Human Services Director

Human Services Director

Under general supervision of the County Administrator, this position serves as the department head for Human Services. The Human Services Director provides strategic leadership and oversight of programs, operations, and staff to ensure effective, compliant, and equitable service delivery. Responsibilities include establishing department goals and priorities; directing budget development and administration; developing and implementing policies and procedures; determining staffing needs; providing leadership to management staff; advancing program development; coordinating public information; and representing the County on legislative and intergovernmental matters.

Duties / Responsibilities

Essential Functions:

1. Leads and develops a high-performing team by fostering a positive, inclusive, and accountable work environment. Provides clear direction, sets performance expectations, and supports supervisors through ongoing feedback, coaching, and opportunities. Exercises independent judgment in operational and personnel decisions, proactively resolving issues and promoting effective problem-solving. Oversees daily operations by assigning work, managing schedules, approving timecards, and ensuring adequate staffing to meet service needs. Participates in staffing decisions and takes primary responsibility for guiding employee performance and conduct, including addressing concerns and implementing appropriate corrective actions. Promotes open communication and transparency as part of employee engagement. Ensures compliance with the Employee Handbook and procedures and interprets labor agreements. Builds and maintains effective working relationships with internal and external partners, including other departments, community members, professional organizations, and regulatory agencies, to achieve organizational goals. Models a customer-focused, safety-conscious, and results-oriented approach to high-quality service delivery.
2. Establishes goals and objectives for the Human Services Department. Establishes department vision, goals, and measurable objectives. Develops and recommends policies, priorities, and long-range plans. Evaluates outcomes and service impacts using data and community input. Represents the County in joint powers and interagency collaborations.
3. Develops departmental budget and provides fiscal oversight of the budget. Oversees the development of the departmental budget by reviewing past expenditures, prioritizing needs, and projecting the resources necessary to accomplish departmental goals and objectives. Prioritizes spending and provides guidance to the department to ensure budgetary limits and targets are achieved.
4. Develops, interprets, and administers departmental policies and procedures. Ensures fiscal resources are allocated in alignment with strategic priorities, statutory requirements, and service demands. Reviews and analyzes expenditures, identifies trends, and forecasts future financial needs. Implements internal controls and monitors financial performance to ensure accountability, transparency, and compliance with County policies and state and federal regulations. Guides leadership staff in budget management and supports funding strategies, including grants and intergovernmental funding streams.
5. Provides workforce planning and staffing recommendations to enhance operational efficiency and effectiveness, while maintaining service delivery needs. Oversees the development, revision, and maintenance of job descriptions to ensure clarity, compliance, and alignment with public sector best practices.
6. Provides direction and guidance to supervisors and managers. Supports resolution of complex service delivery, personnel, and operational issues. Ensures consistent application of policies, labor agreements, and best practices in public service delivery.
7. Develops and recommends Human Services programs. Evaluates community needs and program effectiveness. Recommends new or modified services to address gaps and align with County priorities. Monitors legislative and regulatory changes impacting service delivery.
8. Coordinates public information and community relations activities. Serves as the primary spokesperson for the Human Services Department. Leads communication strategies to ensure accurate, timely, and transparent information is shared with the public, media, and stakeholders. Builds and maintains relationships with community organizations, advocacy groups, and partner agencies. Promotes awareness and understanding of department programs and services and ensures responsiveness to community concerns and inquiries.
9. Acts as County Human Services Legislative Representative. Develops and advances the department's legislative agenda in alignment with County priorities and emerging human service's needs. Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with legislators, state agencies, and professional associations. Monitors legislative activity and analyzes potential impacts on programs and funding. Prepares and delivers testimony, drafts legislative proposals, and responds to inquiries related to policy and program issues. Advocates for resources and policy changes that support effective and sustainable human services delivery.
10. Promotes a diverse, culturally competent, and respectful workplace.
11. Engages positively with both internal and external customers. Communicates and interacts effectively and respectfully with colleagues, supervisors, representatives from other organizations, and the public.
12. Performs the physical and mental demands of the position.
13. Attendance during regularly scheduled work hours and outside regular hours as necessary. Works the days and hours necessary to perform all assigned responsibilities and tasks. Must be available (especially during regular business hours) to communicate with subordinates, supervisors, customers, vendors, and any other person or organization with whom interaction is required to accomplish work and employer goals.

Additional Functions:

1. Participates in professional staff development. Participates in training and education opportunities to maintain and improve proficiency. Attends and participates in professional organizations. Associates with employees and departments from other counties and states for collaboration.
2. Performs other related functions as apparent or assigned.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in business administration, public administration, accounting, social work, psychology, or a related field; and
• A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible leadership, supervisory, and/or administration experience in the Human Services field.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in social work, public administration, or a related field
• Demonstrated ability to build collaborative partnerships with community organizations, governmental agencies, and stakeholders.
• Experience developing and administering departmental budgets and managing public funds or grant-funded programs.
• Proficient in understanding and speaking languages other than English, such as Spanish, Somali, Chinese, Sudanese, and Arabic, among others.

Conditions of Employment:

• Must successfully pass a background check.
• Must possess a valid driver's license and be able to drive in the State of Minnesota.
• Must comply with all federal and state laws and organizational and departmental policies and regulations.
• Must adhere to data practices policies and standards regarding non-public data. Access to non-public data must be limited to what is necessary to perform job duties. Employees must take reasonable steps to prevent unauthorized access and ensure secure storage of data in accordance with county policies and Minnesota Statutes.

Hours of Work

Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Evening, weekend and additional hours may be required. Hours of work are structured to meet service demand and the needs of the public.