Protective Services Specialist ; PCN

Protective Services Specialist 4 (PCN 063198)

Open to Alaska Residents only. Please check our residency definition to determine if you qualify. The Department of Family and Community Services, Office of Children's Services (OCS) is recruiting for a full‑time Protective Service Specialist 4 located in Bethel, Anchorage, Wasilla, or Fairbanks, Alaska.

The individual in this position is responsible for Child Protection Services. They are the bridge between management and line staff, while also acting as a resource within the office and community, and serving as a community liaison with other agencies. They supervise a number of caseworkers, assigning, reviewing and consulting on cases. They have a variety of administrative functions, as well as providing personnel management for their staff.

The Office of Children's Services strives for a diverse and inclusive workforce where safety and wellbeing are paramount and employees at all levels promote a culture where everyone is valued, treated equitably, and treated respectfully.

The mission of the Office of Children’s Services is:
Ensuring the safety, permanency, and well‑being of children by strengthening families, engaging communities, and partnering with tribes.

Full‑time benefits include insurance benefits; retirement benefits; paid leave; and twelve paid holidays per year. Your first twelve months in the agency are probationary and considered a training period, with formal virtual training and on‑the‑job training with your supervisor and other colleagues. Protective Services Specialists may be promoted to managerial, programmatic, or administrative positions within the agency.

• Overtime and on‑call work are expectations of staff.
• Frequency of travel is expected to be 2–5 times a month, including day trips and occasional overnight stays in rural conditions with some exposure to extreme weather.
• Travel may involve small aircraft, river boats, snow machines, 4‑wheelers, and overnight stays.

• Decision Making
  :
  Makes sound, well‑informed, and objective decisions; perceives the impact and implications of decisions; commits to action, even in uncertain situations, to accomplish organizational goals; causes change.
• Flexibility
  :
  Is open to change and new information; adapts behavior or work methods in response to new information, changing conditions, or unexpected obstacles; effectively deals with ambiguity.
• Leadership
  :
  Influences, motivates, and challenges others; adapts leadership styles to a variety of situations. Calm, patient, problem‑solver, and able to work within a busy and diverse environment.

• This position requires a valid Alaska driver’s license.
• While the Division has vehicles assigned to it, they may not always be available for staff use. Mileage reimbursement is available when a personal vehicle is used for work‑related matters. Current automotive insurance must be in place prior to use of a personal vehicle while conducting business on behalf of the State.
• For positions in this job class, a child protective history check will be performed per AS 12.62.160 and/or 13 AAC 68.315 including a background and fingerprint check.
• The successful candidate may be required to attend multiple training courses normally located in Anchorage.

• Analytical Thinking/Problem Solving
  :
  Uses a logical, systematic, and sequential approach to address problems or opportunities or manage a situation by drawing on one’s knowledge and experience base and calling on other references and resources as necessary.
• Integrity/Honesty
  :
  Behaves in an honest, fair, and ethical manner. Shows consistency in words and actions. Models high standards of ethics.
• Interpersonal Skills
  :
  Shows understanding, friendliness, courtesy, tact, empathy, concern, and politeness to others; develops and maintains effective relationships with others; may include effectively dealing with individuals who are difficult, hostile, or distressed; relates well to people from varied backgrounds and different situations; is sensitive to cultural diversity, race,…