Child Welfare Services Contract Specialist

Date Posted: Sep 23, 2024

Requisition ID: 449986

Location:

Indianapolis, IN, US, 46204

Begin a fulfilling career with the State of Indiana by joining one of the largest employers in the state, offering a diverse range of opportunities across 60+ agencies. At the state, you'll find competitive compensation, a robust benefits package and a commitment to work-life balance. Most importantly, you'll have the chance to make a real and measurable impact on the lives of Hoosiers across Indiana.

At the State of Indiana, we don’t just talk about diversity and inclusion—we make it our goal to create a welcoming, accessible, and equitable workplace with a workforce that is representative of Indiana's population. As a proud equal opportunity employer, reasonable accommodations may be available to enable individuals with disabilities to complete the application and interview process as well as perform the essential functions of a role.

About the Department of Child Services:

Join a team that engages with families and children to improve lives in meaningful and significant ways. DCS engages authentically with children who are victims of abuse or neglect and strengthens families through services that focus on family support and preservation. The Department also administers family preservation and prevention services, foster care, and child support throughout the State of Indiana. You will relentlessly pursue permanency for children and families through reunification, guardianship, adoption or support youth in making a successful transition to adulthood. While this job is difficult and may have long and sometimes unconventional hours, this is more than a job—it is a calling to improve your community and neighbors. Will you join us in supporting our Mission, Vision, and Values?

Mission: The Indiana Department of Child Services leads the state’s response to allegations of child abuse and neglect and facilitates child support payments. We consider the needs and values of all we serve in our efforts to protect children while keeping families together whenever possible.

Vision: Children will live in safe, healthy and supportive families and communities.

Values: We at the Indiana Department of Child Services empower our team, in collaboration with state and local partners, to make decisions in the best interest of every child in our care by embracing:

• Child Safety

• Permanency

• Collaborative partnerships with foster and adoptive families

• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

• A culture of safety and transparency

• A commitment to continuous improvement

Role Overview:

The Child Welfare Services Contract Specialist position will serve in a lead role for all procurement processes initiated by the Child Welfare Services division. These procurement processes include community-based services, older youth services, prevention services, intensive foster care services, and other services to be determined. In addition to leading these procurements, which most often involve competitive Requests for Proposals (RFP), this position will ensure compliance with contract requirements through intentional monitoring of awarded providers. This will require regular interaction with DCS-contracted vendors as well as with other DCS divisions, most often Field Operations, Administrative Services, and Strategic Solutions and Agency Transformation (SSAT). The incumbent must have an excellent knowledge of contract procurement processes and project management and must be detail-oriented and organized. The Child Welfare Services division has a responsibility to procure and manage hundreds of critically important contracts and grants. The incumbent will report to the Assistant Deputy Director of Child Welfare Services.

Salary Statement:

The salary for this position traditionally starts at $67,314.00 but may be commensurate with education or work experience.

A Day in the Life:

The essential functions of this role are as follows:

• Establish, monitor, and implement long-range objectives and specifying the strategies, KPIs, and actions to achieve them.

• Analyze operations to evaluate performance of the specific program or its staff in meeting objectives or to determine areas of potential cost reduction, program improvement, or policy change.

• Interpret and explain in-depth and complex policies, rules, regulations, or laws to organizations, government or corporate officials, or individuals.

• Develop and implement corrective action plans to solve organizational or departmental problems.

• Prepare and present reports for approval, including those for funding or implementation of services to executive leadership.

• Develop and oversee program financial or budget activities to fund operations, maximize investments, or increase efficiency.

• Develop and monitor program requirements to ensure it meets federal and state policies and grants compliance.

• Develop and supervise training of employees and consultants on program requirements and usage.

• Develop, coordinator, and deliver communication plans and communications.

• Preside over, or serve on, boards of directors, management committees, or other governing boards.

• Recruit, select, onboard, and train employees to ensure role responsibilities and expectations are clearly understood while providing opportunities to continue professional development.

• Set expectations, measure progress, provide ongoing feedback, and evaluate the performance of employees. Ensure work adheres to quality standards, deadlines, and proper procedures.

The job profile is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Other duties, responsibilities and activities may change or be assigned at any time with or without notice.

What You'll Need for Success:

The ideal candidate in this role should minimally have either

• a Master’s Degree and 5+ years of experience, or

• a Bachelor’s Degree and 7+ years of experience, or

• an Associate’s Degree and 9+ years of experience, or

• at least 11+ years of experience applying the below, outlined knowledge, skills, and abilities in a similar role.

You must meet the following requirements to be considered for employment:

• Mastery knowledge in program subject matter obtained through experience and/or education.

• Broad knowledge of provider agencies and their programs and services.

• Broad knowledge of all source materials and references including federal and state laws governing the programs.

• Ability to adapt new statues and guidelines to create and implement new principles and policies and discern any far-reaching implications.

• Ability to present and represent the agency to both internal and external customers, the public, government officials, and other stakeholders.

• Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

• Ability to work effectively with a wide variety of stakeholders.

• Ability to analyze and prepare monthly finance and accounting reports to maintain program budget and grants.

• Ability to delegate work, set clear direction, and manage workflow.

• Ability to effectively give feedback, provide guidance or corrective action, coach, and develop employee skillsets.

Supervisory Responsibilities/Direct Reports:

This role may serve as a team lead for an assigned work group.

Benefits of Employment with the State of Indiana:

The State of Indiana offers a comprehensive benefit package for full-time employees which includes:

• Three (3) medical plan options (including RX coverage) as well as vision and dental plans

• Wellness Rewards Program: Complete wellness activities to earn gift card rewards

• Health savings account, which includes bi-weekly state contribution

• Flexible work scheduling options, including the potential for hybrid remote work for employees whose work may be performed outside state facilities

• Deferred compensation 457B account (similar to 401k plan) with employer match

• Two (2) fully-funded pension plan options

• A robust, comprehensive program of leave policies covering a variety of employee needs, including but not limited to:

• 150 hours of paid new parent leave

• Up to 15 hours of paid community service leave

• Combined 180 hours of paid vacation, personal, and sick leave time off

• 12 paid holidays, 14 on election years

• Education Reimbursement Program

• Group life insurance

• Referral Bonus program

• Employee assistance program that allows for covered behavioral health visits

• Qualified employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program

• Free Parking for most positions

• Free LinkedIn Learning access

  Equal Employment Opportunity:

  The State of Indiana is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to recruiting, selecting, developing, and promoting employees based on individual ability and job performance. Our policy is to provide equal employment opportunity to all people in all aspects of employer-employee relations without discrimination because of race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical or mental disability, or veteran status. We will comply with the spirit as well as the letter of all applicable state and federal laws.

  If you are a qualified individual with a disability and require reasonable accommodations to complete this application, you can request assistance by contacting the Indiana State Personnel Department at [email protected] .

  The State of Indiana has established a culture that welcomes equity, inclusion, and opportunity for all employees and applicants. We encourage you to apply if you feel you have the transferrable skills to be successful in this position and we look forward to reviewing your application.

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