Division Director, Safe and Thriving Communities (Executive 2)

Position Description
The Seattle Human Services Department (HSD) lives out its mission, as one of the largest contributors to Seattle's safety net. HSD is responsible for investing hundreds of millions of dollars in more than 200 community-based human service providers that support the City's most vulnerable populations each year. The Department maintains close partnerships with community partners, the public, and non-profit service providers to understand and address current and emerging human service needs, and to invest in the creation of a comprehensive and integrated regional human service system.

The Human Services Department (HSD) is seeking an experienced, inspirational, visionary, and race and social justice-centered executive to lead and serve as the Director of the Safe and Thriving Communities (STC) Division. The STC Division Director is responsible for leading the Division's strategy, investments, and engagement with the community and other partners to improve community safety and reduce gun violence. The Director also oversees two Division units focused on serving crime victims and survivors of gender-based violence.

The Safe and Thriving Communities Division was born out of the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020 that urged the City to focus on BIPOC communities and shift safety investments into community-based organizations. The STC Division currently manages over $30 million in annual investments in community safety, gender-based violence and victim advocacy services. The Division Director will center BIPOC communities and have the skills and substantive knowledge to continuously reimagine and execute strategies for the Division's operations that provide effective service in a changing environment. This position requires critical thinking that brings the principles of undoing institutional racism into the Division's strategy and day to day work. The STC Division Director reports to the Department's Deputy Director and is a member of the Human Services Department's Senior Leadership Team.
Job Responsibilities

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE WILL BE ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE THE FOLLOWING KEY STRENGTHS AND PROFICIENCIES:

Leadership:

• Actively support HSD's vision including participation in developing, implementing and ongoing management of its strategic plan in an executive capacity.
• Provide executive thought leadership and inspire others about the Division's goals; lead transformational systems work that centers the strengths of BIPOC communities.
• Foster community led and centered approaches and solutions by proactively engaging and collaborating with community stakeholders.
• Expand partnerships with other city departments, non-profit agencies, governmental entities, funders, and community partners, as well as with non-traditional partners.
• Foster a positive work culture and environment that centers antiracist principles, racial equity and social justice.
• Cultivate leadership and talent through systematic professional development for staff.
• Create and foster a work culture where staff are engaged, flourishing, and contributing to the work of the Division and Department, with attention to signs of secondary trauma and generating practices that promote staff well-being and retention.
• Communicate programmatic, fiscal and performance of the Division to all Division staff, Department leadership, other City departments, City Council, and the Mayor's office.
• Deliberate on and make significant high-profile decisions and recommendations.

Strategic Planning and Development:

• Map the system of community safety and gender-based violence initiatives and investments; develop performance measures for programmatic and community level impact using the results-based accountability framework and the race and social justice toolkit. Work with stakeholders to identify opportunities and gaps.
• Design and advance the Division's strategic initiatives utilizing a combination of best-practices, evidence-based models, and community feedback to achieve measurable outcomes.
• Develop and propose annual budgets and fiscal planning that reflect the values, goals and impact of the Division.
• Develop a knowledge base of best practice approaches and models for providing services to ensure all residents have equitable access to services; determine applicability of such models for the Division.
• Develop and present recommendations for program implementation to the Deputy Director, Department Director, Mayor, and City Council.
• Actively support the vision for HSD including participation in developing, implementing and ongoing management of the Department's strategic plan. Ensure that STC programs are aligned to the HSD strategic plan.

Program and Fiscal Oversight:

• Oversee day-to-day operations of the Division, including fiscal and contracting decisions for more than $30 million of annual community safety investments and direct services.
• Oversee multiple programs and initiatives within the Division to ensure a seamless delivery of services. .
• Ensure adequate internal controls are in place to comply with city and department expectations, policy, and procedures for service delivery (direct services and contracts) and fiscal operations.
• Manage a team that plans and implements the Division's funding processes, oversees contracts, and advocates for crime prevention, victims, and survivors of crime.
• Establish workflow expectations for staff which align with the priorities of the division, department, and city.
• Supervise staff by regularly monitoring staff performance and coaching as needed.
• Accountability for STC's internal program outcomes and compliance activities, including improving service delivery, ensuring equity, streamlining reporting, and meaningfully engaging staff and stakeholders to transform the system and improve outcomes.
• Monitor data and provide leadership on continuous quality improvement efforts, using data to improve quality of service delivery, trend identification and analysis, program planning and course correction.

Internal/External Relationship Management:

• Create an environment based on transparent, clear, and consistent communication with staff within the Division; hold regular meetings with staff and managers for planning, communication, and other purposes.
• Foster an environment of collaboration through partnerships with community-based groups, community members, criminal legal system partners, government entities, and private sector agencies.
• Cultivate a relational culture within the workplace and with community partners.

Qualifications
A successful candidate will be a compassionate, authentic, strategic, innovative, reflective, and experienced leader with a demonstrated commitment to fostering an environment of belonging in which BIPOC and marginalized communities are able to thrive, be vested and have the support to achieve positive outcomes. They demonstrate a commitment to undoing institutionalized racism, can put antiracist values into practice, and understand how racism and oppression impact safety within our communities. The ideal candidate holds a deep understanding of intersectionality and the unique experiences of systemic injustice and violence, and the healing needed for community, victims, and offenders.

A successful candidate has experience in organizational operations, finance, people management, and performance measurement. They possess diverse public and/or private sector experience with public health approaches to community safety, human or social services and/or the criminal legal system.

The ideal candidate must possess strong interpersonal and communication skills with a variety of audiences in varied settings. A successful candidate has led and motivated teams to collaborate and support each other in the challenging work of removing barriers to equity and achieving lasting and systemic change with community. The candidate must have a reputation for exercising a high level of tact, good judgment, discretion, diplomacy within diverse groups of people.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Five years of demonstrated experience leading complex programs and policies impacting community safety, human or social services and/or criminal legal system reform.
• Five years of experience leading diverse work teams to achieve desired outcomes and results, including at least three years of direct supervision of staff.
• Three years of experience in managing budgets and programs.
• Three years' experience in public speaking, developing presentation and/or meeting/group facilitation.

OR: An equivalent combination of education and experience that demonstrates the ability to perform the position's duties.

Desired Qualifications:

• 6 plus years leading complex programs that include strategic planning, people management, performance measurement, and fiscal oversight.
• Well-developed competencies in navigating public agency, community, and political relationships.
• Experience successfully leading people through organizational change and transition.
• Ability to center those impacted by violence when decisions are made that affect their well-being.
• Demonstrated ability to build strategic and trusted partnerships with a variety of stakeholders from diverse ethnic, racial, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Experience leading teams through strategic planning.
• Demonstrated success in leading multiple, major projects in a fast-paced work environment.
• Well-developed strategies for cultivating a work culture that embraces transparency and accountability and fosters professional development.
• Demonstrated experience centering race and equity in processes and decisions.

Additional Information

Hiring Process:

***The next review of candidates will be conducted on Friday, July 21, 2023 at 4pm PST***

***Subsequent reviews may occur if no candidate from the first pull is identified***

Applications are reviewed after the posting closes. Qualified candidates must submit the following to be considered:
Completed NEOGOV online application.Current résumé indicating relevant experience and education. Cover letter describing how your skills and experience align with the stated job responsibilities and qualifications.
Your application will not be reviewed if these items are missing or incomplete.

Offers of employment are contingent on verification of information provided by the applicant as part of the application process, including potential background check, pre-placement physical exam, and full driver's abstract.

Please note this job advertisement is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

The full salary range for this position is $56.58 - $93.34 per hour.

The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents.

More information about employee benefits is available on the City's website at: https://www.seattle.gov/human-resources/benefits/employees-and-covered-family-members/most-employees-plans

The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents.

More information about employee benefits is available on the City's website at:
"Most" Employees Plans - Human Resources | seattle.gov

Closing Date/Time: Continuous