Head of Cantonal Social Office

About the job

100 %

from 1 March 2027

Shaping social policy with foresight.

Your tasks – strategic, socially relevant and shaping

• Overall responsibility for the strategic, professional, personnel, organisational and financial management of the Cantonal Social Office as well as its future-oriented further development
• Superordinate professional control of the areas of social assistance, asylum, advance payment of maintenance and debt collection, assessment centre and other projects; ensuring a high professional and legal quality
• Strategic realignment of the asylum sector and development of viable solutions for future task fulfilment
• Development of a future-proof vision for social assistance and active shaping of the further development process together with municipalities and other partners.
• Early detection of social, legal and professional developments as well as initiation and management of reforms, legislative projects and organisational developments
• Advising the director and political authorities on social policy and enforcement-related issues as well as responsibility for central political matters
• Maintaining and further developing cooperation with municipalities, the federal government and other partners; representing the canton in inter-cantonal committees and conducting demanding negotiations
• Responsibility for finances, resources, risk and quality management as well as representation of the Cantonal Social Office towards authorities, professional organisations, media and the public

Your profile – strategic, politically savvy and strong leadership

• University degree in a field relevant to the function as well as several years of experience in a demanding leadership role
• Extensive experience in public administration and a pronounced understanding of social policy, legal and social contexts
• Strong strategic thinking and the ability to recognise long-term developments early, derive courses of action from them and develop a clear vision
• Experience in dealing with political authorities and a good understanding of cantonal decision-making processes as well as the different roles of the canton, municipalities and other partners
• High persuasiveness and assertiveness as well as negotiation skills and the ability to bring together different interests and develop viable solutions
• Change-oriented and integrative leadership personality who provides orientation, delegates responsibility and wins employees for common goals
• Confidence in dealing with complex, controversial and politically sensitive situations as well as high resilience and personal sense of responsibility
• Strong communication skills, diplomatic tact and the ability to convey complex matters appropriately and convincingly both internally and externally

For questions about the position

Lara Waldkirch
Head of HR
061 552 47 67

For questions about the application process

Lara Waldkirch
Head of HR
Lara.waldkirch@bl.ch

Cantonal Social Office

The Cantonal Social Office (KSA) monitors and reviews the work of the municipalities regarding the proper enforcement of social assistance, among other things in the form of audits. It also advises, trains and supports the 86 Basel-Landschaft municipalities in the implementation of social assistance. Furthermore, the Cantonal Social Office is the cantonal authority for jurisdictional questions and medical emergencies.

In the appeals procedure, the Cantonal Social Office instructs appeals against decisions of municipal social assistance authorities.

In the asylum and refugee sector, the Cantonal Social Office cooperates with the federal government and allocates persons assigned by the federal government to the municipalities. It also supports the municipalities in promoting the integration of persons from the asylum and refugee sector.

Furthermore, the Cantonal Social Office advances child maintenance payments and supports persons in separation cases in claiming court-ordered maintenance payments. The Cantonal Social Office also assumes cantonal tasks regarding rent contributions and care home approvals in the canton.

In addition, the Cantonal Social Office is committed to poverty prevention and alleviation, addresses overarching issues of poverty policy as well as political initiatives, and formulates social policy strategies and concepts.