Director - Department of Human Service (DHS)

Washington, DC

Full Time

Department of Human Services (DHS)

Executive

POSITION: Director
OFFICE:       Department of Human Services (DHS)
OPEN:           January 13, 2025
CLOSED:      Open until filled
GRADE:        Executive Service, Grade 5 (DX-5)
SALARY:      $153,350 - $231,471

This is an Executive Service position. Selected candidate must be a District resident or establish residency within 180 days of hire.

background

The Department of Human Services is a large and complex agency providing the full range of health and social services programs for residents of the District of Columbia. The Department receives a multi-million dollar budget annually from appropriated and grant sources and its missions are carried out by more than 1700 employees. The agency is unique in that it must provide not only the usual range of municipal services, but also the health and welfare functions normally carried out at the state and county level in other jurisdictions. The development and coordination of these policy and program activities involves complex and difficult tasks requiring a high level of executive experience, skill and judgment.

POSITION CONTROLS

As the principal advisor to the Mayor, the Deputy Mayor and the City Administrator social services policies, the incumbent exercises broad latitude and authority in managing Department programs within the framework of existing legislation, laws, and policies. The Director works under the broad supervision of the Deputy Mayor for Children, Youth, Families, and Elders, who provides policy guidance and makes assignments in terms of general objectives and priorities in consultation with incumbent.

Incumbent functions with independence in accomplishing broad assignments and special projects. Recommends actions as determined appropriate based on circumstances, experience, judgement, and awareness of he positions, actions, desires and needs of the Mayor, City Administrator and Deputy Mayor. Works in close coordination with the Deputy Mayor detailing objectives outlined by the Mayor in implementing programs. Advice and recommendations are generally accepted as sound and authoritative. Performance is evaluated on the basis of overall effectiveness in assisting the Deputy Mayor to achieve desired objectives and goals. Principal guides include established policies, procedures and regulations of the District of Columbia, Mayor’s Orders, Legislations, and specific instructions from the Mayor.

These guides are rarely adequate for solving complex and unique problems. Because the work is performed under time pressures and involves unique considerations, a high degree of originality and technical judgment is exercised to develop techniques and processes to direct timely completion of work efforts.

Major duties

Incumbent provides policy leadership to assure:
- Analysis and advocacy of citizens needs in the human services field, with special attention to the needs of multi-problem families, individuals, and specifically targeted vulnerable population groups.
- Coordination of health and social services citywide, including programs within the department and those of other public and private agencies, to facilitate citizens in obtaining, (from accessible locations), the information, forms and counseling they need to participate in programs to which they are entitled.
- Continual evaluation and improvement of publicly funded programs to the end that all citizens have access to an equitable system of uniformity high quality services, and
- Maximum utilization and coordination of local, State, and Federal resources.
Administers a wide range of health and social services programs through delegation of significant management authority to the heads of five major organizational components, the Early Childcare and Education Administration, the Family Services Administration, the Income Maintenance Administration, the Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Administration, and Rehabilitation Services Administration.
Assures effective management and cost-effective use of resources throughout the Department by means of final approval on key policies and decisions (resource allocation, personnel actions, contracts, and procurement), decentralizing administrative support resources to program managers as appropriate.
Assures accountability for use of resources and far accomplishment of goals and objectives by establishing and implementing management policies, procedures, and systems.
Establishes the framework for inventory of program services including indictors that will facilitate allocation of resources based on shifting priorities and/or resources.
Advises the Mayor, City Administrator, and Deputy Mayor on all aspects of human services programs, helping to develop and implement major Mayoral policy priorities and recommending specific actions for changes in policies and procedures to assure effectively utilize of resources.
Represents the Mayor and Deputy Mayor at high-level conferences, meetings, and in matters relating to the District of Columbia human services programs. Delivers speeches, makes public appearances, and testifies before Congressional and Council Committees.
Assures compliance of health and social programs with Federal and State regulations and standards.
Maintains Federal and State required qua prevent waste and abuse in payments and billing system.
Assures a fair hearing to all DHS client services that may be aggrieved by departmental action.
Performs other related duties as assigned.

SPECIAL NOTE - SECURITY SENSITIVE
This position is deemed security sensitive. The incumbent of this position will be subject to enhanced suitability screening pursuant to Chapter 4 of DC Personnel Regulations, Suitability – Security Sensitive.

RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT

There is a legal requirement that each new appointee to the Executive Service either:

be a District of Columbia resident at the time of appointment; or
become a District resident within one hundred eighty (180) days of appointment.

The law also requires that Executive Service employees remain District residents during the duration of the individual’s appointment. Failure to remain a District resident for the duration of the appointment will result in forfeiture of employment.

If you are interested in this role, please upload your resume and answer the questionnaire. Only the candidates deemed most suited for the position based on resume will receive a call to schedule further discussion.

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