Senior Advisor for Investigations

THE SELECTED CANDIDATE WILL BE OFFERED A SALARY BETWEEN $150,000.00 - $156,499.00

The Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) protects and promotes the safety and well-being of children and families through child welfare and juvenile justice services and community supports. ACS manages community-based supports and foster care services and provides subsidized childcare vouchers. ACS child protection staff respond to allegations of child maltreatment. In juvenile justice, ACS oversees detention, placement and programs for youth in the community. 

The Office of Investigations is comprised of a team of former law enforcement investigators who have been deployed throughout ACS to support child protective investigations as well as the agency's work with youth. Under the direction of the Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) Commissioner, with very wide latitude for the exercise of independent initiative and judgment, the Senior Advisor for Investigations will oversee experienced Investigators placed in each ACS borough office to assist Child Protective workers as they conduct thorough and often complicated investigations.

The Senior Advisor will review and amend, as necessary, all ACS practices and procedures regarding investigatory practice and help to improve ACS’ frontline investigatory practice to ensure child safety. The Senior Advisor will also oversee the Office of Safety First which provides assistance to mandated reporters including staff from schools, foster care and preventive service providers and early care and education programs that have concerns about the progress of a current or closed child protective investigation. In addition, the office addresses ongoing safety concerns and facilitate partnerships between ACS staff and mandated reporters.

Specific duties will include:

• Direct the Protection Agents (Investigative Consultants) activities to assist staff performing child welfare/protective work and making decisions on appropriate action to be taken regarding investigations
• Direct the training and development of staff in child welfare investigative techniques
• Ensure that ACS frontline staff is aware of and utilizes best practices in child welfare investigations
• Collaborate with law enforcement officials, City agencies, and other important partners to ensure strong child welfare investigation practice and that all appropriate resources are available to ACS frontline staff
• Ensure that Instant Response Team Managers and Coordinators are properly enhancing cases that fit the IRT Protocol