GUARDIAN AD LITEM, 17TH CIRCUIT- SENIOR CHILD ADVOCATE MANAGER - 21015641

Requisition No: 876713 | Agency: Justice Administrative Commission | Position Number: 21015641 | Posting Closing Date: 08/07/2026

About The Organization And The Opportunity

The Statewide Guardian ad Litem Office is Florida’s award-winning, state-funded child advocacy organization that provides independent legal representation to abused, abandoned, and neglected children in Florida’s dependency court proceedings. The Office upholds the highest standards of integrity, excellence, and child-centered representation. The Office assigns a multidisciplinary team—comprised of a guardian ad litem attorney, a child welfare professional, and, ideally, a community volunteer or pro bono attorney—to represent each child the Office is court-appointed to. The Senior Child Advocate Manager may also supervise a team of child advocate managers and volunteers. More information about the Statewide Guardian ad Litem Office can be found at www.guardianadlitem.org.

About The Opportunity

The Child Advocate Manager Supervisor position offers an extremely interesting and challenging opportunity for supervisory job-seekers engaged in a career of social work and family service. This is a highly independent, responsible position focused on achieving the Guardian ad Litem Office’s primary mission: to represent every child under the jurisdiction of Florida’s dependency courts. This position works on a multidisciplinary team that may include trained child advocate managers, volunteers, pro bono attorneys, and staff attorneys to provide the highest quality community advocacy and legal representation to protect each child’s rights and best interests. It provides a great venue for increased professional growth and personal development. The daily working environment is dynamic, fast-paced, intellectually and emotionally challenging, and satisfying.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the Guardian ad Litem multidisciplinary team, management, Department of Children and Families, contracted service providers, Department of Juvenile Justice, Department of Education, Law Enforcement, etc.
• Supervise a unit of Guardian ad Litem Office employees, which may include Guardian ad Litem child advocate volunteers and child advocate managers.
• Review the work of subordinates and guide case decisions and recommendations to the court.
• Prepare reports to the court based on personal knowledge or reports from volunteers, staff, and advocacy team members.
• Track compliance of subordinate staff with deadlines and training requirements.
• Report to circuit leadership on progress, issues, and solutions.
• Administer policies and procedures of the Guardian ad Litem Office.
• Gather and document pertinent case information.
• Provide best interests advocacy recommendations to the Guardian ad Litem multidisciplinary team, the court, and child welfare partners.
• Attend internal and external case-related court hearings, depositions, case plan conferences, dependency mediations, staffings, and meetings.
• Visit and contact assigned children, parents, caregivers, schools, and service providers utilizing the organization’s database and reporting systems.
• Participate in internal and external trainings, meetings, and conferences.
• Conduct or participate in activities to recruit volunteers, including training of volunteers.
• Train and mentor subordinate staff.

Requirements

• Must possess a valid Florida Driver’s License.
• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major in sociology, social work, psychology, child development, education, juvenile justice, communications, or a related social science is preferred. Prior experience will be considered to meet the degree requirement. Experience could include time as Child Protective Investigator, Dependency Case Manager, Juvenile Probation Officer, Law Enforcement, Military, Educators, or other professional experiences working with children and families.
• Three years of experience in a program focusing on child welfare, social service, counseling, teaching, managing people, or supervising volunteers is desired but not required.
• All individuals hired after February 1, 2020, must obtain a Child Advocate Manager Certification offered by the Florida Certification Board within 12 months of hire date. Maintain certification as a Child Advocate Manager during duration of employment. Agency pays certification costs.

Skills

• Self-motivated and achievement-oriented.
• Demonstrated leadership skills and supervisory experience or potential.
• Strong desire to learn and pursue personal development.
• Ability to effectively interact with and/or influence people of diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to exercise discretion, respect privacy, and maintain confidentiality.
• Strong organizational/time management skills and ability to meet deadlines.
• Excellent oral, written, and computer literacy skills.
• Able to maintain a professional and effective demeanor in emotional or traumatic situations.
• Ability to coach, instruct, and motivate staff and volunteers.
• Knowledge of case management, social support services, and concepts of child development.
• Knowledge of the dynamics of child abuse, domestic violence, substance abuse, and mental health.
• Knowledge of the Florida State Courts System.
• Knowledge of Florida Statutes relating to child welfare and protection.

Benefits

• State of Florida Retirement package – Pension or investment plan (3% employee contribution required).
• State group insurance coverage options, including health, life, dental, vision, and other supplemental insurance options. Single coverage as low as $50 per month, family coverage as low as $180 per month for full-time employees.
• Flexible spending account.
• Nine paid state holidays each calendar year.
• One paid personal holiday each fiscal year.
• 13 paid sick leave days accrued within the calendar year.
• 13 paid annual leave days accrued within the calendar year, with an increase after five years.
• Life insurance of $25,000 provided by the state at no cost for all full-time positions. Employees may purchase additional coverage.
• Public Loan Forgiveness Program.
• State tuition waivers.
• Child Advocate Manager training and professional certification with the Florida Certification Board.
• No State of Florida income tax for residents of Florida.
• No mandatory night/weekend/holiday scheduled shifts.

Pay

$49,063.26