Title: Assistant Deputy Commissioner for Policy & Administration

State Role Title: Gen Admin Manager III

Hiring Range: Up to $180,000 (Commensurate with experience)

Pay Band: 7

Agency: Department of Social Services

Location: DSS HOME OFFICE

Agency Website: dss.virginia.gov

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

At the Virginia Department of Social Services, we put people at the center of everything we do. We believe that every Virginian can live a life of dignity and that all voices, ideas, and experiences contribute greatly to our pursuit of excellence. Inspired by continuous improvement, we commit ourselves to listening, learning, and cultivating environments of trust, respect, and positive engagement. Together, we are mission-driven, eager to achieve, and passionate about bringing the best of who we are to those we serve.

The Virginia Department of Social Services has an exciting opportunity to join our team as the Assistant Deputy Commissioner for Policy and Administration.

The Assistant Deputy Commissioner for Policy and Administration reports to the Deputy Commissioner and is responsible for assisting the Deputy Commissioner in leading the Policy and Administration Portfolio to support programs, operations, and processes across the Department. The Portfolio leads the Department's general services, technology services, financial administration, legislative consulting, and the development of trauma and resilience policy. The Portfolio works within a multimillion-dollar operating budget and provides oversight and management of the Department's overall $2.9 billion budget and technology services and projects. This position leads special projects on behalf of the Deputy Commissioner and serves as a proxy to the Deputy Commissioner in their absence. The Assistant Deputy Commissioner for Policy and Administration partners with the Deputy Commissioner in setting the Portfolio's vision, performance metrics, the portfolio agenda, and the cultural atmosphere within which the Portfolio works. The Assistant Deputy Commissioner for Policy and Administration assists in the management of the Department’s procurement, budget and fiscal administration, technology operations, and property and facilities. The Assistant Deputy Commissioner for Policy and Administration assists with staff development activities across the Portfolio and serves as a liaison with other portfolios and divisions to manage conflict, improve processes and outcomes, and create clarity around shared work.

In addition, the Assistant Deputy Commissioner for Policy and Administration assists the Deputy Commissioner in supporting all VDSS programmatic areas across all agency Portfolios and the Commissioner’s Office. This position requires advanced knowledge of management principles and practices, and the ability to execute on those practices to direct, manage, and guide directors and senior executives through Policy and Administration activities and services throughout the agency. The Assistant Deputy Commissioner for Policy and Administration works with partners internal to the Portfolio and externally to strategize, design, and transition operations, systems and processes to best serve the Department as a whole. The Assistant Deputy Commissioner for Policy and Administration can be called upon to regularly interact with senior agency staff, other agency directors, cabinet secretaries, and other key administration officials. This position is also responsible and accountable for the core responsibilities related to program and workforce management, quality assurance and assists the Deputy Commissioner in managing infrastructure, operations, enterprise systems, project management, and providing operational and strategic direction to the units and divisions of the Portfolio.

In addition to a rewarding work experience, VDSS offers excellent health and life insurance benefits, pre-tax spending accounts, state funded Short- and Long-Term Disability, paid holidays, vacation, tuition assistance, free wellness programs, and a state retirement plan with options for tax-deferred retirement savings including employer matching – Employee Benefits.

Minimum Qualifications

• Strategic Communication - Advanced understanding of diverse audience behaviors; Advanced ability to effectively communicate concepts, processes, data or strategy across multiple platforms and audiences to increase awareness, understanding, engagement and performance; Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with colleagues, decision-makers and stakeholders;
• Coaching and Consensus-Building - Advanced ability to convene, facilitate, mediate and coach targeted groups of stakeholders, project/process owners, and customers through results-oriented collaboration, in efforts to establish a shared vision and shared ownership of output and outcomes. The ability to build coalitions internally and with other Federal, State and local governments, or nonprofit and private sector organizations to achieve common goals.
• Project/Program Management with an emphasis on Technology related projects and programs- Advanced strategic and operational expertise in identifying, prioritizing, and mitigating issues, risks and opportunities across the Policy and Administration portfolio. Ability to put concepts and resources into action to achieve a strategic goal.
• Planning & Development - Advanced ability to develop, scale and oversee enterprise initiatives in support of the agency’s strategic priorities; Ability to conduct assessments in support of adjustments to policies, practices, structures and standard operating procedures
• Transformational Leadership - Advanced ability to motivate, inspire, innovate, build trust and respect, and demonstrate our core values, while empowering others to do the same. The ability to bring about strategic change, both within and outside the organization, to meet organizational goals. Inherent to this leadership competency is the ability to establish a direction for the working unit and to implement it in a continuously changing environment.
• Executive Presenting and Reporting - Advanced ability to compile, prepare & deliver executive level presentations; provide critical updates using consistent documentation, project plans, status reports, etc.; Ability to model, measure, quantify and communicate improvements or impediments.
• Leading People - the ability to lead people toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals. Inherent to this leadership competency is the ability to provide an inclusive workplace that fosters the development of others, facilitates cooperation and teamwork, and supports constructive resolution of conflicts. Additionally, this requires emotional intelligence and the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders, state, federal, and local agencies, public officials, professional/community groups, division directors, employees, and the general public.
• Results Driven - the ability to meet organizational goals and customer expectations. Inherent to this leadership competency is the ability to make decisions that produce high-quality results by applying functional and technical knowledge, analyzing problems, and calculating risks.
• Business Acumen - the ability to manage human, financial, and information resources strategically.
• Initiative-- Ability to manage, coordinate, and prioritize multiple activities concurrently and to adjust quickly to changing priorities. Without supervision or instruction, the ability to effectively oversee activities of teams and staff, and to establish and implement strategies to meet unit performance goals and improve operational processes.
• Decisive- Strong Ability to exercise independent judgment and make decisions regarding daily operations with little to no supervision. Ability to research, analyze and draw conclusions.
• Significant leadership experience in public administration, human services, public policy, or other relevant field.
• Senior management experience with a proven track record of overseeing operations, leading teams, and managing large-scale projects or programs.
• Significant experience in fiscal management, budgeting, and financial reporting.
• Demonstrated success and experience in strategic planning and implementation of initiatives.

Additional Considerations

• Experience and understanding of Commonwealth of Virginia budget and legislative processes.
• Experience in contract management or procurement.
• Experience in technology project management.
• Experience working with state government agencies or other public sector
organizations.

Special Instructions

You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.

The selected candidate is required to file a Statement of Economic Interests form pursuant to the Code of Virginia § 2.2-3114, as a condition of employment. The filing must be completed on or before the first day of employment and annually thereafter on or before February 1. The selected candidate is required to complete the Statement of Economic Interest training within 2-months of becoming a state filer and at least once during each consecutive period of two calendar years commencing on the first odd-numbered year thereafter. For more information, please visit http://ethics.dls.virginia.gov/.

Selected candidate(s) must successfully pass a fingerprint-based criminal history background check. A record of criminal history does not automatically bar an applicant from consideration. Employment verification will be conducted to include current/previous supervisory employment reference checks.

VDSS will record information from each new employee’s Form I-9 (Employment Eligibility Verification) into the Federal E-Verify system to confirm identity and work authorization.

This position may be eligible for hybrid telework opportunities; availability, hours, and duration will be in accordance with the Commonwealth’s Teleworking policy on a case-by-case basis.

Contact Information

Name: VDSS – Division of Human Resources

Phone: dssrecruitment@dss.virginia.gov

Email: dssrecruitment@dss.virginia.gov

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.