Working Title: Family, Friend and Neighbor ( FFN) Policy Specialist
Job Class: State Program Administrator Coordinator
Agency: Children Youth & Families Dept
Job ID : 95635
Location : St. Paul
Telework Eligible : Yes
Full/Part Time : Full-Time
Regular/Temporary : Unlimited
Who May Apply : Open to all qualified job seekers. This vacancy is open for bids and for all qualified job seekers simultaneously. Bidders will be considered through 7/27/26. Please note that to be considered a bidder, you must be a permanent, non-probationary DCYF employee in the same job classification as the position posted.
Date Posted : 07/20/2026
Closing Date : 08/03/2026
Hiring Agency/Seniority Unit : Children Youth & Families Dept / DCYF Central Office MAPE
Division/Unit : DCY - Central Office / DCYF CPM Child Development Svcs
Work Shift: Day Shift
Work Hours : 8:00am - 4:30pm
Days of Work : Monday - Friday
Travel Required : Yes, 5%
Salary Range: $37.91 - $56.39 / hourly; $79,156 - $117,742 / annually
Classified Status : Classified
Bargaining Unit/Union : 214 - MN Assoc of Professional Empl/MAPE
FLSA Status : Exempt - Administrative
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.
* Telework (https://mn.gov/mmb-stat/policies/1422-telework.pdf) (Within Minnesota or neighboring states) and flexible hours options are available.)
**Statewide travel is possible 5 percentage of the time.
As the Family, Friend and Neighbor (FFN) Policy Specialist, you will lead the strategic development, coordination, and implementation of cross-division and cross-agency efforts to advance policies and programs for Family, Friend and Neighbor (FFN) caregivers in Minnesota. FFN caregivers are family members, friends and neighbors that care for children outside of a formal child care setting, a frequent choice for parents with young children and an essential part of our state's child care and early childhood system.
The FFN Policy Specialist, reporting to the Provider & Workforce Supports Manager in the Child Care Services Division, holds the following responsibilities:
Provides leadership and direction for efforts to support FFN caregivers with a focus on policy and program development to advance understanding of the role of FFN caregivers in the early childhood field and as a key support for family access to child care.
Collaborates extensively across divisions within DCYF, state agencies, external partner organizations, and community-based interest holders to ensure that practice, program and policy decisions to support FFN caregivers and the families and children they serve are grounded in their lived reality, provide the needed supports for FFN caregivers and families to ensure that quality care for working parents in FFN caregiving settings exists and the caregivers have trusting community relationships that support enhanced skills and knowledge.
Serves as a lead subject matter expert on FFN caregivers and the families and children they serve for the division and agency.
Serves as lead project manager for FFN-related special projects, including vendor contracts.
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.
Four (4) years of experience in child care and early childhood or other human services developing or managing programs. Work experience must include the following:
Demonstrated expertise managing the development, implementation and/or improvement of public sector projects, programs, or policies.
Demonstrated project and interest holder management skills, including the ability to organize and execute work based on project goals, prioritize amidst competing interests, and effectively engage a variety of interest holders to advance the work.
Experience advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion through management practice (e.g., creating psychologically safe teams and work environments) and/or through project work (e.g., leading projects that advance equity and center those most impacted by policy decisions).
Highly effective written and verbal communication skills and experience communicating with diverse groups of interest holders, including leaders and communities, in a way that is clear, inclusive, and professional.
Ability to navigate ambiguity, including proactively anticipating barriers and adapting to overcome challenges, innovating, and designing with a user-focused mindset.
Preferred Qualifications
Advanced degree in public policy, public administration, early childhood, or a related field.
Lived experience relevant for the work of long-range planning on key policy issues to improve the lives of children and families such as, personal, family, or community experiences related to key policy issues (e.g. child care and early childhood, workforce development, poverty and/or racial or social justice).
Knowledge of Minnesota's legislative process, state policies, procedures and practices, and research institution landscape.
Research and program evaluation knowledge sufficient to interpret complex policy issues, make accurate decisions and recommendations, and to provide sound information and analysis for legislative and executive decision making.
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.
