Program Specialist-Social Services

Salary

$3,720.00 - $6,703.00 Monthly

Location

Baton Rouge, LA

Job Type

Classified

Job Number

225383ProgSpecSocSer-8.27.26SS

Department

DCFS-Department of Children and Family Services

Opening Date

08/27/2026

Closing Date

9/1/2026 11:59 PM Central

About this Job

Department MISSION

To protect children, empower families, and strengthen communities so every child grows up safe, stable, and strong.

Department VISION

A future where every child thrives in a loving environment, supported by empowered families and resilient communities

Department VALUES

Treating all people with dignity, compassion and respect, while providing services with integrity.

At The Department of Children and Family Services, our mission is to empower communities and improve lives by delivering responsive, inclusive, and forward-thinking public services. We are proud to serve the people of Louisiana with integrity, innovation, and a deep commitment to equity.

Join Our Team at DCFS: Program Specialist-Social Services

This position is within the Child Welfare section and is responsible for supporting the development, implementation, and monitoring of statewide programs, contracts, and activities related to community-based prevention, preservation, protection, and permanency services. Applicant with a foundational knowledge of statewide Child Welfare programs, basic understanding of funding requirements and regulations, and strong analytical and organizational skills to support statewide program development and improvement are encouraged to apply.

If you're driven, collaborative, and ready to make an impact—this could be the opportunity for you!

Minimum Qualifications

Five years of experience in administrative services, public health, social services, or health services; OR

Six years of full-time experience in any field plus two years of experience in administrative services, public health, social services, or health services; OR

A bachelor’s degree plus two years of experience in administrative services, public health, social services, or health services; OR

An advanced degree in a social science field, public health, counseling, social work, rehabilitation services, business, public, or health administration, or Juris Doctorate plus one year of experience in administrative services, public health, social services, or health services.

EXPERIENCE SUBSTITUTION:
Every 30 semester hours earned from an accredited college or university will be credited as one year of experience towards the six years of full-time work experience in any field. The maximum substitution allowed is 120 semester hours which substitutes for a maximum of four years of experience in any field.

Job Specification

The official job specifications for this role, as defined by the State Civil Service, can be found here.

Job Duties and Other Information

Job Duties:

• Supports the development, solicitation, and negotiation of statewide contracts for assigned program(s) and/or activities.
• Manages contracts for assigned program(s) and/or activities statewide to ensure that all programmatic and administrative policies and procedures are implemented.
• Prepares guidance materials, procedural updates, and resource documents for assigned program(s) and/or activities.
• Provides technical assistance to regional offices, contractors, and external stakeholders regarding assigned program(s) and/or activities.
• Utilizes compliance tools, monitoring instruments, and tracking systems to collect and organize data for assigned program(s) and/or activities.
• Reviews invoices and supporting records to ensure accuracy, completeness, and compliance with contractual requirements.
• Maintains accurate financial records and tracking systems related to provider payments and supports audit readiness by ensuring documentation is complete and consistent with policy and fiscal requirements.
• The incumbent performs other duties as assigned by the Child Welfare Manager 1, Child Welfare Manager 2, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Assistant Secretary of Child Welfare, Undersecretary, Deputy Secretary, and/or Secretary

Position-Specific Details:

Appointment Type: Probational, Promotional, or Job Appointment. This position may be filled as a probational appointment or a job appointment that may last up to 48 months. Job appointments may convert to probational appointments. Also, it may be filled as a detail and promoted within 12 months or by promotion of a permanent classified employee.

Work Schedule: Typically, work hours are 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, Monday – Friday. Flexible work schedules are available after meeting certain criteria and is dependent upon the position you are applying for. Some positions require working shifts.

Work Location: Baton Rouge, La

Louisiana HB 420 requires all prospective DCFS employees to complete and clear multiple background clearances prior to employment with this agency.

How To Apply:

No Civil Service Test score is required in order to be considered for this vacancy.

Applicants are responsible for checking the status of their application to determine where they are in the recruitment process. Further status message information is located under the information section of the Current Job Opportunities page.

• Information to support your eligibility for this job title must be included in this application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education). Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completed education and experience sections on your application. Applications may be rejected if incomplete.

Contact Information:

For further information about this vacancy, contact:

[email protected]

DCFS is an “Equal Opportunity Employer”, and Louisiana is a State As a Model Employer (SAME) that supports the recruitment, hiring, and retention of individuals with disabilities.

Louisiana State Government represents a wide variety of career options and offers an outstanding opportunity to make a difference through public service. With an array of career opportunities in every major metropolitan center and in many rural areas, state employment provides an outstanding option to begin or continue your career.

As a state employee, you will earn competitive pay, choose from a variety of benefits, and have access to a great professional development program:

Insurance Coverage More information can be found at https://info.groupbenefits.org/

Parental Leave – Up to six weeks paid parental leave
More information can be found at https://www.civilservice.louisiana.gov/Parental-Leave/Default.aspx

Holidays and Leave – State employees receive the following paid holidays each year:

• New Year's Day
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Day,
• Mardi Gras,
• Good Friday,
• Memorial Day,
• Independence Day,
• Labor Day,
• Veteran's Day,
• Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

***** Additional holidays may be proclaimed by the Governor

State employees earn sick and annual leave which can be accumulated and saved for future use. Your accrual rate increases as your years of service increase.

Retirement– State of Louisiana employees are eligible to participate in various retirement systems (based on the type of appointment and agency for which an employee works). These retirement systems provide retirement allowances and other benefits for state officers and employees and their beneficiaries. State retirement systems may include (but are not limited to):

• Louisiana State Employees Retirement System (www.lasersonline.org). LASERS has provided this video to give you more detailed information about their system
• Teacher's Retirement System of Louisiana (www.trsl.org),
• Louisiana School Employees Retirement System (www.lsers.net), among others