Clark County Department of Job and Family Services Director

Key Position Employment Opportunity

Clark County is the 21st largest of 88 counties in the State of Ohio. We are a resurgent, vibrant community with a mix of rural and urban areas.

Clark County is seeking a strategic thinker, emotionally intelligent, empathetic, confident, intuitive, authentic, and qualified individual to lead the Clark County Department of Job and Family Services (CCDJFS), a quadruple combined agency. While this visible position operates under the control and direction of the County Administrator, the Director shall oversee the operations of the entire department, including the County’s Child Support Services, Family and Children Services, Public Assistance, and Workforce Development programs. Other responsibilities include oversight of an operating budget of approximately $50 million. This position is a co-appointing authority with the County Administrator. The incumbent is expected to maintain professionalism and respect for all customers, staff, elected and appointed officials, members of the non-profit, business, federal, state and local community.

This position is responsible for the development, implementation and monitoring of all policies and procedures of the agency, ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local regulations and guidelines.  The position has the responsibility for maintaining all agency programs and activities.  In addition, the position provides indirect supervision to all agency employees.

• Demonstrates a comprehensive and professional knowledge of public administration, government structure and processes, employee and public relations and departmental practices and procedures.
• Oversees all agency functions and has responsibility for maintaining all agency programs and activities.  Major programs are Income Maintenance (BenefitsPlus), OhioMeansJobs, Family and Children Services, Child Support Enforcement, Contracts, Business Administration, Maintenance, and Management Information Systems.
• Personnel management including indirect supervision of all agency employees. Determines need for new staff members and informs County Administrator of need. Interviews applicants for key positions within department and makes recommendations to the County Administrator for the hiring of new employees; initiates actions for the termination of employees. Disciplines subordinates, when necessary. Reviews, approves, or denies employee requests for leave. Completes performance evaluation of subordinates’ work. Negotiates union agreements. Conducts staff meetings. Meets with staff regarding grievances.
• Performs and/or oversees fiscal duties for the entire agency.  Ensures contracts are administered appropriately.
• Conducts and attends meetings and training sessions. Maintains current knowledge of trends and swiftly adapts to changing needs as necessary without being alarmist or overreactive.
• Performs public relations duties, representing entire agency in front of local, state and federal representatives.  Resolves complaints when necessary; meets with County leadership team and advisory boards to apprise of operations; attends meetings and seminars; conducts sessions and presents testimony before legislature when necessary.
• Maintain confidentiality as appropriate.
• Works independently under pressure to achieve goals while creating a supportive work environment that encourages self-motivation and teamwork amongst subordinates.
• Regular and predictable attendance. May work outside typical work hours as needed.
• Performs typing, word processing, creates spreadsheets and using other agency related software.
• Regular and frequent communication with County Administrator and other key personnel.
• Completes other assigned duties.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities – Major Characteristics

Knowledge of: Office practices and procedures, administrative practices, personnel practices, supervisory practices, Ohio Revised and Ohio Administrative Codes applicable to knowledge needed to perform in position, The Americans with Disabilities Act, The Civil Rights Amendment, other federal, state and local laws pertaining to position, training and development, contracts and negotiations, agency and county computer systems, agency, county, and state records management, safety practices (PERRP), interviewing principles, disciplinary practices and procedures, administrative practices regarding fiscal control activities, compensation issues, fiscal management, budgeting procedures, forecasting, social welfare issues,  rules and purposes of major programs administered by agency, understanding and applicability of laws and regulations related to public assistance, welfare and related fields.

Skill In: Reading comprehension, oral communication, ability to take complex concepts and explain them in simplified ways, organization, training, delegating, interviewing, supervising, writing, presentations, public relations, public speaking, working with elected and appointed officials.

Ability to: Handle problems involving varied and unrelated processes and methods; supervise, delegate and monitor the work of different supervisors and staff; discipline and/or recommend discipline of employees in a fair and equitable manner in accordance with personnel rules and collective bargaining agreement; interview and select new employees; develop and train staff; research new information and update staff; give technical advice to subordinates; perform intermediate mathematical operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication and division of fractions, decimals, and percentages); maintain accurate records; monitor the work of others; assign and explain work to others; explain legal or technical issues to others; explain procedures, or situations to others; resolve a wide range of problems; extract information from various sources; carry out complex assignments, operations, and procedures; handle problems involving varied and unrelated processes and methods; interpret policies and procedures; listen for problems or issues and provide responses or explanations; coordinate the actions of others; negotiate with others; maintain accurate records; interview others; work on multiple tasks/projects; recognize errors in the work of others; determine staffing levels for agency divisions; establish standards of performance for staff; develop work policy for units.

Minimum Qualifications

Possession of a Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university in Business Administration, Public Administration, Human Resources, Finance or other Human Services related program such as Psychology, Sociology, or Social Work; five (5) or more years of related administrative or managerial work experience to include responsibility for managing the fiscal aspects of organization, agency, programs or operational areas and assisting in developing and implementing policies, programs, laws, rules and/or regulations.  At least two (2) of the five (5) years must have been as a supervisor over subordinate staff and/or contractors.

Alternatively, three (3) courses or eighteen (18) months experience in business administration and/or public administration, one (1) course or six (6) months of experience in accounting or finance, two (2) courses or twelve (12) months of experience in social welfare, one (1) course or six (6) months of experience in human resources management, and one (1) course or six (6) months experience in written communication for business.  Also requires five (5) years of administrative/managerial experience to include responsibility for managing the fiscal aspects of an organization, agency, program or operational area and assisting in developing and implementing policies, programs, laws, rules and/or regulations.  At least two (2) of the five (5) years must have been as a supervisor over subordinate staff and/or contractors.

A well-qualified applicant will have a combination of education, training and/or experience in an amount equal to the minimum qualifications stated above as well as the experience with the duties, knowledge, skills and abilities noted.

Unusual Working Conditions

The position requires no unusual physical effort. The incumbent may be occasionally required to lift up to 25 pounds. The work is mostly sedentary and requires some manual dexterity and visual acuity. Excellent communication and comprehension skills are necessary. The position involves very limited probability of an injury, but minor risks of injuries involving an office setting, such as tripping and falling exist. The incumbent may occasionally interact with angry or hostile clients.

The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.

Expression of Interest

Please submit a cover letter, resume and application to [email protected] or via USPS addressed to CCDJFS Director Search Committee, 3130 E. Main St., 3rd Floor, Springfield, Ohio 45503. Please outline all relevant experience, knowledge, skills and abilities. This is a full-time, unclassified, exempt position with a salary range of $125,000 – $155,000 annually, depending on qualifications.

The first review of candidates begins May 30, 2025.

Clark County provides all services, activities, programs, and employment opportunities without discrimination based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, age (over 40), pregnancy, disability, veteran’s or military status, in accordance with all applicable laws.  Upon request, Clark County will consider and offer reasonable accommodation for any qualified individual with a disability needed to allow that individual to participate in services provided by the County, including the application and screening process.