervisors, and executive leadership alike.
- Lead with openness and clarity, ensuring employees stay informed and experience genuine inclusion in organizational decisions.
Position Summary
The Deputy Director assists the department director by performing complex professional and administrative work supporting and directing Youth and Family Services (YFS) programs for the County. The Deputy Director is responsible for the delivery of services which address the changing demands and needs of client populations. This position is responsible for internal operations including personnel, space, logistics of major events, policy development, assuring compliance with regulations and assuring services are properly provided on a daily basis. The Deputy Director position requires collaborative work both internally within the County and externally with system partners to improve outcomes for families, children, and adults. Deputy Director must also keep abreast of best practices in the field, state and national trends and changes in policies and practices in the child welfare space within the state and nationally. The Deputy Director helps lead the Senior Executive Team and works in partnerships with other members to provide leadership and strategic planning for the department. This position serves on various committees, workgroups and initiatives both internally and externally.
Essential Functions
- Provides oversight and direction for internal operations, serving as second-in-command with full-line authority to ensure organizational alignment and performance
- Directs YFS operational functions, ensuring decisions and activities align with and advance the department’s core service mission
- Communicates effectively through speeches, written publications, and presentations at meetings or conventions to inform stakeholders and support departmental priorities
- Direct the planning process and develop and participate in strategic planning, budget requests and expenditure monitoring
- Support staff and evaluate program effectiveness, prioritize issues and objects, create community resources and integrates services and partnerships
- Prepare or present reports concerning activities, expenses, budgets, government statutes or rulings, or other items affecting businesses or program services
- Set the climate on issues related to state politics and policies; lead policy making efforts
- Establish departmental responsibilities and coordinates functions among divisions and worksites
- Develop and recommend changes to the annual budget; managing departmental resources
- Support and assist with departmental operational and strategic plan
- Interpret and explain policies, rules, regulations, or laws to organizations, government or corporate officials, or individuals
- Serve as liaisons between organizations, stakeholders, and outside organizations
- Review reports submitted by staff members to recommend approval or to suggest changes
- Serve as staff at disaster shelters; assist in coordinating shelter operations during emergency situations
- Address program specific issues with community-based groups and county leadership
- Serve as the Department representative on boards, commissions, committees, and convenings at the local, state and national levels
- Listen to appeals from family members and advocates and researches and investigates claims
- Provide information to the public regarding programs, public concerns and services
- Ensure Federal, state and local policy, rules and regulations are followed
- Represent Department County-wide and to Commissioners
- Integrates and coordinates service areas
- Serves as Department liaison, both internally and externally between organizations, shareholders, and outside organizations
Monitors Department resources
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Minimum Qualifications
Experience: Minimum of eight years of progressively responsible experience in human services and two years of supervisory experience.
Education: Bachelor’s degree in human services, Social Work, Business Administration, or Public Administration.
Combination of relevant education and relevant experience accepted? Yes
Licenses and Certifications:
Requires a valid North Carolina and South Carolina Driver's License
May require County Driving Privileges
Preferred Qualifications
- Master's degree strongly preferred to support the strategic, operational, and leadership responsibilities of the role.
- Demonstrated experience in a North Carolina DSS setting or equivalent environment with similar regulatory and operational demands.
- Over two years of executive experience in child welfare, directing services, staff, and policy implementation.
Highly knowledgeable in all child welfare program areas, ensuring alignment with state and federal standards.
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Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Knowledge of
- Business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources
- Principles and processes for providing customer services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction
- The structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar
- Laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, and agency rules, and the political climate
Skills
- Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one
- Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions
- Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems
- Talking to others to convey information effectively
- Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions
Abilities
- Building Strategic Work Relationships: Developing and using collaborative relationships to facilitate the accomplishment of work goals
- Aligning Performance for Success: Focusing and guiding others in accomplishing work objectives
- Strategic Decision Making: Obtaining information and identifying key issues and relationships relevant to achieving a long-range goal or vision; committing to a course of action to accomplish a long-range goal or vision after developing alternatives based on logical assumptions, facts, available resources, constraints, and organizational values
- Formal Presentations: Presenting ideas effectively to individuals or groups; delivering presentations suited to the characteristics and needs of the audience
- Leading through Vision and Values: Keeping the organization’s vision and values at the forefront of associate decision making and action
- Initiating Action: Taking prompt action to accomplish objectives; taking action to achieve goals beyond what is required; being proactive
Computer Skills
Proficient in various computer programs including Microsoft Office Suite
Work Environment
Works in an office setting with moderate noise
Reasonable Accommodations Statement
To accomplish this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform, with or without reasonable accommodation, each essential function satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodation may be made to help enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Disclaimer Statement
This is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of job-related responsibilities, duties, skills, requirements or working conditions. Other duties may be assigned based on business need and the supervisor’s request. Mecklenburg County reserves the right to revise the job description at any time. Designated positions may be required to assist in emergencies and/or disaster situations.
