Associate Deputy Director of CARA (CYFD/PSD #10118825)

Posting Details

At the New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD), every role is an opportunity to make a lasting difference in the lives of children, youth, and families across our state. We are committed to building a compassionate, skilled, and dedicated workforce that works collaboratively to ensure safety, promote well-being, and strengthen families. Whether you are in the field supporting families face-to-face, working behind the scenes to improve systems, or helping to shape the agency from a leadership level, your work here has purpose and long-lasting impact. Join a team that values integrity, resilience, and service and be part of meaningful change for New Mexico's future.

THIS POSTING MAY BE USED FOR ONGOING RECRUITMENT AND MAY CLOSE AT ANY TIME. APPLICANTS LISTS MAY BE SCREENED MORE THAN ONCE.

*APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED WITHOUT WORK EXPERIENCE OR A RESUME WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. IF ATTACHING A RESUME, RESUME MUST INCLUDE DATES OF EMPLOYMENT FOR EACH JOB (MONTH & YEAR) AND DETAILS OF WORK EXPERIENCE/JOB DUTIES*

Why does the job exist?

This incumbent will be advocating on behalf of New Mexico's most vulnerable clients, infants deemed to fit CARA criteria and ensuring that infants within the CARA criteria (drug/alcohol exposed) are taken into CYFD custody for abuse/neglect, and working toward the best resolution on behalf of the CARA Infants. The incumbent will be acting on behalf of the needs of these vulnerable clients, tracking progress, working collaboratively with all levels of Protective Services, and providing recommendations based on fact finding for the outcomes of our clients.

How does it get done?

CARA Referrals (Tracking, Updates, Data Governance) (95%):

The incumbent will then work collaboratively to ensure all data is then managed with the FACTS team to be added into other systems such as FACTS/Impact and tracked. The Incumbent will also be responsible for tracking which hospital the infant in care was born at, where they may have been transferred to, and types of exposure the infant has been subjected to, tracking whether infants are still in the hospital, what their care status is, and who the infant is placed with.

The incumbent will also track serious medical needs such as being treated for serious diseases, whether they are homeless, and all legal statuses (who is granted custody, custody lost, dismissed home, etc.) discharged date from the hospital to foster placement, guardianship (relationship to infant), ICWA family status, outside of state, infant deaths, and staff information; they will ensure that all milestones within tracking are factored into next steps for the infant. The incumbent will be responsible for following up with workers through this process to ensure accurate and complete data is entered in each tracker/system that is used to track CARA cases.

The incumbent will present the data tracked, outcomes from data, and determinations to be reviewed by senior leaders to provide updates on project standards, goals, and procedures; these communications will effectively allow the incumbent to mitigate any risks to the program and provide interventions when necessary. The incumbent will also be responsible for working collaboratively with senior leaders to update and change policies, objectives, and provide overall methodology behind determinations made with data.

Other duties as assigned. (5%)

Ideal Candidate

Skilled in the following areas:

Experience with CARA;

Excellent interpersonal and communication skills;

Excellent organizational skills;

A passion for public service.

Minimum Qualification

Bachelor's Degree in a relevant field of study from an accredited college or university and four (4) years of professional level experience with a tactical impact directly related to the purpose of the position defined by the agency at the time of recruitment. Any combination of education from an accredited college or university in a related field and/or direct experience in this occupation totaling eight (8) years may substitute for the required education and experience.

Employment Requirements

Must possess and maintain a valid Driver's License. Must possess and maintain a current Defensive Driving Course Certificate from the State of New Mexico or must pass and receive Defensive Driving Course Certification as a condition of continued employment. Pre-employment background investigation is required and is conditional pending results.

Working Conditions

Work is performed in an office setting with exposure to Visual/Video Display Terminal (VDT) and extensive personal computer and phone usage.

Supplemental Information

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Agency Contact Information: Bernadette Zajac, (505) 414-2310. Email

For information on Statutory Requirements for this position, click the Classification Description link on the job advertisement.

Bargaining Unit Position

This position is not covered by a collective bargaining agreement.

Salary : $73,568 - $110,352