Senior Social Services Specialist (CSSP)

Job Summary - Why you’ll love this position

Location:  Base is negotiable within the state of Missouri. 

This is advanced, specialized professional work directing and executing data validation frameworks, quality assurance programs, project management lifecycles, and outcome analytics for the Children's Division of the Department of Social Services. The specialist serves as the technical subject matter expert responsible for establishing data validation protocols, monitoring statewide federal and statutory performance benchmarks, leading continuous quality improvement (CQI) project initiatives, and synthesizing complex datasets into actionable executive intelligence. Work involves significant independent judgment in project governance, statistical validation, and cross-functional leadership across regional, circuit, and executive teams to optimize child welfare safety, permanency, and well-being outcomes. Work is performed under general administrative direction.

Responsibilities - What you’ll do

This position leads the strategic design, validation, and execution of statewide child welfare quality improvement and outcome analytics programs for the Children's Division. In this role, you will establish and govern end-to-end data validation frameworks, conduct automated data integrity audits, and perform advanced statistical and longitudinal outcome analysis to measure safety, permanency, and well-being benchmarks against state and federal standards (e.g., CCWIS, and Title IV-E). Serving as a project management lead, you will drive continuous quality improvement (CQI) project lifecycles from charter development to post-implementation evaluation, translating complex operational data into actionable Business Intelligence (BI) views, executive briefings, and targeted corrective action plans. Additionally, you will provide specialized technical consultation and strategic guidance to regional directors, circuit managers, and frontline supervisors, ensuring data-driven decision-making, policy fidelity, and measurable system-wide process optimization.

Qualifications - All you need for success

Qualifications:

High School Diploma or High School Equivalent and Nine or more years of professional experience with a public or private agency in the delivery of protective services, including casework/case management in: investigation of abuse or neglect; coordination of foster care, adoptions, and family centered services; treatment/rehabilitation; and/or providing in-home family crisis intervention services, and possession of a valid vehicle operator’s license. OR

One or more years of experience as a Social Services Specialist (III) or Senior Social Services Specialist with the Missouri Uniform Classification and Pay System. OR

Three or more years of experience as an Associate Social Services Specialist and/or Social Services Specialist (II) with the Missouri Uniform Classification and Pay System. OR

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university preferably a degree in Social Work or comparable human services field (Substitutions allowed); and, Five or more years of professional experience with a public or private agency in the delivery of protective services, including casework/case management in: investigation of abuse or neglect; coordination of foster care, adoptions, and family centered services; treatment/rehabilitation; and/or providing in-home family crisis intervention services, and possession of a valid vehicle operator’s license.

(A combination of earned credit hours from an accredited college or university in the preferred fields such as social work, family and child development, special education, psychology, sociology, or related behavioral sciences and experience described may substitute for the stated qualifications. 30 credit hours are equivalent to 1 year of experience. Professional experience as described must be of a substantial period of time (over 50% of time)).

(Lack of post-secondary education will not be used as the sole basis denying consideration to any applicant)

Desired Skills:

 ·      Comprehensive knowledge of principles, practices, theories, and techniques of counseling and social service work used with families, children, parents, and individuals involved with adoption and foster care.

 ·      Comprehensive knowledge of child welfare principles, methods, and current trends of social casework as applied in evaluation of services and treatment of clients.

 ·      Comprehensive knowledge of court procedures  and laws pertaining to the rights of families and children.

 ·      Ability to develop, coordinate, implement, and review quality assurance/improvement programs for specialized child welfare services.

 ·      Ability to work effectively with staff, agency clients, professionals, and the general public.

Special Requirements:

• Must be able to legally operate a motor vehicle in the performance of assigned duties upon the date of hire and throughout employment.

Job Details - More reasons to love this position

The State of Missouri offers an excellent benefits package that includes a defined pension plan, generous amounts of leave and holiday time, and eligibility for health insurance coverage.  Your total compensation is more than the dollars you receive in your paycheck. To help demonstrate the value of working for the State of Missouri, we have created an interactive Total Compensation Calculator.  This tool provides a comprehensive view of benefits and more that are offered to prospective employees. The Total Compensation Calculator and other applicant resources can be found here. 

Contact Details - If you have questions or require any accommodations to participate in the application or interview process please contact:

If you experience an accessibility issue while applying at mocareers.mo.gov, or have any questions about this position please contact: [email protected] 

 The State of Missouri is an equal opportunity employer. 

The State of Missouri is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to developing and maintaining a talented workforce.