Job Announcement

The mission of the Fairfax County Department of Family Services (DFS) is to strengthen the well-being of our diverse community by protecting and improving the lives of all children, adults, and families through assistance, partnership, advocacy, outreach, and quality services. At DFS, our core values critical to this position include people-focus, equity, and partnership. If this sounds like an opportunity where you can align your work experience and guiding principles with the DFS mission and values, we would be interested in hearing from you. This key position serves as the department’s primary liaison to the county’s One Fairfax initiative for racial and social equity and as the lead for DFS diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Duties include professional project management, analysis, and research in support of the application of the One Fairfax mission and all department-level related work. The DFS Equity Manager collaborates with the DFS Senior Management Team to develop and implement targeted strategies to help DFS engage with populations and communities who are underrepresented in accessing services and remaining engaged in its services. This position will make department-level recommendations on issues related to cultural competence, equity, diverse workforce development, training, outreach to diverse communities and engaging underrepresented individuals. Duties include serving as the primary trainer for staff development specific to race and social equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives, and advancing the DFS Equity Plan by developing and conducting periodic and ad hoc trainings. Works with DFS leadership to identify institutional barriers to diversity, equity, and inclusion and integrates an equity lens to remove those barriers to ensure full and equitable participation for existing and future staff. Prepares written communication, reports, and conducts presentations for diverse audiences.

Note: The assigned functional areas of the position are Social Equity, Project Management, Analysis and Research, Workforce Development, Diversity, Inclusion and Multiculturalism.

Illustrative Duties

(The illustrative duties listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list. A complete list of position duties and unique physical requirements can be found in the position description.)

Independently designs, develops, and coordinates ongoing department programs and special projects;
Performs a wide range of professional-level management work for more than one broad administrative function including complex analysis and diverse project management in a lead capacity;
Coordinates and manages the work of administrative, para-professional, and/or professional-level staff in the day-to-day activities of selected projects. Plans, organizes, and coordinates changes to the policies, procedures, or processes related to multiple administrative functions (financial, procurement, budget, human resources, contract or grants administration, information technology systems, etc.);
Plans and conducts or oversees studies or research activities to ensure program quality, determine unmet needs or ensure efficacy of existing programs;
Provides guidance, recommendations, and advice to departmental managers;
Serves on committees, task forces, and management teams to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of existing management/administrative systems;
Writes, edits, and finalizes reports and presentations and presents findings and recommendations to department senior managers.

Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities

(The knowledge, skills and abilities listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an-all inclusive list).

Considerable knowledge of mission, goals, and objectives of the organizational unit, program, or activities to which incumbent is assigned;
Considerable knowledge of the principles, practices, and techniques relating to the functional area of business operation (e.g. personnel, budgeting and financial management, contract administration and management);
Knowledge of the principles, practices and techniques governing management, organization, operations and programmatic services;
Ability to identify possible solutions for solving business problems;
Ability to evaluate proposals and solutions in terms of benefits, costs, and overall impact on the project, program, or organization;
Ability to make oral presentations to department management, other departments, or the public;
Ability to write detailed, accurate reports, grants, or solicitations for pertinent areas of administration;
Ability to use word processing and presentation software to prepare documents, and to use spreadsheet and statistical analysis software packages to store, manipulate, analyze and present data;
Ability to supervise and train staff;
Ability to lead assigned employees, including delegating and reviewing work assignments, providing coaching and guidance, monitoring and evaluating performance, and supporting training and development planning.

Employment Standards

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the following:
(Click on the aforementioned link to learn how Fairfax County interprets equivalencies for "Any combination, experience, and training equivalent to")
Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a bachelor's degree in field related to the assigned functional area; Plus four years of professional work experience with in the functional area.

CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:
None.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master's degree in human services related field.
• Minimum of 3 years’ experience in racial equity and social justice work.
• Minimum of 3 years’ experience working in a local government or other business environments including work with senior management.
• Experience independently developing, implementing and evaluating programs/projects with well-defined objectives.
• Significant experience in program/project management including effective communication, development of documents and reports, defining objectives, researching best practices, evaluation of results and plans and ensuring that timelines are met.
• Ability to develop and maintain working relationships with diverse coworkers and community members.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
The appointee to the position must satisfactorily complete a criminal background check and a Child Protective Services check.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Job is generally sedentary in nature; however, visual acuity is required to read data on computer monitor, incumbent must be able to operate keyboard driven equipment. Must communicate verbally and in writing with others. Employee may require lifting up to 15 lbs. Ability to travel independently to multiple sites and attend evening meetings. All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodation.

SELECTION PROCEDURE:
Panel interview, may include practical exercise.

Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or status as a veteran in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce.

Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. Contact 703-324-4900 for assistance. TTY 703-222-7314. EEO/AA/TTY.