Assistant Director - Deputy Director II (0952) - Child Support Services

Company Description

The San Francisco Department of Child Support Services is accepting applications for a permanent exempt Assistant Director!

⚠️IMPORTANT⚠️: Your application MUST include responses to the supplemental questionnaire found here: Supplemental Questionnaire

Applicants must complete the supplemental questionnaire along with the online application process.  Applications will not be reviewed without a completed supplemental questionnaire and vice versa.

Specific information regarding this recruitment process is listed below:

• Appointment Type: The position is a Permanent-Exempt (PEX) appointment.  This position is excluded by the Charter from the competitive civil service examination process and shall serve at the discretion of the appointing officer.
• Application Opening: December 12, 2025
• Application Deadline: Apply Immediately. Application filing will be open at least through January 8, 2026 and will close any time thereafter.
• Compensation Range: $155,870 - $198,952 annually

Becoming a City employee means being a part of a team that cares about making a difference. Your work will shape both the present and future of San Francisco. When you work for the City, you’re choosing a job with purpose.

About San Francisco Child Support Services 

San Francisco Child Support Services (CSS) empowers parents to provide economic support for their children by furnishing child support services in the form of location of parents, establishment of paternity and support obligations, and enforcement of support obligations for the well-being of families and children. Our vision is to ensure that children receive the financial and medical support they need from their parents to be healthy and successful. CSS stands unique among other City departments not only due to our mission and vision, but also because of our size.

With a total staff of 59, and within a highly skilled team environment, our people must autonomously perform a broader range of challenging duties than in many larger departments where responsibilities may be more compartmentalized.

Job Description

The Assistant Director serves as the department’s second-in-command and leads cross-unit integration, strategic initiatives, and organizational modernization. This role helps steer the department through major statewide reforms, strengthens workforce readiness, and ensures that operations, legal functions, and administrative systems work together to deliver equitable, consistent outcomes for families. Working closely with the Director and Head Attorney, the Assistant Director drives accountability, builds operational capacity, and represents the department in city, state, and federal forums.

Reporting directly to the Director, the Assistant Director is responsible for driving cross-unit coordination, implementing strategic initiatives, and advancing systems and workforce improvements across the department. The Assistant Director will focus on accountability, modernization, and alignment with federal, state, and local mandates while ensuring SF DCSS remains a national leader in equitable child support services.

The Assistant Director provides direct oversight of three divisions led by three managers:

• Administration: HR, Finance, IT, and Facilities
• Operations – Case Management
• Operations – Client Engagement
  In partnership with the Director and Head Attorney, the Assistant Director ensures these divisions operate as a coordinated system that supports efficient case flow, consistent policy application, and a strong client experience.

Key Responsibilities

Organizational Leadership & Integration

• Lead integration across Administration, Operations, and Legal to support seamless service delivery.
• Chair the Leadership Council to set priorities, resolve cross-unit issues, and strengthen alignment.
• Translate the Director’s strategic direction into clear operational plans with measurable follow-through.
• Serve as Acting Director when assigned, representing the department with city, state, and federal partners.

Child Support Program Expertise

• Lead organizational readiness for state and federal reforms, including ability-to-pay/earning-capacity standards.
• Ensure staff are trained, supported, and equipped to implement new workflows and performance expectations.
• Convert mandates and policy guidance into accurate, pr