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The San Francisco Department of Child Support Services is accepting applications for a permanent exempt Assistant Director!

IMPORTANT: Your application MUST include responses to the supplemental questionnaire found here: Supplemental Questionnaire (https://forms.office.com/g/BaCPrYHj4y)

Applicants must complete the supplemental questionnaire along with the online application process.  Applications will not be reviewed without a completed supplemental questionnaire

Specific information regarding this recruitment process is listed below:

+ Appointment Type: The position is a Permanent-Exempt (PEX) appointment.  This position is excluded by the Charter from the competitive civil service examination process and shall serve at the discretion of the appointing officer.

+ Application Opening: December 12, 2025

+ Application Deadline: Apply Immediately. Application filing will be open at least through January 8, 2026 and will close any time thereafter.

+ Compensation Range: $155,870 - $198,952 annually (https://careers.sf.gov/classifications/?classCode=0952&setId=COMMN)

Becoming a City employee means being a part of a team that cares about making a difference. Your work will shape both the present and future of San Francisco. When you work for the City, you’re choosing a job with purpose.

About San Francisco Child Support Services

San Francisco Child Support Services (CSS) empowers parents to provide economic support for their children by furnishing child support services in the form of location of parents, establishment of paternity and support obligations, and enforcement of support obligations for the well-being of families and children. Our vision is to ensure that children receive the financial and medical support they need from their parents to be healthy and successful. CSS stands unique among other City departments not only due to our mission and vision, but also because of our size.

With a total staff of 59, and within a highly skilled team environment, our people must autonomously perform a broader range of challenging duties than in many larger departments where responsibilities may be more compartmentalized.

The Assistant Director serves as the department’s second-in-command and leads cross-unit integration, strategic initiatives, and organizational modernization. This role helps steer the department through major statewide reforms, strengthens workforce readiness, and ensures that operations, legal functions, and administrative systems work together to deliver equitable, consistent outcomes for families. Working closely with the Director and Head Attorney, the Assistant Director drives accountability, builds operational capacity, and represents the department in city, state, and federal forums.

Reporting directly to the Director, the Assistant Director is responsible for driving cross-unit coordination, implementing strategic initiatives, and advancing systems and workforce improvements across the department. The Assistant Director will focus on accountability, modernization, and alignment with federal, state, and local mandates while ensuring SF DCSS remains a national leader in equitable child support services.

The Assistant Director provides direct oversight of three divisions led by three managers:

+ Administration: HR, Finance, IT, and Facilities

+ Operations – Case Management

+ Operations – Client Engagement

In partnership with the Director and Head Attorney, the Assistant Director ensures these divisions operate as a coordinated system that supports efficient case flow, consistent policy application, and a strong client experience.

Key Responsibilities

Organizational Leadership & Integration

+ Lead integration across Administration, Operations, and Legal to support seamless service delivery.

+ Chair the Leadership Council to set priorities, resolve cross-unit issues, and strengthen alignment.

+ Translate the Director’s strategic direction into clear operational plans with measurable follow-through.

+ Serve as Acting Director when assigned, representing the department with city, state, and federal partners.

Child Support Program Expertise

+ Lead organizational readiness for state and federal reforms, including ability-to-pay/earning-capacity standards.

+ Ensure staff are trained, supported, and equipped to implement new workflows and performance expectations.

+ Convert mandates and policy guidance into accurate, practical local procedures.

+ Monitor program performance and compliance, and advise leadership on risks, trends, and required adjustments.

Labor Relations & Workforce Development

+ Partner with the Administrative Manager on labor relations, contract interpretation, and workforce policies.

+ Lead workforce planning efforts, including vacancy management, succession planning, and staff development.

+ Promote a work environment grounded in accountability, clarity, respect, and equitable opportunity.

Operational Excellence & Accountability

+ Oversee performance dashboards to ensure transparency and accountability to federal, state, and local standards.

+ Support Operations Managers in redesigning workflows to improve case management efficiency, reduce backlog, and improve outcomes for families.

+ Ensure all units adhere to federal, state, and local compliance requirements for child support program administration.

Change Management & Technology Integration

+ Lead the rollout of major reforms and internal modernization initiatives.

+ Identify and implement technology and process improvements that enhance efficiency and client service.

+ Serve as the department’s change champion, building staff confidence and stability during transitions.

Strategic & External Relations

+ Partner with the Director on budget development, strategic planning, and citywide initiatives.

+ Represent the department in statewide and federal policy forums, advancing SF’s priorities and best practices.

+ Build relationships with local community stakeholders to expand access, strengthen fairness, and elevate client experience.

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in public or business administration, social sciences, or a related field;

And

Experience:

Four (4) years of managerial experience in a public-sector or nonprofit environment overseeing child support operations or a closely related field, including direct supervisory experience.

Substitution:

Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for the required degree on a year-for-year basis. One year of full-time work is equivalent to 2,000 hours. Overtime hours are not counted toward this total.

Conditions of Employment

Incumbent must meet the following conditions of employment:

+ Federal Tax Information Background Clearance: All CSS employees are required to possess and retain FTI Background Clearance as a condition of employment. (Upon any selection as a finalist, the employer provides the process for any FTI Clearance.)

Desirable Qualifications:

+ Advanced degree in public administration, law, business, or a related field.

+ Ten years of progressively responsible public-sector or nonprofit leadership, including five years in management.

+ Deep knowledge of the child support program: establishment, enforcement, financial distribution, and performance measures.

+ Demonstrated success leading organizational reforms, workflow redesign, and complex compliance efforts.

+ Experience in labor relations, union environments, and workforce development.

+ Ability to interpret federal, state, and local policy and convert it into effective local practice.

+ Strong administrative, financial, and analytical skills, including use of dashboards and data to improve performance.

+ Commitment to equity, trauma-informed service delivery, and client-centered practice.

Verification of Education and Experience:

Please make sure it is clear in your application exactly how you meet the minimum qualifications. Every application is reviewed to ensure that you meet the minimum qualifications as listed in the job ad. Review SF Careers Employment Applications (https://careers.sf.gov/knowledge/#:~:text=Employment%20Applications%20and%20Minimum%20Qualifications) for considerations taken when reviewing applications.

Applicants may be required to submit verification of qualifying education and experience at any point during the recruitment and selection process. If education verification is required, information on how to verify education requirements, including verifying foreign education credits or degree equivalency, can be found at https://careers.sf.gov/knowledge/experience-education/.

Note: Falsifying one’s education, training, or work experience or attempted deception on the application may result in disqualification for this and future job opportunities with the City and County of San Francisco.

Selection Procedures:

Applicants must complete the Supplemental Questionnaire at the time of application submission. After application submission, candidates deemed qualified must complete all subsequent steps to advance in this selection process, which includes the following:

The selection process will include evaluation of applications in relation to minimum requirements. Applicants meeting the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement to an interview. Depending on the number of applicants, the Department may establish and implement additional screening mechanisms to comparatively evaluate the qualifications of candidates. If this becomes necessary, only those applicants whose qualifications most closely meet the needs of the Department will be invited for an interview.

Additional Information Regarding Employment with the City and County of San Francisco:

+ Information About the Hiring Process (https://careers.sf.gov/knowledge/process/)

+ Conviction History

+ Employee Benefits Overview (https://sfdhr.org/benefits-overview)

+ Equal Employment Opportunity (https://sfdhr.org/equal-employment-opportunity)

+ Disaster Service Worker

+ ADA Accommodation (https://careers.sf.gov/accommodations/)

+ Right to Work

+ Copies of Application Documents (https://careers.sf.gov/knowledge/#:~:text=Copies%20of%20Application%20Documents)

Where to Apply

All job applications for the City and County of San Francisco must be submitted through our online portal. Please visit https://careers.sf.gov/ to begin your application process.

+ Select the “Apply Now" button and follow instructions on the screen

+ To be considered for this position, applicants are required to complete the following at the time of application submission:

+ Complete and submit the Supplemental Questionnaire before the application deadline using the following link: Supplemental Questionnaire (https://forms.office.com/g/BaCPrYHj4y)

Computers are available for the public (9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday) to file online applications in the lobby of the Dept. of Human Resources at 1 South Van Ness Avenue, 4th Floor and at the City Career Center at City Hall (https://www.sf.gov/city-career-center) , 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 110.

Ensure your application information is accurate, as changes may not be possible after submission. Your first and last name must match your legal ID for verification, and preferred names can be included in parentheses. Use your personal email address, not a shared or work email, to avoid unfixable issues.

Applicants will receive a confirmation email from [email protected] that their online application has been received in response to every announcement for which they file. Applicants should retain this confirmation email for their records. Failure to receive this email means that the online application was not submitted or received.

If you have any questions regarding this recruitment or application process, please contact Kimberly Gibney at [email protected] or Bianca Hubbart at [email protected]. Recruitment ID: RTF0161655-01082245

The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.