Amara is committed to positive long-term outcomes for children and families. We drive systemic change, promote healing, and advance racial equity by offering programs and services to families engaged with foster care and to adoptees and families, post-adoption.

The Pierce County Director (PCD) collaborates with staff and leadership to lead Amara’s impact in Pierce County and the South Sound region, building partnerships, relationships, and trust. The PCD reports to the CEO and works at a strategic level with Amara’s Leadership Team and Board. The PCD oversees Amara’s vision to transform child welfare in Pierce County, manages local operations, and partners closely with team members to share Amara’s story and program goals. The PCD works with the Pierce County Community Leadership team, Pierce County Advisory Council, and partner organizations to bring about systemic change that centers child and family well-being, promotes healing and advances racial equity with the goal of preventing child removal into foster care.

Amara believes that a diverse workforce and inclusive workplace culture enhances our ability to fulfill our mission. We strive for equality and justice in the way people are treated and the opportunities they have to succeed by working to address racism, unequal treatment and other barriers to inclusion. We strongly encourage candidates from diverse backgrounds (including BIPOC, the LGBTQ+ community, veterans, and people with disabilities) to apply and join us in our work.

Responsibilities

Provide leadership that consistently centers principles of racial and social justice and transparency

• Responsible for personal on-going learning and growth related to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.
• Support direct reports and colleagues to lead for racial equity
• Promote a culture of well-being that encourages and nurtures employees’ whole selves

Lead Amara’s vision to transform child welfare in Pierce County through the development of a 29-acre property, in collaboration with community stakeholders

• Maintain and develop relationship with Community Leadership Team, an advisory group primarily consisting of BIPOC individuals with lived experience with the child welfare system
• Lead master planning effort, including managing consultants and engaging Amara staff and leadership throughout the project
• Build partnerships to bring about systemic change to support positive long-term outcomes for families in alignment with community input
• Secure commitments from partner organizations to co-invest in and co-locate on Amara’s 29-acre site

Manage Pierce County administration

• Develop and manage Pierce County administrative and operations budget in collaboration with Finance team
• Manage local contracts
• Collaborate with administrative team to oversee Pierce County facilities, including tenant relationships and repair/maintenance
• Represent Amara in the South Sound community
• Build and maintain strong relationships with those impacted by child welfare with special attention to communities disproportionally impacted.
• Develop and manage partnerships and collaborations in Pierce County and the South Sound, including managing Amara’s Pierce County Advisory Council
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with legislators, local officials, private funders and community member

Collaborate with other departments and leaders within Amara

• Partner with the Communications and Outreach Team to support message/marketing, volunteer engagement, and community outreach
• Partner closely with Development Team to execute fundraising plans
• Collaborate closely with Amara program leadership to support effective regional implementation and expansion plans of Amara programs in Pierce County and the broader South Sound
• Serve on Amara’s Leadership Team
• Other duties as assigned.

Provide supervision to the Pierce County Partnerships and Engagement Manager

• Experience leading for racial equity and social justice
• Significant knowledge of and connection to Pierce County landscape of human services and public systems
• Proven ability to cultivate and sustain strategic partnerships, including community-based organizations, government agencies and the private sector
• Experience managing complex, multi-partner projects
• Experience supervising and developing diverse staff teams
• Experience developing and managing budgets
• Ability to prioritize and employ resources strategically
• Strong interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work with and equitably distribute power among individuals at all levels and with diverse backgrounds
• Bachelors or advanced degree in social work, public policy, business or related field preferred; however, other education or related experience may be substituted
• Experience in human services and child welfare preferred

Salary and Benefits

This is a full-time position (40 hours per week) with an annual salary of $75,000 - $85,000, depending on experience. Competitive compensation, DOE. Generous personal leave and benefits package, including paid time off, paid sabbatical, health, vision and dental insurance, 401k with a company match, life and disability insurance.

Criminal Background Check

Because this position has access to confidential client, employee, or financial information OR direct interaction with children any final candidate hired into this position must successfully pass a criminal background check performed by the State of Washington. Any job offer is contingent on successfully passing this background check.  A list of disqualifying convictions for this position is available at https://www.dcyf.wa.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/secretaryslist.pdf 

To Apply

Please submit a cover letter and resume. Applications will be accepted until position closed date.