Director of Disability and Developmental Services; Senior PUBLIC Service ADMIN

Director of Disability and Developmental Services (SENIOR PUBLIC SERVICE ADMIN)

The Illinois Department of Early Childhood is seeking an experienced, collaborative leader to serve as Director of Disability and Developmental Services within the Education Division. This role provides strategic leadership and policy direction for statewide programs supporting young children with disabilities and developmental delays, including the Illinois Early Intervention Program and services delivered across school-based and community early learning settings. The Director oversees section operations and staff, leads major legislative and regulatory initiatives, and serves as the Department's senior interagency liaison and external representative.

This is an opportunity to shape innovative, equitable systems that ensure all children and families receive high-quality early childhood supports.

Illinois Department of Early Childhood offers a robust benefit package including:

• Monday-Friday schedule
• Health, life, vision, and dental insurance
• Paid Parental leave
• Pension Plan
• Deferred Compensation, and other pre-tax benefit programs
• Employees earn (12) paid sick days annually
• (10-25) paid vacation days (based on years of service)
• Employees earn (3) paid personal days (pro-rated based on start date)
• (13-14) paid state holidays annually

Work hours and schedule will be mutually agreed upon by supervisor during the onboarding process.

Essential Functions:

• Serves as Director of Disability and Developmental Services in the Education Division of the Illinois Department of Early Childhood (IDEC), providing executive leadership and policy direction for the Disability and Developmental Services Section.
• Oversees administrative processes and operations for disability and developmental services, including the EI program and services delivered in school- and community-based early learning settings.
• Serves as full-line supervisor for the Disability and Developmental Services Section.
• Serves as senior interagency liaison and external representative.
• Leads legislative, regulatory, and strategic initiatives.
• Performs other duties as required or assigned, which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Requires knowledge, skill, and mental development equivalent to the completion of four (4) years of college with significant coursework in education, special education, early childhood, public administration, social work, rehabilitation, or a related field.
• Requires four (4) years of progressively responsible professional experience in special education, early childhood systems, or disability services, or a related role.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Four (4) years of professional experience in program leadership, policy development, and system administration in large, multi-unit organizations.
• Four (4) years of professional experience supervising or managing professional staff or managers.
• Four (4) years of professional experience working at the state level administering Early Intervention (EI) or Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE), or closely related programs.
• Three (3) years of professional experience coordinating with state education agencies, human services systems, and related organizations serving children with disabilities.
• Three (3) years of professional experience managing contracts, grants, or large vendor relationships.
• Master's degree or higher in special education, educational leadership, public policy, or a closely related field.

Conditions of Employment:

• Requires the ability to successfully pass an agency criminal history check through the Illinois State Police.
• Requires the ability to use agency-supplied equipment, such as a cell phone, laptop, etc.
• Requires ability to travel in the performance of duties, with overnight stays as appropriate.
• Overtime is a condition of employment, and you may be requested or required/mandated to work overtime including scheduled, unscheduled, or last-minute overtime. This may require the ability to work evenings and weekends.
• Certain provisions of the revolving door restrictions contained in 5 ILCS 430/5-45 apply to this position. As a result, the employee should be aware that if offered non-State employment during State employment or within one year immediately after ending State employment, the employee shall, prior to accepting any such non-State employment offer, notify the Office of the Executive Inspector General for the Agencies of the Illinois Governor (OEIG) or may be subject to a fine.
• This position has been found to meet the requirements in section 4A-101 of the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act requiring the occupant/employee to file a Statement of Economic Interest.
• The Illinois Governmental Ethics Act (5 ILCS 420/4A et seq.) requires certain state officials and employees to file annual Statements of Economic Interest with the Office of the Secretary of State that will be made available for examination and copying by the public. All employees required to file a Statement of…