DEFINITION: Under the direction of a Division Director, Deputy Director, or other senior official in a state department or agency, directs the staff and activities of an operational unit responsible for providing general administrative and/or fiscal management, program policy and planning services, or delivering a variety of social, medical, assistance, health care, and other services to a specific client population; does other related duties as required.
SPECIAL NOTE: The Office of Training and Professional Development (OTPD) leads training and professional development initiatives for all DCF divisions and offices with a large focus on the child welfare workforce. OTPD has recently expanded to support DCF’s evolving workforce learning and development needs through increased staffing, expanded learning modalities, and enhanced curriculum and learning system initiatives.
This position provides leadership, coaching, and direction for the Learning Experience and Design (LED) unit, overseeing curriculum development, learning systems, instructional technologies, and cross-operational training initiatives that support the statewide DCF workforce.
NOTE: Applicants are required to submit a completed State of New Jersey Application (DPF-663.pdf) for Employment with their resume at the time of application. Failure to do so will result in disqualification for this position.
This position oversees the following:
• Learning Strategy & Design
o Instructional design processes and learning products designed for DCF operations.
o Evolution of competency-based learning pathways and transfer of learning processes and strategies.
• Learning Systems & Infrastructure
o Oversight of DCF’s Learning Management System.
o Instructional technologies (including e-learning or design platforms like Moodle and Articulate 360)
• Curriculum & Delivery
o Curriculum updates, standardization and access.
o Instructional design and training deliverables through various service contracts
Preferred candidates will demonstrate expertise in:
• Transformational leadership, supervisory and coaching practices.
• Instructional design and adult learning theory (e.g., ADDIE or similar frameworks).
• Designing and leading hybrid learning experiences and translating training into workplace practice.
• Managing learning systems and instructional technologies.
• Leading through change in dynamic organizations.
• Strategic coordination and support of complex projects, project teams and stakeholder groups.
• Working with children, youth, families, and communities.
The candidate selected for this position will also demonstrate OTPD’s values with a strong emphasis on mission alignment and the ability to forge collaborations and partnerships that model a strong community built on teamwork, respect, equity, and integrity.
This position requires a commitment to learning, growth, leadership, and self-reflection.
REQUIREMENTS
Applicants must meet one of the following or a combination of both experience and education. Thirty (30) semester hour credits are equal to one (1) year of relevant experience.
Ten (10) years of professional experience in a public or private organization involved in programs providing either social/community, medical/health, rehabilitation/education, or vocational/occupational services to a specific client population (physical, intellectual, or developmental disability, juvenile offenders, socially/economically disadvantaged, etc.), three (3) years of which shall have been in a supervisory capacity
OR
Ten (10) years of professional experience as an administrator responsible for planning, budgets, and administration of programs in a large public or private agency, three (3) years of which shall have been in a supervisory capacity.
OR
Possession of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university; and six (6) years of the above-mentioned professional experience, three (3) years of which shall have been in a supervisory capacity.
OR
Possession of a master’s degree from an accredited college or university in a field relevant to the position; and five (5) years of the above-mentioned professional experience, three (3) years of which shall have been in a supervisory capacity.
“Professional experience” refers to work that is creative, analytical, evaluative, and interpretive; requires a range and depth of specialized knowledge of the profession’s principles, concepts, theories, and practices; and is performed with the authority to act according to one’s own judgment and make accurate and informed decisions.
RESUME NOTE: Eligibility determinations will be based upon information presented on the resume only. Applicants who possess a degree from a college or university outside the United States must provide an evaluation of one’s transcripts from a recognized evaluation service at the time of submission by the above closing date. Failure to do so may result in your ineligibility.
LICENSE: Appointees will be required to possess a driver’s license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.
IMPORTANT NOTICES
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS: The Department of Children and Families provides many employee benefits, including but not limited to:
• Alternative Workweek Program*
• Deferred Compensation
• Health, Dental and Life Insurance
• Flexible and Health Spending Accounts
• Pension
• Telework*
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness
• Benefit Leave (Vacation, Sick, Administrative Leave)
• 13 Paid Holidays
*Pursuant to Department policy, procedures and/or guidelines
PUBLIC SERVICE LOAN FORGIVENESS: As a prospective employee of the State of New Jersey, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education’s website at https://studentaid.gov/pslf/.
SAME APPLICANTS: If you are applying under the NJ “SAME” program, you must submit any of the supporting documentation specified in N.J.S.A. 11A:7-13.3 along with your resume by the closing date indicated above.
UNIT SCOPE: Any appointments made from postings which involve movement between unit scopes may result in a forfeiture of rights to any promotional list in a former unit scope. A complete list of DCF unit scopes can be found here DCF_UNIT_SCOPE_LIST_7.29.2025.xlsb
RESIDENCY: Effective 9/1/11, NJ PL 70 (NJ First Act), requires all State employees to reside in New Jersey, unless exempted under the law, or current employees who live out-of-state and do not have a break-in service of more than 7 calendar days, as they are “grandfathered.” New employees or current employees who were not grandfathered and who live out-of-state have one year after the date of employment to relocate their residence to New Jersey or request an exemption. Current employees who reside in NJ must retain NJ residency, unless he/she obtains an exemption. Employees who fail to meet the residency requirements or obtain an exemption will be removed from employment.
AUTHORIZATION TO WORK: Selected candidates must be authorized to work in the United States according to the Department of Homeland Security, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services Regulations. This position does not offer visa sponsorship now or in the future.