CHIEF, PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT

Department
Department of Children, Youth, and FamiliesDivision
Project/Program ManagementSalary
$92,369.00 - $104,711.00Job Profile
Scheduled Work Days & Work Hours

Monday - Friday; 8:30am - 4:00pm.

Non-Standard 35.0

This position is assigned a non-standard work schedule of Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (or as established by the Executive Director/Superintendent), constituting a 35-hour workweek. The incumbent is expected to work additional hours as necessary to meet operational needs, support audits, attend meetings and events, respond to facility requirements, and fulfill program development priorities. The established work schedule may be adjusted to meet operational needs.

This position is located in the Rhode Island Training School / Division of Youth Development.
Job Requisition Number
JR104061 CHIEF, PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT (Open)Pay Grade
C00134 AClassification
Chief, Program DevelopmentClass Definition

GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES: Within a state department, to be responsible for the total planning, program development and research for the various programs of the department, for the purpose of coordinating the programs within the department and with other departments and agencies, improving present programs and creating new programs to provide better services to the people of the state in the most effective and efficient manner possible; and to do related work as required.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED: Works under the administrative direction of the director with wide latitude for the exercise of independent judgement; work is reviewed through consultation and review of submitted reports for conformance to laws, rules, regulations and departmental policies.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED: As required, may supervise and review the work of a professional and clerical staff assigned to assist.

ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLES OF WORK PERFORMED:

• Within a state department, to be responsible for the total planning, program development and research for the various programs of the department for the purpose of coordinating the programs within the department and with other departments and agencies, improving present programs and creating new programs to provide better services to the people of the state in the most effective and efficient manner possible.
• To be responsible for the development of programs with regard to the identification of the population to be served, needs and priorities, resources available, planning and implementation of the program and evaluation.
• To act as a liaison between the director and his division heads in coordinating all planning and programs, and to assist in developing their ideas for new programs or to suggest possible programs to them.
• To coordinate current and proposed programs with other state departments when a program requires the cooperation of these departments.
• To act as a liaison for the department with local governments and community groups in order to coordinate programs, gain their assistance or assist them in initiating, developing and implementing projects.
• To be responsible for evaluation of existing programs and to develop plans for their expansion, modification or elimination in view of changing needs, the availability of state and/or federal funds and recent advances in ideas and methods.
• To be responsible for following national and state legislation and interpreting their provisions with regard to their effect on the financing of departmental programs and on the development of new programs within the department.
• To participate in the preparation of requests for federal grants.
• To draft reports and review material for the director with regard to program development.
• To do related work as required.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS FOR APPOINTMENT:

KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS AND CAPACITIES: A thorough knowledge of the principles, practices and techniques of program planning and development as it relates to the implementation of a variety of departmental programs and in terms of statewide and community needs and the ability to establish standards, policies, and administrative controls for such programs; a working knowledge of federal, state and community resources and legislation and their interrelationships, and the ability to apply such knowledge in the identification of the population to be served, needs and priorities, resources available, planning and implementation of the programs, and evaluation; the ability to act as a liaison between the director and his division heads in coordinating all planning and programs and for the department with local governments and community groups in order to coordinate programs, gain their assistance or assist them in initiating, developing and implementing projects; the ability to coordinate current and proposed programs with other state departments where their cooperation is necessary; the ability to evaluate existing programs and to develop plans for their expansion, modification, or elimination; the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with department officials, professional people, voluntary agencies, community representatives, other state and local agencies and the public; and related capacities and abilities.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

Education: Such as may have been gained through: possession of a Master's Degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, one of the Social Sciences, or a closely related field; and

Experience: Such as may have been gained through: employment in a responsible capacity involving program development in a field of human service.

Or, any combination of education and experience that shall be substantially equivalent to the above education and experience.
Supplemental Information

SUPPLEMENTAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Rhode Island Training School / Division of Youth Development
The duties listed below are intended to supplement the official class specification and reflect current operational, compliance, leadership, quality assurance, and program evaluation responsibilities associated with the position. These duties may evolve based on agency needs, accreditation requirements, emerging best practices in juvenile justice administration, and organizational priorities.

Supplemental Duties and Responsibilities:
In addition to the duties outlined in the official class specification, the Chief Program Development shall:
• Lead grant development and management activities, including researching grant opportunities, drafting proposals, securing funding, managing grant budgets, tracking performance metrics, and submitting compliance reports for state and federal programs.
• Supervise assigned professional, administrative, and technical personnel, including managing performance evaluations, directing work assignments, overseeing scheduling, approving timesheets, and providing continuous professional guidance.
• Assist Division with confidential labor relations matters, personnel reviews, internal investigations, collective bargaining preparation, union grievance research, and sensitive administrative documentation.
• Draft confidential correspondence, strategic policy memos, judicial summaries, legislative reports, and executive summaries on behalf of Division leadership.
• Lead the research, drafting, review, revision, and maintenance of all Rhode Island Training School operational policies, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and program guidelines to ensure alignment with state regulations, statutory mandates, and national standards.
• Serve as the primary manager for facility accreditation processes and continuous quality assurance measures, preparing documentation, establishing compliance tracking protocols, and coordinating mock and official audit reviews.
• Support facility-wide Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) oversight by analyzing data trends, facilitating internal quality audits, maintaining documentation, assisting with corrective action plans, and participating in annual staffing/prevention reviews in collaboration with the Superintendent.
• Lead the facility-wide implementation, data collection, entry, verification, and analysis for Performance-based Standards (PbS) / Center for Improving Youth Justice (CIYJ), translating data into actionable continuous quality improvement (CQI) strategies.
• Support compliance, continuous quality improvement, and programming alignment with Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI) core strategies and juvenile justice best practices.
• Design, implement, and maintain high-level continuous quality improvement (CQI) frameworks to evaluate the effectiveness of educational, vocational, rehabilitative, behavioral health, and transitional programs within the facility.
• Oversee data collection mechanisms, synthesize complex operational data, and prepare comprehensive monthly, annual, and ad-hoc statistical reports for leadership, legislative inquiries, judicial entities, and federal reporting requirements.
• Work closely and collaboratively with the Superintendent and Deputy Superintendent to align program development, policy revisions, operational priorities, and facility safety measures with broader Division and Department strategic objectives.
• Serve as a high-level confidential assistant and strategic advisor to the Executive Director, providing senior executive support on sensitive agency-wide operations, organizational restructuring, policy execution, and high-priority initiatives.
• Manage administrative operations for assigned program areas, including complex calendar management, executive scheduling, procurement requests, and ordering essential operational equipment and supplies.
• Research, develop, and write executive talking points, speeches, formal presentations, briefing decks, and public communications for the Executive Director and Division leadership.
• Research, recommend, and assist in implementing evidence-based and trauma-informed cognitive-behavioral, rehabilitative, and vocational programming tailored to the juvenile justice population.
• Serve as a senior technical, administrative, and confidential liaison on committees, task forces, workgroups, and interagency initiatives related to facility programming, quality assurance, system reform, and juvenile justice standards.
• Collaborate with the Deputy Superintendent and facility management to design, update, and evaluate staff training curricula to ensure alignment with newly established policies, quality standards, and evidence-based practices.
• Analyze resident grievance patterns, incident reports, and disciplinary trends to provide data-driven recommendations to executive leadership for policy adjustments, proactive risk mitigation, and operational safety improvements.
• Oversee and evaluate vendor performance, specialized service contracts, and community partner agreements to ensure compliance with contract deliverables, evidence-based practices, and facility safety protocols.
• Lead complex, highly confidential administrative studies, operational reviews, and strategic planning initiatives directly assigned by the Executive Director or Superintendent.
• Participate in critical incident debriefings, operational reviews, emergency management planning, and crisis management activities as required.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.Benefits

For information regarding the benefits available to State of Rhode Island employees, please visit the Office of Employee Benefits' website at http://www.employeebenefits.ri.gov/.