Working Title: Director of Office of Systems Change & Public Engagement
Job Class: State Program Administrator, Manager Principal
Agency: Children Youth & Families Dept
Job ID : 94607
Location : St. Paul
Telework Eligible : Yes
Full/Part Time : Full-Time
Regular/Temporary : Unlimited
Who May Apply : Open to all qualified job seekers
Date Posted : 06/02/2026
Closing Date : 06/22/2026
Hiring Agency/Seniority Unit : Children Youth & Families Dept / DeptChildYth&Fam-Managerial
Division/Unit : DCY - Payroll / DCYF Deputy Commissioner
Work Shift/Work Hours : Monday-Friday 8am-5pm
Days of Work : Monday - Friday
Travel Required : Yes (10%)
Salary Range: $49.18 - $70.52 / hourly; $102,687 - $147,245 / annually
Classified Status : Classified
Bargaining Unit/Union : 220 - Manager/Unrep
FLSA Status : Exempt - Executive
Designated in Connect 700 Program for Applicants with Disabilities (https://mn.gov/mmb/careers/diverse-workforce/people-with-disabilities/connect700/) : Yes
The Department of Children, Youth, and Families is unable to provide sponsorship for work visas. Applicants must be eligible to work in the United States at the start of employment. DCYF does not participate in E-Verify.
The work you'll do is more than just a job.
At the State of Minnesota, employees play a critical role in developing policies, providing essential services, and working to improve the well-being and quality of life for all Minnesotans. The State of Minnesota is committed to equity and inclusion, and invests in employees by providing benefits, support resources, and training and development opportunities.
Job Summary
* Telework (https://mn.gov/mmb-stat/policies/1422-telework.pdf) (Within Minnesota or neighboring states) neighboring state must be a minimum of 50 miles from the St. Paul DCYF office.
The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is seeking an Office of Systems Change & Public Engagement Director. In this Director level role you will support the Commissioner of the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) by driving and building equity and engagement strategies, implementation of the overall administrative, coordination, and operational responsibilities of equity leadership and engagement activities of the cabinet level state department. This position will serve as the chief advisor to the Commissioner in the areas of Equity and Inclusion, will manage high profile DCYF initiatives, perform special projects, and liaison with agency personnel, Governor's Office, agency partners, media representatives and representatives of public and private sector organizations. Specifically, this position will develop intercultural competencies within DCYF - across its executive team and within the expansive, highly-important administrations - to offer services with an equity lens to the diverse Minnesotans and Minnesota communities served.
Office of Systems Change & Public Engagement Director will also serve as an executive leader and have management oversight of engagement functions. Engagement and equity strategies are critical to making sure that Minnesota children, youth, and families are centered in the mission and everyday work.
Responsibilities include but may not be limited to:
Lead the Office of Systems Change and Public Engagement by setting strategy and guiding agency-wide systems change and engagement efforts that support children, youth, and families across Minnesota.
Direct initiatives that align agency policies, programs, and services with community needs and improve long-term effectiveness, collaboration, and service delivery across divisions and partners.
Lead efforts to address systemic barriers and disparities affecting outcomes for children, youth, and families, while promoting sustainable, equity-focused solutions.
Build and maintain relationships with government, community, and service partners to strengthen public engagement and inform agency strategies and recommendations.
Provide leadership and supervision for the Systems Change and Public Engagement Office, including staff management, hiring, performance oversight, and day-to-day operations.
Minimum Qualifications
To facilitate proper crediting, please ensure that your resume clearly describes your experience in the areas listed and indicates the beginning and ending month, day and year for each job held.**
Experience must demonstrate the following:
Five (5) years of progressively responsible leadership experience in public administration, systems change, public engagement, community engagement, human services, education, public health, or a related field.
Experience leading cross-functional or cross-agency initiatives that improve programs, policies, or service delivery for children, youth, and families.
Experience developing and maintaining effective partnerships with government agencies, community organizations, and diverse stakeholders.
Experience addressing systemic barriers, disparities, or equity-related challenges through policy, program, or organizational change efforts.
Supervisory or management experience, including responsibility for staff leadership, performance management, and operational oversight.
Strong communication, collaboration, and strategic planning skills sufficient to lead agency-wide initiatives and represent the organization with internal and external partners.
Applicants who meet the above experience requirements will be further evaluated based on the following during the interview process:
Preferred Qualifications
Demonstrated interest in issues facing children, youth, and families and the goals of the Department of Children, Youth, and Families.
Relationships with partners, organizations, and community relations served by the new agency.
Experience communicating and sharing information with populations with diverse learning styles and abilities.
Facilitation and meeting organization experience in diverse groups.
Strong interpersonal and negotiation skills sufficient to develop effective consensus.
Proficiency in complex project management, data-driven solution design, and implementation of recommended results.
Knowledge of the research and professional literature on building equitable and inclusive organizations, including promoting accessibility.
An understanding of the role and operation of state government and local service delivery.
Our employees are dedicated to ensuring cultural responsiveness. Preferred candidates will have a variety of experiences working effectively with others from different backgrounds and cultures.
Additional Requirements
It is the policy of the Department of Children, Youth, and Families that the individual selected for this position successfully complete a background investigation prior to employment, that may include the following components:
Reference check
Criminal Background check
Fingerprinting check (MNJIS/CJIS)
Driver's License Check
Personnel File Review: all current and former public sector employees
Additional assessment may be required during the interview process
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities is an Equal Opportunity employer/educator committed to the principles of diversity. We prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their race, sex, color, creed, religion, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or membership in a local commission as defined by law. As an affirmative action employer, we actively seek and encourage applications from women, minorities, persons with disabilities, and individuals with protected veteran status.
Reasonable accommodations will be made to all qualified applicants with disabilities. If you are an individual with a disability who needs assistance or cannot access the online job application system, please contact the job information line at 651-259-3637 or email careers@state.mn.us . Please indicate what assistance is needed.
