Dhs Program Director

Executive Service

DHS PROGRAM DIRECTOR 2

Department of Human Services

Vocational Rehabilitation Adm

Nashville, TN

Salary: $67,764 - $87,912

Closing Date: 02/09/2026

This is a hybrid position

For more information, visit the link below:
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Background Check:

This position requires a criminal background check. Therefore, you may be required to provide information about your criminal history in order to be considered for this position.

Who we are and what we do:

DHS MISSION:
Strengthen Tennessee by Strengthening Tennesseans. DHS VISION:
To revolutionize the customer experience by growing capacity to reduce dependency. DHS VALUES:
High Performance, Collaboration, Continuous Improvement, A Shared Vision, Customer-Centered Solutions.

Job Overview:

The Policy Director serves as a strong leader and communicator who provides day-to-day leadership and administrative oversight in the development, implementation, and oversight of statewide rehabilitation services policy. This position provides strategic direction, ensures compliance with federal and state requirements, and aligns agency policy with executive priorities and departmental goals. The Policy Director performs related work as required. Operationally, the DRS Policy team is housed within the DRS Quality and Compliance Unit, works under the general supervision of the Director of Quality and Compliance, and leads a team of 5 program professionals located throughout the State.

This position is responsible for directing policy development and interpretation for multiple program areas and creating and presenting information to a variety of audiences, including executive team members and external partners. This position differs from Policy Program Manager or Coordinator roles in that the Policy Director establishes policy direction, provides executive-level guidance, and has primary accountability for policy outcomes. This class differs from higher executive roles in that incumbents focus on policy leadership rather than overall agency administration.

Key Responsibilities:

• Directs the development, revision, and implementation of state policies and procedures based on federal laws, regulations, and executive guidance to meet departmental objectives.
• Interprets federal and state statutes, regulations, and guidance to ensure agency policies remain compliant and operationally effective.
• Provides strategic policy guidance to executive leadership, division directors, and program staff to support informed decision-making.
• Oversees policy review processes to ensure consistency, clarity, and alignment with departmental mission, vision, and values.
• Develops and implements strategies to achieve objectives set by executive leadership, ensuring compliance with federal requirements and departmental goals.
• Supervises and mentors subordinate policy, program, or management staff, ensuring high-quality policy development and effective implementation.
• Coordinates with internal and external stakeholders, including federal partners, state agencies, and contracted entities, to support policy development and execution.
• Addresses complex policy issues, concerns, and inquiries from internal and external stakeholders to ensure accurate interpretation and application of policy.
• Oversees training and technical assistance related to new or revised policies to ensure consistent understanding and application across the organization.
• Reviews program data, reports, and operational metrics to evaluate policy effectiveness and recommend improvements.
• Assure that detailed project plans, timelines, and critical date benchmarks are created and shared to ensure the timely execution of business needs with quality results.
• Oversee resolution of complex issues where analysis of situations or data requires an in-depth evaluation of variable factors.
• Communicate status updates on all initiatives to internal stakeholders and promptly request help when setbacks occur.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor|s degree and six years of full-time professional work in one of the following: social/human services, education, and/or social services grant coordination.

Pursuant to the State of Tennessee's Workplace Discrimination and Harassment policy, the State is firmly committed to the principle of fair and equal employment opportunities for its citizens and strives to protect the rights and opportunities of all people to seek, obtain, and hold employment without being subjected to illegal discrimination and harassment in the workplace. It is the State's policy to provide an environment free of discrimination and harassment of an individual because of that person's race, color, national origin, age (40 and over), sex, pregnancy, religion, creed, disability, veteran's status or any other category protected by state and/or federal civil rights laws.