COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SERVICES

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1 COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SERVICES Chautauqua County is recruiting for the Department Head position of Commissioner of Social Services. This executive level position is responsible for administering Chautauqua County's public assistance, medical assistance and children & family services programs. Interested candidates should complete the Chautauqua County Application for Examination or Employment form (available on this website) and mail it to: Chautauqua County Department of Human Resources Gerace Office Building, Room North Erie Street Mayville, New York Equal Opportunity Employer. The Department Chautauqua County Department of Social Services is a key component of the services provided to the 140,000 residents of Chautauqua County by County government. The Department of Social Services, which functions as a part of the overall Human Services initiative of County government, is led by a Commissioner who is appointed by the County Executive, the top elected government official. Services are provided in a client focused culture from offices located in Mayville, the County Seat, Jamestown and Dunkirk. There are approximately 52,000 clients currently being served. The Department s 320 employees oversee the delivery of $84,000,000 worth of services either directly or through over 340 contracts. The employees are civil servants and are an organized work force represented by CSEA. At present the Department is organized into a five person leadership team all who report to the Commissioner. They function as an integrated leadership group in carrying out the mission of the Department which is to provide a single point of entry to a broad array of effective and appropriate human services to the County s residents. Team members include a Deputy Commissioner, Director of Legal Services (currently acting Commissioner), Director of Administrative Services, Director of Health Administration, and Director of Children and Family Services. This veteran team is focused, among other obligations, on ensuring that the County meets its mandated program participation rate for those who are on public assistance. Currently the program participation rate is improving and is at 38% compared to a target of 50%.

2 County Government and the Office of the County Executive oversees the Executive Functions of: The Chautauqua County Nursing Home The Office for the Aging* The Department of Mental Health* The Department of Health* The Department of Social Services* The Probation Department The Office of Finance and Budget The Department of Public Works The County Industrial and Economic Development Agency *function as an integrated human services group The County has a legislative form of government comprised of 25 elected legislators. Legislators are elected for 2 year terms and operate from a committee structure. Human Services is an active legislative committee. The Vacancy The former Commissioner resigned to accept a senior position in the New York State Office of Children & Family Services. The Commissioner The Commissioner, who will be appointed for a 5 year term, will report to the County Executive who is half way through his first four year term of office. We are seeking a high energy experienced social services leader who will lead the department using creativity, skill and intelligence to ensure that services are: well organized; appropriate; client focused; fiscally responsible; contemporary; compliant with law, regulation and contracts, and satisfactory to the community. The Commissioner will be expected to lead the Department s management and service staff in accomplishing established and agreed upon priorities. Significant focus will be on ensuring that all clients receive a high level of services, appropriate to their needs, accessed by a single point of entry for human services. It is expected that the role will bring a strategic focus on an integrated basis to the overall human service initiatives of the County. In addition, and of equal importance, is ensuring that established state and federal performance targets are met and that services are delivered in a high quality, client focused, and fiscally prudent manner.

3 Duties and Responsibilities of the Commissioner Providing visionary/ practical leadership for the entire department Developing, communicating and carrying out strategic and operating plans to meet the service needs of clients, complying with regulation and satisfying state and federal performance standards Providing consultative leadership to the other human service Directors Being a visible and credible spokesperson throughout the county and at regional, state and federal levels Operating all activities within the bounds of fiscal prudence by effectively balancing needs, revenues and cost Ensuring that all contractors are performing to agreed upon levels of program, service and fiscal standards Establishing a culture of collaboration with all stakeholder groups Operating all programs from a client, community and service perspective Creating and operating an effective organizational structure This is an outstanding opportunity to join a progressive organization whose priorities and history are well known for doing the right things to meet the needs of the County s residents. The Candidate The successful candidate will be a consummate leader who possesses superb communication skills, strong financial management skills, problem solving skills, conflict management skills, interpersonal skills and overall leadership skills. The candidate will have a strong and proven track record in planning, organizing, leading and delivering a wide array of social service programs. The ideal candidate will be licensed/certified professional in a human services field with a Master s Degree in the same or related field. The ideal candidate will have at least 5 years experience at the senior leadership level in a human services organization. The ideal candidate will also have at least 5 years experience in direct program management within a human services organization. This individual will possess a collegial and participatory management style with the ability to motivate staff. The Commissioner will be an advocate for both clients and staff and will take a proactive approach to identifying and resolving issues. The position requires an individual who can communicate effectively within his/her group and across departmental and organizational lines. This is essential to coordinate staff efforts around common goals, to create a positive view of the organization and to enfranchise people by clarifying the link between individual, group, department and organizational success.

4 Personal characteristics of the candidate will include: Ability to develop cooperative working relationships Progressive thinker Demonstrate responsiveness to consumer and cultural needs Flexible and open to new ideas A strong leader, not a manager Demonstrate maturity and accountability for job performance High energy, enthusiastic and charismatic A change agent who will challenge the department with new ideas Team oriented A strong work ethic and visible, respected leadership throughout the department Ability to gain credibility and act as a role model Honest, ethical, someone who balances client needs and the business of social services Ability to motivate others and build confidence among the staff Knowledgeable about best practices Awareness of current regulatory, professional practice and reimbursement mechanisms Highly effective written and oral communication skills; a good listener A driven self starter who is accountable Expertise in a comparably sized organization The Community Chautauqua County is New York's western gateway with lakes, grapes, wineries, cultural, culinary, and resort centers, a wonderland of winter snowfall, and some of the best festivals around. The home of picturesque Victorian villages, a curious mix of historical characters, and the largest Concord grape growing region in the world. Located less than three hours from Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Rochester, Niagara Falls, and Toronto and within an easy drive from Buffalo and Erie. Compensation The annual salary range is $55,923 to $89,370. An attractive benefits package will also be offered.

5 Contact: Chautauqua County Department of Human Resources Gerace Office Building, Room North Erie Street Mayville, New York Applications will be accepted by regular mail. Civil Service minimum qualifications are as follows: ACCEPTABLE EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING: (A) Training. Graduation from a recognized college or university with a bachelor s degree for a four-year course of study. AND (B) Experience. (1) Five years of satisfactory full-time paid experience in a health, education, or social agency, three years of which must have been in a satisfactory administrative or supervisory capacity. OR (2) Five years of responsible full-time paid experience in an administrative or management position, where there is responsibility for planning, directing, and coordinating the work of a substantial staff working in several units or performing several separate functions. EQUIVALENTS: 1. Each year of experience as a chief executive officer of a public welfare department of a public welfare district, within six years immediately preceding the date of appointment, shall be the equivalent of two years of the above prescribed experience. 2. Post-graduate training, at a recognized college or university, in social work, public administration, hospital administration, educational administration or business administration, shall be the equivalent, on a year for year basis up to two years, of the above prescribed experience. However, no such postgraduate training shall be the equivalent of the administrative or supervisory experience prescribed in (B) (1) above.