Policy & Planning Manager - Family Services Division

The Policy & Planning Manager is a member of the Policy & Planning Leadership Team within the Family Services Division (FSD) of the Department for Children and Families (DCF). This position plays a central role in writing and shaping policies, advancing strategic planning efforts, and ensuring that Vermont's child protection and youth justice systems align with best practices, federal and state requirements, and the needs of children and families.

Collaboration is essential to this role, requiring close partnerships with staff, subject matter experts, interagency partners, youth, families, kin and foster parents, legal partners, and community stakeholders. The Policy & Planning Manager supervises staff and ensures that policies, strategies, and system improvements reflect diverse perspectives, frontline experiences, and emerging best practices.

Key responsibilities include:
* Policy Development & Implementation: Leads the development, revision, and implementation of FSD policies to ensure they are evidence-based, legally compliant, and reflective of best practices in child welfare and youth justice. Engages staff to integrate real-time feedback and emerging trends into policies.
* Legislative & Regulatory Compliance: Works closely with FSD leadership, legal counsel, and legislative teams to monitor and analyze federal and state legislation affecting child protection and youth justice. Ensures FSD policies remain compliant with evolving legal frameworks and coordinates reporting, rulemaking, and implementation efforts.
* Strategic Planning & System Improvement: Drives system improvement initiatives by leading policy workgroups, supporting federal reporting and program improvement plans, and integrating best practices into Vermont's child welfare and youth justice frameworks.
* Stakeholder Engagement & Family Voice Integration: Fosters collaboration with service providers, advocacy organizations, and families with lived experience. Ensures policies and initiatives reflect the perspectives and needs of children, youth, and families by creating meaningful opportunities for engagement.
* Training, Guidance, & Technical Assistance: Supports staff, supervisors, and leadership in understanding and applying FSD policies through clear guidance, training collaboration, and technical assistance. Works with training partners to incorporate policy updates into ongoing workforce development efforts.
* Data-Driven Decision Making & Performance Monitoring: Partners with FSD's Quality Assurance Team to ensure policies are informed by data, research, and national trends, monitored for effectiveness, and drive continuous quality improvement efforts.

While this position is based in Waterbury, there is an opportunity for a hybrid (in office/remote) schedule. Statewide travel will be required periodically.

This position, Policy & Planning Manager - Family Services Division (Job Requisition #52228), is open to all State employees and external applicants.
If you would like more information about this position, please contactlindsay.barron@vermont.gov.
Resumes will not be accepted via e-mail. You must apply online to be considered.
Please note that multiple positions in the same work location may be filled from this job posting.

AHS BACKGROUND CHECKS: Candidates must pass any level of background investigation applicable to the position. In accordance with AHS Policy 4.02, Hiring Standards, Vermont and/or national criminal record checks, as well as DMV and adult and child abuse registry checks, as appropriate to the position under recruitment, will be conducted on candidates, with the exception of those who are current classified state employees seeking transfer, promotion or demotion into an AHS classified position or are persons exercising re-employment (RIF) rights.

Duties are performed primarily in office settings although field travel will be necessary for which private means of transportation must be available. Although duties normally occur within a regular weekday schedule, there are times that work occurs on evenings or weekends. Considerable tact is required for interacting with district staff and staff of other states and the federal government. Must manage many complex administrative and policy related issues at once, including intense interactions with a variety of constituents and deadline pressures.

Master's degree in policy, public administration, social work, or in the broad field of human services AND three (3) years or more at a professional level in the field of public policy or social services working with children, youth, and families.

OR

Bachelor's degree AND five (5) years or more at a professional level in the field of public policy or social services working with children, youth, and families.

Master's degree in policy analysis or public administration

Experience in child protection, child welfare, and/or juvenile justice

As a State employee you are offered a great career opportunity, but it's more than a paycheck. The State's total compensation package features an outstanding set of employee benefits that are worth about 30% of your total compensation, including:

• 80% State paid medical premium and a dental plan at no cost for employees and their families
• Work/Life balance: 11 paid holidays each year and a generous leave plan
• State Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FMLI)
• Two ways to save for your retirement: A State defined benefit pension plan and a deferred compensation 457(b) plan
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Flexible spending healthcare and childcare reimbursement accounts
• Low cost group life insurance
• Incentive-based Wellness Program
• Qualified Employer for Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness Program

Want the specifics? Explore the Benefits of State Employment on our website.

The State of Vermont celebrates diversity, and is committed to providing an environment of mutual respect and meaningful inclusion that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. The State does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion or belief, national, social or ethnic origin, sex (including pregnancy), age, physical, mental or sensory disability, HIV Status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, past or present military service, membership in an employee organization, family medical history or genetic information, or family or parental status. The State's employment decisions are merit-based. Retaliatory adverse employment actions by the State are forbidden.