Director of Preventive Services

The Director of Preventive Services provides strategic, operational, and administrative leadership for the agency’s preventive service continuum and contractual partnerships with local Departments of Social Services (DSS) and Departments of Community and Family Services (DCFS), including but not limited to Oneida County Case Planning, Kids Herkimer, and Service Provision for Individual Needs (SPIN).

This role is responsible for the overall direction, quality, compliance, performance, and sustainability of preventive programming designed to strengthen families, promote child safety and well-being, and reduce factors associated with out-of-home placements and family instability.

The Director translates agency strategy into effective program operations, ensuring high-quality, family-centered, and outcomes-driven service delivery across programs while maintaining fidelity to contractual obligations, agency mission, and evidence-informed practices. This position provides direct supervision to Program Managers and serves as an agency leader responsible for driving operational excellence, measurable outcomes, workforce development, fiscal stewardship, and strategic growth.

The Director of Preventive Services works in close partnership with the Vice President of Family Services and collaborates cross-functionally with other program and operations teams to strengthen systems, implement strategic initiatives, maintain compliance, and support agency growth while preserving a strong commitment to quality services and meaningful outcomes.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Program Oversight

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for preventive service contracts and programmatic departments, ensuring alignment with agency mission, values, strategic priorities, and long-term organizational goals. 

• Translate agency strategy into integrated program operations, workflows, and implementation priorities across preventive service areas. 

• Directly supervise, coach, and support Program Managers to ensure accountability, strong leadership, quality implementation, staff development, and consistent program performance. 

• Ensure preventive programs are implemented effectively and achieve intended outcomes while maintaining a strong commitment to family-centered, strengths-based, and trauma-informed practices. 

Contract Management, Partnerships & Community Engagement

• In partnership with VP of Family Services, serve as a liaison with local DSS/DCFS, funders, and referral partners to maintain strong, collaborative working relationships and effective contract implementation. 

• Represent the agency and department in the broader community, including coalitions, planning efforts, task forces, and interagency collaborations. 

• Ensure contractual obligations, reporting requirements, and performance expectations are achieved. 

• Support and maintain collaborative relationships with stakeholders to improve continuity of care, service access, and systems coordination. 

Data, Quality Improvement & Compliance

• Develop, monitor, and evaluate program outcomes, quality indicators, contractual deliverables, and key performance indicators (KPIs) across preventive services. 

• Utilize programmatic data analytics to identify trends, gaps, opportunities, and emerging community needs and implement strategies to improve outcomes and quality performance. 

• Maintain oversight of program compliance, incident management, quality assurance activities, documentation standards, audits, and corrective action planning in partnership with the Vice President of Family Services and Quality Improvement team. 

• Ensure adherence to agency policies, contractual requirements, and applicable local, state, and federal regulations. 

• Present program accomplishments, risks, needs, and improvement opportunities to senior leadership through data-informed reporting. 

Fiscal Stewardship & Operational Management

• Collaborate with the Vice President of Family Services and Finance Department to develop, monitor, and manage preventive services budgets and fiscal performance. 

• Monitor program expenditures, staffing patterns, contract utilization, and resource allocation to support financial sustainability and quality service delivery. 

• Participate in budget planning, contract implementation, and program sustainability efforts. 

• Make operational and staffing recommendations to maintain fiscal responsibility while achieving contractual and programmatic goals. 

Workforce Leadership, Human Resources & Culture

• Partner closely with Human Resources and VP of Family Services to support recruitment, onboarding, retention, employee engagement, workforce planning, performance management, and personnel matters. 

• Foster leadership development among Program Managers and support succession planning efforts. 

• Serve as a culture ambassador by proactively supporting, protecting, reinforcing, and modeling agency mission, values, and culture across teams and departments. 

• Promote a culture of accountability, collaboration, inclusion, professionalism, continuous improvement, and psychological safety. 

• Participate actively in agency-wide initiatives, strategic planning efforts, and cross-department collaboration to strengthen organizational alignment.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Human Services, Public Administration, Public Health, Psychology, Counseling, or related field required. 

• Minimum 5–7 years experience in child welfare, preventive services, family support, behavioral health, or related human service settings. 

• Minimum 3 years of supervisory or management experience, preferably overseeing leaders or multidisciplinary teams. 

• Experience working collaboratively with DSS, funders, county systems, and community stakeholders strongly preferred. 

• Strong strategic thinking, relationship-building, communication, organizational, and change management skills. 

• Ability to interpret and utilize data to drive decision-making and strengthen outcomes.