Requisition No: 828053 

Agency: Justice Administrative Commission

Working Title: GUARDIAN AD LITEM OFFICE, 20TH CIRCUIT- CIRCUIT DIRECTOR - 21014580

 Pay Plan: Justice Admin Comm.

Position Number: 21014580 

Salary: $72,928.50 

Posting Closing Date: 04/30/2024 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

Statewide Guardian ad Litem Office

Circuit Director

You may apply for this position at the following website: www.Guardianadlitem.org

• Click on the “Career Opportunities” Icon.
• Scroll down to the “Submit Your Guardian ad Litem Employment Application Here.”
• Complete the “mini” job application and attach a resume.
• Select STATE OFFICE for the job location.

OR

• Submit the Guardian ad Litem mini-application and your resume directly to SO.Apps@gal.fl.gov

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION

The Statewide Guardian ad Litem Office is Florida’s award-winning, state-funded child advocacy organization. With more than 10,000 staff and volunteers, that includes more than 180 attorneys. Its primary focus is the powerful and effective representation of Florida’s abused, neglected, and abandoned children. Most of these children are abruptly removed from their homes, and sadly, many end up in foster care. The Office’s mission is to provide the most vulnerable children in Florida with an adult from their community who will be a consistent, positive presence in the child’s life as a part of a multi-disciplinary team that may include trained volunteers, pro bono attorneys, staff attorneys, and child welfare professionals providing the highest quality community advocacy and legal representation to protect each child’s rights and best interests. A critical function is to provide dependency judges with thorough and accurate information regarding the children under the court’s jurisdiction. The Office’s core values strongly reinforce and enhance its mission. Those values are:

• Commitment to Children
• Communication Built on Trust
• Collective Empowerment
• Collaboration
• Courtesy

An excellent overview of the Statewide Guardian ad Litem Office can be found at www.guardianadlitem.org.

As an employee with the State of Florida, your benefits are a significant part of your compensation with 19 percent of your total compensation coming from the benefits that the State offers. As a full-time employee, your employee insurance rate will be significantly low due to the contribution of the State of Florida. In fact, single coverage is as low as $8.34 per month with family coverage costing only $30 per month.

BENEFITS OF WORKING FOR THE GUARDIAN AD LITEM OFFICE: 

• State of Florida Retirement package – Pension or investment plan (3% employee contribution required)
• Additional supplemental insurances are available such as dental, vision, disability, etc. 
• Flexible spending account
• (9) Paid state holidays each calendar year
• (1) Paid personal holiday
• (104) Paid sick leave hours accrued within the calendar year

• (240) Paid annual leave hours accrued within the calendar year
• Life insurance $25,000 is provided by the state at no cost to you for all FTE positions. Employee may purchase additional coverage
• Public Loan Forgiveness Program
• State tuition waivers
• No State of Florida income tax for residents of Florida

No mandatory night/weekend/holiday scheduled work

ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY

This is a highly independent, responsible professional managerial role, requiring leadership in promoting and directing the Guardian ad Litem Office in the 20th Judicial Circuit (Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Hendry and Glades). The Circuit Director is responsible for directing, hiring, training, supervising, evaluating staff and volunteers, and resolving issues concerning policy, office goals, and office services.

ABOUT THE WORK

The successful candidate must be able to develop working relationships with a variety of public officials, county leaders, social service agencies, courts, law enforcement, and health professionals. Must be able to exercise discretion in dealing with confidential and sensitive issues before the court. Must be able to collect and analyze local and statewide data to guide and improve operations. Must be comfortable leading a large and diverse team of professionals across a large geographic area.

Primary responsibilities of the Circuit Director include, but are not limited to,

• Hiring, training, supervising, managing, and evaluating staff and volunteers.
• Resolving issues concerning policy, goals, and services at the circuit level. Work frequently involves contact with individuals involved in emotional and traumatic situations.
• Increase public awareness, community engagement, and volunteer representation.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with leaders of community organizations, not-for-profit groups, and businesses to forge partnerships to benefit the Guardian ad Litem Office and the children it represents.
• Oversee recruitment of Guardian ad Litem volunteers, pro bono attorneys, and mentors.
• Oversee the collaborative efforts of Guardian ad Litem staff and volunteers in representing children appointed to the Office.
• Ensure compliance with the Statewide Guardian ad Litem Office Standards of Operation.
• Managing and conducting various administrative duties, including data collection, reporting, and budget preparation.

ABOUT THE EDUCATION AND TRAINING REQUIREMENTS

Must possess a valid Florida driver license. A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major in social work, sociology, psychology, communications, juvenile justice, management, or related social science degree, and five years of progressive experience in child welfare, supervision, program, or volunteer management. A law degree and Florida Bar license in good standing is an asset.

ABOUT THE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Ability to administer rules, policies, and procedures and formulate and administer budgets. Knowledge of the issues and dynamics of child abuse and the effects of domestic violence, substance abuse, and mental health issues on children and social services available to children and their families. Candidates must communicate effectively with people from diverse backgrounds and those involved in emotionally distressing situations. The candidate must be able to develop working relationships with a variety of social service agencies, courts, law enforcement, and health professionals. Must be able to exercise discretion in dealing with confidential and sensitive issues. Knowledge of Chapter 39, Florida Statutes, dependency proceedings generally, and advocacy for children. Knowledge of the operations of the child welfare system relating to the Guardian ad Litem Office. Ability to make presentations to community organizations. Ability to oversee the collaborative efforts of Guardian ad Litem staff and volunteers advocating children's best interests.

Ability to encourage and motivate professionals, support staff, and volunteers. Ability to assist in preparing detailed court reports recommending a course of action for children.

If you are a retiree of the Florida Retirement System (FRS), please check with the FRS at 1-844-377-1888 on how your current benefits may be affected if you are re-employed with the State of Florida. Your current retirement benefits may be canceled, suspended, or deemed ineligible depending upon the date of your retirement.

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer, and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.