ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL SERVICES (Child Welfare) - 40001290 (Durham, NC, US, 27701)

Join Durham County Government
Durham County Government is home to over 2,000 dedicated professionals working together to deliver essential services that strengthen and support our vibrant, diverse community. As the heart of a fast-growing region, we offer meaningful careers across a wide range of fields—giving you the opportunity to make a real impact where you live, work, grow, and play. Learn more at www.dconc.gov.

DEPARTMENT:	SOCIAL SERVICES (DSS)
DATE POSTED:	JANUARY 29, 2026
CLOSING DATE:	FEBRUARY 9, 2026
HIRING RANGE:	$99,430.00 - $134,170.00
POSITION NUMBER:	40001290
JOB TYPE:	FULL-TIME, EXEMPT

 

 

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

 

This position serves as one of two Assistant Directors responsible for overseeing and leading the Child & Family Services Division. The purpose of the division is protection, safety and well-being of vulnerable children. Families and children served in this Division receive mandated services through Child Protective Services Investigative Assessments, Child Protective Services In-Home/Prevention, Child Placement/ Permanence, LINKS and Foster Care 18-21 program. This position will have assigned programmatic and administrative focus areas but will also be knowledgeable in all areas of services provided in the division. 

The following outcomes are viewed as critical for this position: Ensuring documentation across the division is accurate and timely, evaluating quality of services to ensure compliance with standards, development of a service delivery process that provides ease of client access and flow; attainment of child protection outcomes; compliance with Federal, State and County programmatic policies, procedures, rules and regulations; program credibility and accountability to all stakeholders, including citizens and elected officials; and effective/efficient use of resources. 

This position, under the general direction of the Deputy Social Services Director, plans, organizes, and collaborates with the Assistant Director of Finance regarding budgetary operations of the division, including strategic planning and organizational development. In the absence of the Director and/or Deputy Director, this position can serve as the “acting” Director. Examples of actions this employee may take include decisions related to financial matters, personnel, guardianship responsibilities and service provision. These responsibilities also include representing the Department, on behalf of the Director and Deputy Director, in public presentations, meetings with public/elected officials, and in matters relating to consumer information and complaints. The Director and/or Deputy Director, on occasion, also assigns special projects to this position that may involve acting as his representative in collaborative projects with other community agency administrators, central county government administrators, and elected officials. This position also serves as the point of contact for the Emergency Special Needs Medical Shelter with the responsibility of ensuring it’s staffed as needed.

 

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

 

The functions listed below are those that represent the majority of the time spent working in this position. Management may assign additional functions related to the type of work of the position as necessary.

 

• Assist with the development of an overall strategic plan for the Child & Family Services Division.
• Ongoing collection of data and statistical analysis
• Work collaboratively with the DSS Board, County Commissioners, funders and other community service providers to obtain needed client resources and services where they do not exist or are inadequate.
• Developing and implementing plans to ensure adequate staff resources are in place with respect to staffing levels and competencies.
• Community collaboration
• Establish and maintain open lines of communication with all community agencies that provide or refer to services to protect vulnerable children and their families.
• Identify and implement creative strategies to ensure the highest level of interagency cooperation,
• Direct the work of the division primarily through oversight of the two program managers.
• Make recommendations to the DSS Director regarding needed organizational changes (policies, procedures, workflow, programmatic) that will improve the overall functioning of the Division.
• Ensues program credibility and accountability to all stakeholders including citizens and elected officials.
• Design and implement techniques to ensure progress toward objectives, both in the programmatic and operational areas
• Using a system of formal and informal reporting, this position assesses progress, determines causes for significant deviations from planned objectives and implements strategies to correct identified problems.
• This position conducts performance appraisals, including development of individualized work plans 
• This position, in consultation and collaboration with the section managers, develops strategies to promote and maintain positive staff relations, including productive work teams.
• Other duties as assigned

 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

 

• Thorough knowledge of methods and principles of casework supervision and training.
• Thorough knowledge of social work principles, techniques and practices and applications to casework and community problems.
• Considerable knowledge of social and economic factors in the community, and local agencies and resources.
• Considerable knowledge of the laws, regulations and policies which govern social services programs.
• Considerable knowledge of the principles and techniques of public administration, including personnel administration, budgeting and office management.
• Skill in directing a large staff of social workers and supervisors and related professionals and students engaged in a variety of services 

 

MINIMUM EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:

 

Master's degree from an accredited school of social work and four years of social work or counseling experience, two of which were supervisory; or bachelor's degree in social work and five years of social work or counseling experience, two of which were supervisory; or bachelor's degree in a human services field or related curriculum including at least 15 semester hours in courses related to social work or counseling and six years of social work or counseling experience, two of which were supervisory; or an equivalent combination of training and experience 

 

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT COMPLIANCE:

Durham County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. ADA requires Durham County to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities. Prospective and current employees are encouraged to discuss ADA accommodations with management. 

 

BACKGROUND CHECK STATEMENT:

This position may be subject to a background check, which could include, but is not limited to, criminal history (employment-related and/or SBI fingerprint-based), credit history, motor vehicle records, educational verification, and checks of the sexual offender registry, depending on the specific requirements of the role. A conviction record does not automatically disqualify an applicant from employment consideration, unless otherwise required by applicable state law.

Durham County Government. State of North Carolina Durham County is consistently ranked as one of the top places in the nation to live and do business. Durham County was establised in 1881. Durham County elects five County Commissioners by a partisan,countywide vote to serve four year terms. Durham County is managed by a professional County Manager who serves at the pleasure of the Board.