Policy Specialist #W5467 (Office of Trauma & Resilience Policy) - REPOST

Job no:
Work type: Full-Time (Salaried)
Location: Henrico, Virginia, Richmond (City), Virginia
Categories: Health and Human Services

Title: Policy Specialist #W5467 (Office of Trauma & Resilience Policy) - REPOST

State Role Title: Prog Admin Specialist II

Hiring Range: $80,000 - $85,000/yr.

Pay Band: 5

Agency: Department of Social Services

Location: DSS HOME OFFICE

Agency Website: www.dss.virginia.gov

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

The Virginia Department of Social Services, Office of Trauma and Resilience Policy is currently seeking a Policy Specialist. This position is responsible for leading agency-wide organizational policy and systems change efforts to embed trauma-informed and healing-centered practices across DSS through policy development, implementation infrastructure, and organizational transformation; providing support, training, and technical assistance to support the well-being of the DSS workforce; and developing curricula and tools to ensure DSS and other human services agencies can embed trauma-informed and healing-centered policy into daily practice.

Minimum Qualifications

• Extensive knowledge of trauma-informed care and practice.
• Demonstrated experience in the administration of human services, child welfare services, education, juvenile justice or other related fields.
• Comprehensive knowledge of the impact of trauma on individuals and families and trauma-informed service delivery.
• Ability to interpret laws, rules, and regulations related to systems supporting a trauma-informed, two generation/whole family service model.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to create, effectively articulate and present complex concepts, ideas and strategies to senior leadership and others throughout the organization.
• Ability to deliver compelling presentations in both small and large group settings and orient the message to value the needs of the audience.
• Demonstrated ability to collect and analyze information for federal and state data reporting.
• Strong problem solving, clear decision-making and critical thinking skills.
• Skilled in motivating, influencing, and supporting others to accomplish team and organizational goals.
• Ability to provide technical assistance to state and local staff and maintaining effective working relationships with a wide range of internal and external individuals.
• Knowledge of racial inequities and disproportionality.

Additional Considerations

• Experience conducting applied research or data analysis and translating findings into clear, actionable policy or practice recommendations.
• Experience working with state level legislation, regulations, or policy development, including the ability to assess the appropriateness of actions within a government or human services context.
• Demonstrated experience engaging individuals with lived experience in policy development, including the ability to facilitate conversations, gather meaningful input, and translate feedback into actionable policy or practice recommendations.
• Experience collaborating with a diverse range of community-based providers to develop and implement policy, with strong skills in relationship-building, problem-solving, and integrating partner perspectives into policy design.

Special Instructions

You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to "Your Application" in your account to check the status of your application for this position.

Selected candidate(s) must successfully pass a fingerprint-based criminal history background check. A record of criminal history does not automatically bar an applicant from consideration. Employment verification will be conducted to include current/previous supervisory employment reference checks.

VDSS will record information from each new employee's Form I-9 (Employment Eligibility Verification) into the Federal E-Verify system to confirm identity and work authorization.

Please be advised that this position may be approved to work onsite for two days per week and work remotely for three days per week.

Selected candidate may be required to assist the agency or state government generally in the event of an emergency declaration by the Governor.

To be considered for this position, you must submit a Commonwealth of Virginia application or resume through the on-line "Virginia Jobs" (PageUp) employment site no later than 11:55 p.m. on the closing date listed. Each application is reviewed for documentation that shows the applicant meets the minimum and additional considerations as stated in the job announcement. The decision to interview an applicant is based on the information provided. Multiple positions may be filled from this recruitment within 90 days of the closing date.

Contact Information

Name: VDSS - Division of Human Resources

Phone: [email protected]

Email: [email protected]

In support of the Commonwealth's commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.

Advertised: 23 Jul 2026 Eastern Daylight Time
Applications close: 01 Aug 2026 Eastern Daylight Time

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