Regional Director, Foster Care & Adoption

Buckner Children and Family Services Community: Domestic Foster Care & Adoption Location: Lubbock, TX
Address: 5307 W. Loop 289,Suite 202 Job Schedule: Full-Time/Onsite

The Regional Director of Foster Care & Adoption serves a strategic role at Buckner Children & Family Services to oversee and lead the operations of assigned Domestic Foster Care and Adoption locations. Develop and implement plans to meet overall goals and objectives. Demonstrate operational competence for continued program development. Ensure compliance with all contract guidelines, state licensing standards, and federal regulations as well as Buckner’s mission, vision, values, policies and procedures. Develop and manage staff and professional resources to provide clinical and programmatic services to clients.

Primary Responsibilities

• Analyze program needs; develop, modify, implement and monitor programs to meet the changing needs of clients, customers, and other stakeholders; demonstrate operational competence in managing resources.
• Actively participate in regular treatment team meetings and special staffing as needed.
• Audit charts; evaluate against Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (TDFPS) and Youth for Tomorrow (YFT) standards.
• Participate in screening and licensing processes of potential foster and adoptive parents.
• Approve foster and adoptive home studies.
• Review and approve admission of clients into the foster care program and adoptive placements where required.
• Respond to outside requests for case history and documents.
• Write curriculum and facilitate training for active and potential foster and adoptive parents if required.
• Oversee and assist in crisis intervention for assigned locations.
• Participate in planning, implementing, and facilitating family/community-based activities and events.
• Keep Senior Director and Associate Vice President apprised of current critical issues and statuses.
• Perform quality assurance inspections of assigned facilities and programs as needed; identify potential corrective actions; discuss findings/concerns with Senior Director and oversee any required adjustments.
• Oversee the day-to-day operations of assigned programs. Ensure execution of plans, policies, and budget as approved by Buckner Senior and Executive leadership.
• Prepare annual budgets for assigned locations consistent with senior management guidance, including, but not limited to, the budget for operations and for capital needs including expansion opportunities.
• Support Senior Director in oversight of financial activities of the domestic adoption programs, including, but not limited to, setting fees, reviewing weekly reports, supervising preparation for audits, meeting with auditors, reviewing expense reports, and overall agency expense records.
• Support strategic planning and direction for Foster Care and Adoption; evaluate results, identify opportunities, recommend improvements, and measure performance against objectives.
• Direct and manage the development of strategic plans for assigned locations. Ensure alignment with and attainment of goals and objectives.
• Source, hire, supervise, monitor, evaluate and provide direction to direct reports. Ensures optimal job performance; identify issues, discuss with staff and direct corrective actions; assist, guide and support supervisors with employee selection, review, evaluation, and terminations.
• Provide professional growth and development of assigned staff; develop and communicate annual goals and objectives; monitor and provide constructive feedback; conduct annual performance evaluation in a timely manner.
• Monitory ongoing physical condition of the work site. Responsible for implementation and management of safety compliance. Timely and accurately prepare and submit all required safety reports; respond to safety audits.
• Oversee policies and procedures and monitor compliance. Work with appropriate managers as required correcting noncompliance matters immediately.
• Participate and serve/chair internal and external committees including, but not limited to, the Continuous Quality Improvement Committee.
• Monitor trends and changes in practices and legislation regarding Domestic Foster Care and Adoptions which could or will impact operations. Notify Senior Director as appropriate.
• Take bids; approve purchase orders and vouchers; sign checks.
• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with Buckner executive staff and staff, Board members, donors/prospects, and other stakeholders as necessary. Promote positive internal relationships with all Buckner staff.
• Assist, guide and support supervisors with employee selection, review, evaluation, and terminations.
• Cultivate and monitor relationships with outside service providers, consultants, agencies and organizations to develop relationships to enhance the delivery of services to clients.
• Coordinate contacts with donors and foundations with Development staff. Handle inquiries from potential donors, media, churches, agencies, and other community groups with guidance from Senior Director.
• Support Senior Director in monitoring major contracts/ alliance agreements and plans that provide services to Buckner clients or entities. Monitor all agreements and projects and ensure obligations are met in an accurate, professional and timely manner.
• Work in conjunction with Senior Director and the Communications and Public Relations department to creatively market the needs of the program.
• Supervise the management of program resources to ensure they are used efficiently and appropriately.
• Accurately prepare and proofread memos, letters, spreadsheets and other documents and correspondence as required. Complete accurate and timely documentation.
• Review and accurately process mail, faxes, emails, and other correspondence in a timely manner.

Other Responsibilities

• Maintain compliance with all Buckner policies, procedures, and requirements. Maintain knowledge of and compliance with all state and federal laws and regulatory requirements.
• Manage program resources to ensure they are used efficiently and appropriately aligned with approved business objectives.
• Responsible for supporting and representing Buckner at special events, activities, and other assigned functions.

The position can function in a hybrid work arrangement but attendance in person at the office is required when requested.Travel domestically and internationally as needed to monitor, assess, and help develop programs.

• Attend and participate in meetings and training as required; facilitate meetings regularly as define by the communication framework and training as required.

Develop emerging leadership through professional growth and development.

• Work successfully as a part of a team and responsible for developing and maintaining strong working relationships with co-workers.

Perform special assignments, projects, and other duties as required.

Education and Licensing Requirements

• Bachelor degree in social work or similar field is required to perform essential job functions. A Master’s Degree in Social Services or a related field is preferred.
• Minimum 5 years prior related experience in the professional delivery of domestic foster care/adoption services required.
• Minimum 5 years prior related experience delivering administrative/supervisory responsibilities required.
• Must hold and maintain a Child Placing Agency Administrator’s license.
• A current, valid Texas Child Placing Administrator’s license required.
• Requires knowledge and understanding of the legalities involved with medical/clinical intervention.

Other Requirements

• Requires ability to read, write, speak, and understand English sufficiently to perform the essential functions of the position, including communication with clients, volunteers, and community partners, documentation, and collaboration with staff.
• Requires proficient ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw conclusions dealing with abstract variables.
• Requires excellent problem-solving skills.
• Requires education and work background necessary to effectively, appropriately, and accurately evaluate the performance of caseworkers.
• Requires excellent public speaking skills and the ability to successfully communicate in a professional manner with a multi-ethnic population base in the community; ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing.
• Requires ability to observe and make accurate assessments of situations and individuals and determine appropriate action required.
• Requires recognized ability to meet multiple deadlines by maintaining a high level of organization.
• Requires proficient working knowledge and understanding of the applicable regulatory standards and requirements governing programs and services.
• Requires ability to relate positively, influentially, and sensitively to a broad spectrum of persons in a variety of multi-tiered relationships and settings; requires ability to work effectively with individuals in a multi-ethnic population.
• Requires ability to effectively manage personnel; requires administrative skills to include but not limited to staff selection, development, motivation, scheduling, and evaluation.
• Requires ability to recognize differences in sounds, such as voices/noises that are loud and playful instead of angry and combative; and ability to differentiate tones and volume in conversations.
• Requires ability to prioritize tasks and respond in crisis/pressure situations; requires flexibility to meet changing business needs.
• Requires ability to observe and make accurate assessments of situations and take proper action.
• Requires ability to perform tasks with little supervision. Most tasks are governed by standard practices; however, some are not. Innovative thinking is required. Detail-oriented, with good organizational skills required. Requires leadership ability characterized by servant leadership, integrity and honesty. Must possess the ability to lead through influence as opposed to authority.
• Requires personality attuned to the requirements of meeting needs of clients and the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other employees and the public.
• Requires ability to work nights and weekends and be on-call as required.
• Requires ability to travel to various geographic locations, both domestic and international, and some overnight stays. Requires ability to obtain and maintain the necessary documentation to travel internationally.
• Requires jobholder to work before and after normal business hours, some nights and weekends, as needed to meet client and business needs including promptly responding to phone calls, text messages and emails.
• Requires ability to drive assigned vehicle(s) or personal vehicle, with an appropriate state license, following all laws applicable; must provide proof of liability insurance and must be eligible to be insured under Buckner’s insurance policy. Requires the ability to rent vehicles both domestically and internationally using required documentation. Must be age 21 or older to drive on behalf of Buckner.
• Requires ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Requires proficient ability to exhibit detail-oriented skills necessary to understand and manage a wide-range of information.
• Requires in-depth ability to plan, administer, and report budgets.
• Requires proficient working knowledge of budgetary management and development of policies and procedures.
• Requires ability to provide strategic and logistical planning and facilitate meetings, conferences, workshops, and retreats as required.
• Proficient working knowledge and ability to accurately and timely operate and perform computer-related tasks with specific equipment and software applications, including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, required.
• Requires recognition that the organization is a faith-based organization operating with a commitment to Christian principles.
• Requires ability to use up to 50 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently and/or 10 pounds continuously to move objects.
• Requires ability to walk frequently; occasionally stand for prolonged periods of time; occasionally required to squat, climb stairs, kneel and twist. Required to sit for prolonged periods of time, including extensive airline travel.
• Requires ability to speak clearly and make self-understood in face-to-face interactions; to articulate with extreme accuracy and precisions to give directions, speak on the phone, etc.
• Requires ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.
• Requires ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, trustees, vendors, residents, families, agency representatives, etc.
• Requires ability to effectively work under pressure and remain flexible as priorities change; ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing and speak in front of groups.
• Requires ability to work under minimal supervision; and exercise sound judgment and confidentiality.
• Requires ability to supervise others and hold others accountable for work completed; provide training, development and feedback to staff.
• Requires excellent professional business contract negotiation skills.
• Requires sufficient good health to properly discharge duties. Employees shall not be permitted to work who have infectious disease or skin lesion for the duration of the communicability.

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