Vice President, Child Welfare & Family Services

Salary: $180,000 - $220,000/yr

Position Summary: The Vice President, Child Welfare & Family Services provides executive leadership, strategic direction, and operational oversight for the Child Welfare & Family Services Division. The Child Welfare and Family Services Division promotes child safety and family stability through prevention, intervention, and permanency services. Programs include preventive services, foster care and adoption (including medical foster care), family wellness and domestic violence services, client advocacy, homemaking services, and support for opportunity for youth. Services are concentrated in the South Bronx, Harlem, Northern Staten Island, and Brooklyn. Reporting to the Executive Vice President, the role is accountable for program quality, fiscal management, regulatory compliance, and workforce leadership in alignment with the mission and values of Children’s Aid.

Essential Duties

Leadership & Oversight:

• Understand and promote the organization’s Mission, Vision, and Core Values to ensure alignment with organizational policies and procedures.
• Provide strategic leadership for all CWFS programs to achieve positive outcomes for children and families.
• Supervise senior leaders and a division of more than 500 staff.
• Foster a results-oriented culture grounded in data-driven decision-making and measurable impact.
• Actively demonstrates commitment to engagement and belonging through everyday behaviors, decision‑making, and leadership practices.
  
  

Program Quality & Innovation

• Oversee program quality, innovation, and continuous improvement, including the adoption and scaling of evidence-based practices.
• Lead outcome development, performance measurement, and program design in partnership with the Office of Performance Management.
  
  

Financial Management & Compliance

• Manage an annual operating budget of approximately $80 million.
• Oversee contracts with city, state, and federal funders.
• Ensure full compliance with regulatory, contractual, and licensing requirements.
  
  

Partnerships & Stakeholder Engagement

• Collaborate across organization divisions and with external partners to ensure seamless service delivery.
• Partner with Talent Management and Human Resources to strengthen recruitment, retention, and staff development.
• Support public policy initiatives that advance the well-being of vulnerable children and families.
• Collaborate with Public Funding and Development teams on government and private funding opportunities.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
  
  

Minimum Qualifications

• LMSW or related advanced degree.
• 10 years of senior leadership experience and managing a team.
• Deep knowledge of NYC child welfare systems.
• Proven experience effectively managing complex, multi‑million‑dollar budgets and contracts.
• Experience implementing or overseeing evidence‑based child welfare programs preferred.
  
  

Key Competencies

• Demonstrated commitment to high‑quality, family‑centered service delivery and staff development.
• Demonstrated ability to provide strategic leadership that empowers teams, drive organizational effectiveness, foster a culture of accountability, inclusion, and high performance.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly and professionally, both verbally and in writing, while effectively organizing tasks, managing time, and prioritizing responsibilities.
• Ability to work in a fast‑paced, high‑accountability environment.
• Able to travel between sites, and work evenings or weekends as needed.
• Able to work in-office and onsite as needed to promote effective collaboration and teamwork.
  
  

It is the policy of Children's Aid to provide equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment and is dedicated to maintaining a work environment that is free from harassment and discrimination. Children's Aid will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, or retaliation on any basis, including race, creed, color, national origin, ethnicity, alienage or citizenship status, gender/sex (including pregnancy), disability, religion, source of income, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, familial status, caregiver status, military status, marital or partnership status, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual violence or stalking, predisposing genetic characteristics, arrest or conviction record, credit history, unemployment status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. Children’s Aid is committed to complying with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Children’s Aid will conduct a prompt and thorough investigation of all allegations of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or any violation of the Equal Employment Opportunity Policy in a confidential manner and will take appropriate corrective action, if and where warranted. Children’s Aid prohibits retaliation against employees who provide information about, complain about, or assist in the investigation of any complaint of discrimination or violation of the Equal Employment Opportunity Policy.

The incumbent is expected to work a schedule, whether in-person or hybrid, as determined by the department's needs to facilitate effective collaboration with the team. This flexibility is essential for maintaining seamless communication, fostering teamwork, and ensuring the smooth operation of the department's processes. The position's requirements are subject to periodic review and adjustment based on organizational needs and changes in work dynamics.