Job Description
Job ID: 33568
Agency: Department of Social Services / Child Protection Services
Location:Pierre or Eagle Butte, SDSalary: $33.42 Hourly, depending on qualifications
Pay Grade: K
Closing Date: 11.06.2025
This is a Full-Time 40 Hours Weekly position with the Department of Social Services. For more information on DSS, please visit https://dss.sd.gov .
Summary:The Division of Child Protection Services impacts children and families' lives every day by assessing safety, providing intervention, and securing stability for children. If you are committed to helping children and families; have excellent customer service, communication, and problem-solving skills; and are dedicated to achieving positive outcomes for children and families, this may be an opportunity for you to make a difference in a child's life.
This position supervises a unit of Family Services Specialists and support staff. Duties include training, development, and performance management of staff; providing program quality assurance and improvement to maintain and enhance operational effectiveness; implementing policies and procedures for multiple activities/programs; oversight of multiples programs including adoptions, independent living services, protective services, alternative care; develops and maintains public relations with communities to foster working partnerships, resolving complaints and responding to inquiries from the public, and educating the public about program services available.
Working conditions:Duties are performed in a variety of settings ranging from departmental offices to client homes to courtrooms. An applicant may encounter high-level stress and emotional situations, strong differences of opinion, and exposure to physical danger and contagious diseases. This position requires lifting up to 30 pounds in a safe manner. Applicants are required to work a flexible schedule which may include evening, night, holiday, and weekend hours. Crisis or case situations can occur at any time which may require evening and weekend responses. Considerable field travel is required to include overnight travel. This position requires a valid driver's license.
The Ideal Candidate Will Have:A bachelor's degree in social work, psychology, sociology, public administration, or other child welfare related fields is preferred.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities of:
- theories and concepts related to culture, child development, family connections and family dynamics and their influence on child and parental relationships and behavior;
- theories and concepts related to the relationship of child safety to abuse and neglect and the impact of separation on children involuntarily removed from their families (preferred but not required);
- supervisory principles and practices (preferred but not required).
- establish, build and maintain cooperative and productive relationships internally and externally; demonstrate compassion, respect, courtesy, and tact when interacting with others;
- communicate information clearly and concisely, verbally and in writing; and to keep appropriate parties informed;
- utilize computerized data system;
- make difficult decisions and assume accountability for actions and results;
- gather and analyze data, identify and define problems or potential problems; and develop and implement appropriate resolutions;
- effectively plan and organize work activities, adjust to multiple demands, and prioritize tasks to complete assignments and meet schedules and deadlines;
- recognize individual strengths and weakness, build , lead and motivate teams that are committed to a common goal;
- adjust and adapt to changing policies and procedures;
- establish workloads, deadlines, and performance objectives; and follow-up to ensure proper completion of outcomes and expectations (preferred but not required).
This position is eligible for Veterans' Preference per ARSD 55:10:02:08.
Successful applicant(s) will be required to undergo a background investigation. An arrest/conviction record will not necessarily bar employment. Successful applicant(s) will undergo an abuse and neglect screening.
The State of South Dakota does not sponsor work visas for new or existing employees. All persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete an Employment Eligibility Verification, Form I-9. The State of South Dakota as an employer will be using E-Verify to complete employment eligibility verification upon hire.
The State of South Dakota offers $0 premium employee health insurance option plus eleven paid holidays, generous vacation and sick leave accrual, dental, vision, and other insurance options, and retirement benefits. You can view our benefits information here . This position is a member of Class A retirement under SDRS.
Must apply online: https://gen-stateofsouthdako-trn.inforcloudsuite.com/hcm/xmlhttp/shorturl.do?key=2Q5
You must apply online, emailed resumes or submissions will not be accepted.
South Dakota Bureau of Human Resources
Telephone: 605.773.3148 Email: careers@state.sd.us
http://bhr.sd.gov/workforus
"An Equal Opportunity Employer"
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