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Executive Director, Office of Child Protection (Unclassified)

County of Los Angeles

Los Angeles County, California, United States

(on-site)

Posted 1 day ago

Description

COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES

OFFICE OF CHILD PROTECTION

Executive Director

(Unclassified)

Annual Salary Range: $219,014 to $340,612

Applications will be accepted from November 13, 2025, until the position is filled.

The County of Los Angeles

The County of Los Angeles serves a demographically and geographically diverse population of more than 10 million residents. Employing over 100,000 employees in 39 departments who work in roles as broad as law, civil engineering, public safety, healthcare, and human services, the County operates with an annual budget of over $52.5 billion for the fiscal year 2025-2026.

The County is a Fair Chance employer, committed to diversity and inclusiveness in our workforce. It is a culturally diverse economic and cultural hub, driving major elements of the national and world economies. It is the center for the arts, media, and entertainment – unlike anywhere else.

The Department

In 2015, the County of Los Angeles’ Office of Child Protection (“OCP”) was established as an independent entity reporting directly to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors (“Board”), following the Blue Ribbon Commission’s 2014 call for systemic reform across child- and family-serving agencies.

OCP reports to the Executive Officer of the the Board of Supervisors and leads the Board-directed priority around child protection and child/family well-being. OCP leads Countywide efforts to strengthen communication, coordination, and accountability among key partners – including the Departments of Children and Family Services, Probation, Mental Health, Public Health, Health Services, Public Social Services, Youth Development, and Education – to improve outcomes for children and families.

Its work centers on policy and systems change across three core child and family well-being areas: building community pathways to upstream support for families, strengthening the child and youth System of Care, and improving health and behavioral health outcomes for children and youth.

The Position

The Executive Director of the Office of Child Protection serves as the County’s chief advisor to the Board of Supervisors and lead strategist for child safety, well-being, and prevention initiatives. This at-will, unclassified position provides strategic leadership and policy direction across complex systems – guiding interagency coordination, program alignment, and performance accountability. While the role does not exercise direct line authority, it leads a small, expert interdisciplinary team responsible for data analysis, policy innovation, and cross-department collaboration, driving outcomes through influence and evidence-based decision-making.

This role also identifies system gaps, dismantles bureaucratic barriers, and ensures County and partner agencies work collectively to strengthen outcomes for children and families. The ideal candidate brings high-level diplomacy, expertise across child and family well-being and child welfare systems, and the ability to navigate politically sensitive environments while maintaining independence. Exceptional communication skills – with the Board, County department leadership, stakeholders, public, and media – are essential, as is a record of innovative, results-driven leadership that unites diverse partners around a cohesive, data-informed strategy for child and family well-being across Los Angeles County.

Key Responsibilities

Serve as Chief Advisor to the Board of Supervisors on child and family well-being, child welfare, and interagency collaboration issues.
Implement OCP’s Board-approved strategic plan and ensure coordination and alignment with relevant operating departments, agencies and commissions in the child and family well-being network.
Advance a Countywide Prevention and Promotion Agenda: Lead implementation of the Board’s prevention and promotion framework to reduce system involvement, support family resilience, and advance equitable outcomes.
Coordinate with County and Statewide Initiatives: Align OCP’s agenda with broader County initiatives (e.g., Homeless Initiative, Justice Care and Opportunities Department, Youth Development) and relevant State reforms in child welfare and behavioral health.
Build Public Awareness: Serve as a spokesperson to communicate the County’s progress and challenges in improving child and family well-being, ensuring transparency and public trust.
Develop and monitor measurable goals and timeframes for implementing OCP’s strategic plan for child and family wellbeing, including developing provisions for mid-course corrections as new problems and/or opportunities arise.
Establish strategic partnerships with relevant County departments, community organizations, and stakeholders, including young people with lived experience, resulting in jointly supported policy and program improvements.
Delegate and oversee the work of a small but highly trained and professional staff.
Lead Countywide coordination efforts and interdepartmental initiatives to align prevention, children and youth system of care, and youth health and behavioral health strategies across agencies.
Engage with community-based organizations, philanthropic partners, advocacy organizations, young people, and community members with lived experience to obtain feedback on child and family well-being priorities.
Promote data sharing, transparency, and accountability across the children and youth system of care.
Represent the County in regional, state, and national child and family well-being leadership forums.
Provide regular progress and accountability reports to the Board of Supervisors on improving child and family well-being outcomes for LA County. This includes preparing and publishing annual status update reports on the implementation of the strategic plan, including progress on measurable performance indicators.

Minimum Requirements

Senior-level leadership experience (minimum 7 years) driving cross-system initiatives in child and family well-being/child welfare, public health/behavioral health, justice, education, or related human services in a large, complex organization.
Demonstrated success convening multi-agency coalitions and delivering measurable outcomes across prevention/child and family well-being, and health and behavioral health.
Expertise using data-driven planning and performance management (e.g. dashboards, public reporting, evaluations).

Desirable Qualifications

Exceptional communication style and engagement skills with stakeholders, youth and families, community-based organizations, and philanthropic organizations; skilled in advising and briefing elected officials on complex issues.
Demonstrated experience executing strategic vision, creativity, and has the ability to engage stakeholders in developing sound policy recommendations that advance child and family well-being; strong commitment to transparency and community advocacy.
Demonstrated experience and dedication in advancing equity in public systems serving children and families.
Ability to lead collaboratively, with demonstrated problem solving skills and the receptivity to promising new approaches; proven success in leading system transformation or prevention initiatives with measurable outcomes.
Knowledge of federal and State child welfare and prevention legislation (e.g., Family First Prevention Services Act), with special interest and expertise in child and family well-being.
Possesses interpersonal skills, confidence and listening capacity necessary for an effective leadership role; ability to challenge existing agency policies and procedures in order to reach programmatic goals.
Extensive executive leadership experience in large and complex organizations within major urban settings, including demonstrated expertise in managing organizational change and navigating politically sensitive environments.
Proven success in leading countywide or multi-jurisdictional initiatives and producing system performance and progress reports.
Comprehensive understanding of the County’s operations and the interconnected system of agencies and partners serving children and families.
Strong record of effective management of an organization including the ability to assemble and motivate a dedicated and diverse staff whose members are held to high accountability.
Education: Advanced degree preferred (e.g., MSW, MPP/MPA, MPH, JD or related). One or more graduate degrees in a relevant field, although equivalent experience will also be considered.

Compensation

Annual Salary Range: $219,014 to $340,612

Starting annual salary will be dependent on the candidate’s qualifications and career accomplishments. This at-will, unclassified position is subject to the provisions of the County’s Management Appraisal and Performance Plan (MAPP) and is compensated at the MAPP Range of R18.

How to Apply

Please click HERE to create an online profile and submit your application, cover letter, and resume.

The County of Los Angeles is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Benefits

The County provides an excellent benefits package that allows employees to choose benefits that meet their specific needs.

The package includes:

Retirement Plan – The successful candidate will participate in a defined benefit plan.
Cafeteria Benefit Plan – Benefits may be purchased from the MegaFlex Cafeteria Benefit Plan using a tax-free cash allowance of an additional 14.5% of the employee’s monthly salary.
Flexible Spending Accounts – In addition to tax-free medical and dependent care spending accounts, the County contributes $100 per month to the Dependent Care Spending Account.
Savings Plan (401k) – Optional tax-deferred income plan that may include a County matching contribution of up to 4% of the employee’s salary.
Deferred Compensation Plan (457) – Optional tax-deferred income plan that may include a County matching contribution of up to 4% of the employee’s salary.
Paid Leave – 10 non-elective, annual paid leave days with the option to buy up to 20 elective, annual paid leave days. Annual paid leave can be used for vacation, sick, or personal leave.
Holidays – 13 paid days per year.