Managing Director, Child & Family Services

Casey Family Programs, an Equal Opportunity Employer, is the nation’s largest operating foundation focused on safely reducing the need for foster care and building Communities of Hope for children and families across America.  Founded in 1966, Casey Family Programs works in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, two territories, and tribal nations to influence long-lasting improvements to the safety and success of children, families and the communities where they live. Casey Family Programs values diversity, equity, inclusion, anti-racism, anti-discrimination, and respect for individuals in the workplace. We encourage candidates with diverse lived experience and perspectives to apply.

Child and Family Services (CFS) of Casey Family Programs provides direct services and tribal consultation in pursuit of Casey’s mission to provide, improve, and – ultimately prevent the need for – foster care. CFS operates nine field offices in five states and an Indian Child and Family Well-being Program office that demonstrate direct service and ICW improvement models. We share our experiences and lessons learned with jurisdictions, tribes, providers, and communities in the spirit of mutual continuous learning. Our work is community and family centered, relationship-based, participatory, and culturally responsive. We recognize the dignity and strength of every individual, family, community and culture.

Job Summary:

The Managing Director, Child and Family Services (CFS) reports to the Executive Vice President (EVP) and provides strategic and operational leadership for Casey’s direct services field offices across multiple states. Direct services field offices serve youth and families involved in the child welfare system and use that experience to demonstrate and spread strategies that improve child safety and well-being and strengthen families in partnership with state, local and Tribal child welfare systems, courts and community partners. For children served by Casey, we seek to: Keep them connected with extended family, kin and other trusted caregivers while in foster care. Improve their well-being outcomes, especially in education, employment and mental health. Ensure every child leaves foster care with a safe, supportive and permanent family through reunification with parents, kinship caregivers, guardianship or adoption.  

The Managing Director is accountable for direct services operations, community engagement, and local systems improvement efforts, and directly supervises Senior Directors who oversee field offices and provide strategic consulting, in partnership with Casey’s System Improvement team. As a member of Casey’s Operating Committee and CFS Senior Leadership Team, the Managing Director advances policy and practice excellence, strengthens partnerships with communities, jurisdictions, and constituents, and ensures operations align with Casey Family Programs’ mission, values, and transformation efforts to Building Communities of Hope. The role also helps drive achievement of the organizational objectives and outcomes related to prevention of entry into foster care, safe reduction of children and youth in foster care, permanency, and child and family well-being.

Essential Responsibilities: 

• Provides strategic leadership, vision, and direction for all aspects of CFS direct services, including staff development, service delivery, practice improvement, resource allocation, budget oversight, facilities, and crisis and risk management.
• Directly supervises Field Office Senior Directors to align workforce and other resources with CFS direct practice and organizational priorities.
• Oversee the implementation of effective practice and quality assurance standards, through supervision of Senior Directors and program reviews. Ensures field offices adhere to policies and procedures and that staff receive appropriate training, coaching, feedback, and performance evaluations to support growth and leadership development.
• Manages staffing and resource allocation across field office operations and serves as a steward of Casey’s financial resources. Manages budgets, contract negotiations, jurisdiction agreements, and related partnership issues in collaboration with Legal, and establishes and maintains relevant policies and procedures.
• Builds and maintains strategic relationships with local jurisdiction leaders, community-based organizations, providers, and other stakeholders to advance policy and practice aligned with Casey Family Programs goals. Integrates system improvement and transformation efforts to support prevention, safe reduction of youth in foster care, permanency, and child and family well-being, and ensures local work aligns with organizational objectives and public policy.
• Leads the development of CFS-wide initiatives through sponsorship and direct leadership of signature practice efforts designed to address service gaps, advance organizational goals, and support measurable results across CFS.
• Leads collaboration with Indian Child Family Well-Being Program leadership to ensure work with Tribes and with American Indian and Alaska Native youth and families is integrated and supported within field offices and local strategic consulting efforts.
• Provides senior leadership for Demonstration & Spread practice consultation, technical assistance, peer learning, and knowledge dissemination with local, regional, tribal, and state child welfare jurisdictions and private providers. Partners with Strategic Consulting Managing Directors and jurisdiction leaders to advance practice and policy improvement and to strengthen staff knowledge, skill, and expertise.
• Builds strategic partnerships and represents Casey at local, regional, and national levels to influence child welfare practice and policy.
• Serves as a strategic partner to the EVP of Child and Family Services and represents the EVP when appropriate.
• Promotes internal collaboration, communication, and innovation across Casey.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Success in this role requires the ability to communicate and work effectively across differences with diverse populations, staff, and stakeholders; work collaboratively and independently; exercise sound judgment; and demonstrate strong organizational, analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills in alignment with Casey’s values, goals, and directives.

Qualifications: 

• Master’s degree in Social Work, Human Services, Public Administration, or a related field from an accredited institution, with at least 15 years of progressive management experience in a public or private child welfare agency or other child- and family-serving system, including at least five years in senior leadership, is required.
• Demonstrated expertise in strategic planning, systems integration, systems change, community engagement, and collaborative partnership-building is required, along with an in-depth understanding of multi-state child welfare and child and family well-being systems.
• Knowledge of prevention, foster care, permanency, kinship, transition, and clinical social work services within the child welfare system is highly desirable, along with experience working across state, county, and Tribal jurisdictions.
• Proven fiscal leadership is required, including experience developing and managing complex budgets, contracts, and related resources.
• Demonstrated commitment to equity, respect for Tribal sovereignty, and respect for cultural, racial, and gender difference is required. Personal qualities should include adaptability, curiosity, collaboration, self-reflection, lifelong learning, and the ability to build effective internal and external partnerships.
• Desirable qualities include strategic thinking, strong analytical and research skills, sound judgment, and a creative, self-starting approach, along with the ability to establish and maintain positive working relationships with colleagues, senior leaders, and external partners.
• This is a regular full-time position that may require local and out-of-town travel up to 40% of the time. Driving on Casey business may require use of a personal vehicle; adherence to vehicle safety guidelines and qualification for insurance is required.
• Regular and reliable attendance is required. The role also requires the ability to work effectively in a high-pressure environment, manage stress and self-care, perform computer-based work for extended periods, lift and reach for light objects, and protect the confidentiality of sensitive information by following relevant policies and protocols.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The typical hiring range for this position in Seattle, WA is $192,100 to $226,000. Employees in this role have the potential to increase their pay up to $259,900, which is the top of the range, based on ongoing, demonstrated, and sustained performance in the role. Starting pay for this role will vary based on multiple factors, including an individual’s knowledge, skills, and experience. Pay ranges may be modified in the future.

Casey Family Programs offers comprehensive benefits including medical, dental and vision coverage, accrual of 12 days of annual leave, 12 days of sick leave,10 paid holidays per year, and each employee receives one personal holiday to use each calendar year. Employees that meet certain tenure qualifiers are eligible for up to eight weeks of parental leave for the birth or placement of a child for adoption or foster care. After the completion of 10 years of continuous, full-time regular employment, employees in good standing are permitted for a three-month sabbatical with pay. CFP also offers many opportunities for continued learning, training, and development.

This position will remain open until the needs are met and is subject to closure at any time without notice. It is to your advantage to file your application early as you will not be able to apply once the position has closed.