Protective Services Specialist - Wasilla; PCN

Protective Service Specialist 1/2

Effective July 1, 2026 the wage for this position increased by 3%. The wage listed in this job posting reflects the increase.

Come join the State of Alaska! This job class uses Competency Based minimum qualifications (MQs). Please read the Competency Based MQ instructions below to learn more. The Department of Family and Community Services, Office of Children's Services (OCS) is recruiting for full-time Protective Service Specialist 1/2 in Wasilla, Alaska This position is open to AK Residents.

What You Will Be Doing:
As a Protective Service Specialist (PSS), located in Wasilla, Alaska, you will be responsible for Child Protection Services in the Family Services Unit, the Investigations & Assessment Unit, or as Generalist covering both and will be required to travel throughout the South-Central Region up to a week at a time of approximately one to two trips per month. This position may require travel at times by plane/boat/four-wheeler etc.

and may include overnight stays. This is to provide support and coverage to the rural areas as needed, with per-diem and accommodation paid by the State.

This case carrying positions offer a range of duties, including investigating reports of child abuse and/or neglect, preparing plans for intervention by soliciting the cooperation of the family and others, and gathering information about family dynamics/functionality, developing plans to ensure child safety while assisting parents in addressing their diminished protective factors, placing children out of the home with a relative or licensed foster home when necessary, provide ongoing and/or in-home services to families, writing and submitting reports to Court, working closely with Tribal/Community Partners, frequent face-to-face and telephonic contact with parents and caregivers of children in custody, with travel as required dependent on the client location, and making referrals to other service providers and agencies.

Mission and Values/Culture:
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. The Office of Children's Services is dedicated to a diverse and inclusive workforce where safety and wellbeing are paramount. Employees all contribute to building a culture where everyone is valued, treated equitably, and treated respectfully. Everything we do is underpinned by our Core Values.

Benefits of Joining Our Team:
The Office of Children's Services is committed to an organizational culture that values each team member. We are committed to building and sustaining a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environment. We celebrate and value the diversity of our employees, partners, and families we serve.

Your first twelve months in the agency are probationary and considered a training period, with formal virtual training, on-the-job training with your supervisor, and with other colleagues.

While this is a field-based position that involves working in the community, part-time teleworking within the duty station may be an option upon eligibility.

Full-time benefits of this position include but are not limited to:
Insurance Benefits;
Retirement Benefits;
Paid Leave; and twelve paid holidays per year. Please see the benefits tab on this posting for more information.

The Working Environment You Can Expect:
These positions are in the Wasilla Field Office. These positions will be in the Investigations & Assessment Unit, the Family Services Unit, or as Generalist Unit covering both depending on the need for each unit.

Our teams are based around having a strong work ethic and high ethical standards, believing in treating all people with dignity and respect, as well as being self-motivated, organized and honest. We are all about getting the job done while still contributing to a positive, upbeat work environment.

The work we perform is critical and significantly impacts the communities we serve. As a result, the Office of Children's Services works on evenings and weekends as well as weekdays, so overtime and on-call work are expectations of our workers.…