Foster Care Program Director

Job Description

Job Description

In order to be considered for this position both a resume and cover letter must be submitted with your application.

Child and Family Services (C+FS) Foster Care Program provides temporary, safe, and loving homes for children and supports parents/caregivers in developing the skills they need to achieve family reunification. When reunification is not possible, our program helps secure permanency through adoption. This program plays an essential role in our agency’s 150+ year mission of nurturing a healthier and more equitable Western New York.

The Foster Care Program Director provides strategic and operational leadership for all aspects of program delivery, staff development, compliance, policy implementation, and service quality within the Foster Care and Adoption Program. Reporting to the Chief Community Program Officer, the Director will help guide a growing program that is continuing to strengthen its systems, expand foster home capacity, and support a largely new and developing team.

The ideal candidate brings both clinical and operational expertise in child welfare and values hands-on leadership, staff development, and continuous improvement. This position offers an opportunity to shape program culture, strengthen operational consistency, support staff growth through coaching and mentorship, and lead critical initiatives such as foster parent recruitment and retention.

While every day can vary, a typical day for the Foster Care Program Director may include:

• Leading morning check-ins or weekly team meetings to align staff on priorities and support coordinated service delivery.
• Fielding calls or emails from foster parents or the Erie County Department of Social Services (ECDSS) regarding placement needs, case concerns, or support requests.
• Monitoring Microsoft Teams channels and supporting staff with timely guidance, problem-solving, and coaching.
• Reviewing and approving case documentation, reports, or billing-related submissions to ensure accuracy, timeliness, and compliance.
• Coaching staff on documentation standards, workflow expectations, and attention to detail to support quality practice and reduce avoidable errors.
• Participating in multi-disciplinary meetings and case consultations to support positive outcomes for children and families.
• Supporting newer staff through real-time coaching, mentorship, and practice-based supervision.
• Collaborating with agency leadership and external partners to strengthen program operations, foster parent relationships, and community confidence in the Foster Care Program.

• Provide overall leadership and direction to the Foster Care and Adoption Program, ensuring delivery of high-quality, trauma-informed services.
• Supervise and support program staff while fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, learning, and professional growth.
• Strengthen and maintain program policies, procedures, workflows, and systems to support clarity, consistency, and compliance with state and county regulations.
• Monitor program quality, operational performance, and outcomes using data, audits, and stakeholder feedback.
• Serve as the primary liaison with regulatory bodies, including the Erie County Department of Social Services and New York State OCFS.
• Collaborate with agency leadership and cross-functional departments to support integrated, high-quality service delivery.
• Support onboarding, coaching, and ongoing development of new and developing staff.
• Oversee program budget, staffing, and operational planning to support sustainability and effective resource utilization.
• Lead foster parent recruitment and retention initiatives to meet the evolving needs of children entering care.
• Provide consultation and leadership support during high-risk or crisis situations.
• Promote a culture of equity, inclusion, transparency, and continuous improvement throughout the program.

• Master’s Degree in Social Work or a related human services field required; LMSW or related clinical licensure strongly preferred.
• At least five (5) years of progressive management experience in child welfare, clinical, or related settings.
• Demonstrated success leading teams, programs, or systems through periods of growth, change, or operational improvement.
• Strong knowledge of child welfare regulations, permanency planning, and trauma-informed care principles.
• Excellent interpersonal, leadership, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Experience with policy implementation, quality improvement, operational oversight, and program evaluation.
• Commitment to staff development, coaching, and building a stable, mission-aligned workforce.
• Ability to build collaborative relationships with staff, foster families, community partners, and regulatory stakeholders.
• Comfort working in a fast-paced environment that requires flexibility, communication, and strong follow-through.

Competitive Pay Range of $85,000 to $95,000 based experience and education.

CFS offers full-time employees the below benefits to support our employees and their families and help to create a healthy work environment.

• Paid Time Off (PTO)
  –20 PTO Days (25 Days After Five Years of Employment)
  –14 Paid Holidays (includes 2 flex holidays)
  – Bereavement: Four Paid Days
  – Paid Jury Duty
• Employer Paid Life Insurance
• Medical, Two Plan Options
• Dental, Two Plan Options
• Vision Insurance
• Wellness Program and Incentives
• Health Savings Account (HSA) and Quarterly Employer-Contributions
• Healthcare Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Dependent Care FSA Retirement
• Employee Referral Bonus
• Qualifying Employer for Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)
• 403(b) Right Away and Employer-Contributions After Two Years

Child & Family Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer: Child & Family Services provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran or familial status, or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Child & Family Services complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer leaves of absence, compensation, and training.