Job Description

Posting number: MSS06221

Department: Del Norte County Department of Health and Human Services

Job classification: Deputy Director

Posting type: Open

Categories: Social Services

Summary

Under executive direction, the Deputy Director plans, organizes, and directs the overall administrative activities of one or more of the major divisions of a social services agency to include administrative services units, employment, eligibility, or social services programs either directly or through subordinate managers; may act in the Director's absence; and performs related work as required.

A Deputy Director typically has responsibility for multiple functional areas in a social services agency, but may manage a single division or function through subordinate managers and/or supervisors. In these agencies, the Deputy Director serves in a second-level managerial capacity.

The Deputy Director classification differs from the lower level Program Manager and Social Services Program Manager classifications in that the latter typically have responsibility for a single functional area within the agency.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED AND RECEIVED

Incumbents in the Deputy Director classification receive direction from the Director of the department, and supervise the work of subordinate managers and/or supervisors.

Examples of duties

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Develops and implements goals, objectives, policies, procedures and work standards for a division
• Plans, organizes, coordinates and directs a division in the areas of administration, social services, eligibility or employment; establishing performance levels, communicating goals and performance expectations, and ensuring conformance to established policies and procedures, and standards for quality and timeliness
• Plans and manages, through subordinate managers and/or supervisors, the work of division staff; assigns, reviews and evaluates staff and provides for their training and professional development; monitors and directs employee relations activities; and provides guidance to subordinate staff regarding personnel matters
• Assesses service delivery to communicate findings to upper management, implements changes to improve efficiency and service quality, maximizes effectiveness of program operations, and ensures alignment with the department's mission
• Serves as an internal technical expert regarding program matters by providing consultation and guidance to staff, subordinate supervisors, managers, executive management, or the Director
• Prepares and recommends long-term plans for division services and programs; develops specific proposals for action on current and future division services and operations
• Assesses the need for changes to policies or programs based on initiatives to improve services, new services or program modifications, and opportunities for cross-collaboration of program areas
• Interprets laws and regulations, including new laws and proposed legislation, to determine relevancy to department operations and services, and assesses program compliance with laws and regulations
• Develops or revises policies or procedures to improve operational efficiency and effectiveness, and assists higher-level management in departmental strategic planning
• Works collaboratively with personnel of other agencies, community groups, contractors, and other public and private organizations to determine needs for social services, and coordinates shared services or collaborative projects, or the provision of services by contracted agencies
• Assists in development of the budget for assigned programs by preparing cost estimates and projections, and performing ongoing monitoring of expenditures to ensure compliance with budget provisions
• Serves as an external technical expert by providing consultation regarding program, legal, or policy matters to external entities such as County department managers or administrators, State departments, Board of Supervisors, advisory boards, and advocacy groups
• Ensures that information regarding department services and policies is provided accurately and thoroughly to external parties, and that all complaints are responded to appropriately and in a timely manner
• Performs other duties as assigned

EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS

Knowledge of:

• Program development, administration, and service delivery related to programs in the area(s) of responsibility, which may include employment services, eligibility, and/or social services
• Federal, state, and local laws, rules, and regulations governing the operation of public social services agencies, including the California Welfare and Institutions Code and the California Department of Social Services Division Regulations
• Principles of public administration, including intergovernmental relationships affecting delivery of public services
• Current management and leadership theories, techniques, and applications to ensure that strategies employed in the supervision and oversight of staff are effective and appropriate
• Planning and scheduling techniques to ensure that timelines and schedules are established appropriately, modified as needed, and adhered to
• Budgeting principles in order to develop, manage, and/or track budgets, budget allocations, and expenditures

Ability to:

• Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with internal management and staff, and with a variety of external stakeholders
• Monitor the activities in multiple programs or functions run by different subordinate managers or supervisors to ensure all activities are consistent with established policies and procedures, and the mission of the department
• Develop solutions to complex problems and issues relating to programs, procedures, and policies
• Be flexible in adapting to changes in priorities or resources that impact pre-established timelines and courses of action
• Apply knowledge of laws, regulations, and policies to decision making and problem solving to identify solutions and courses of action that are most appropriate or compliant
• Analyze and evaluate the impact and effectiveness of programs, procedures, and policies
• Develop alternate work plans and strategies in response to changing priorities, problems, or setbacks to allow for the completion of projects and work assignments within desired timeframes
• Develop short-range and long-range plans and schedules in support of operating goals and strategic plans of the department
• Develop systems and controls to ensure the quality of work performed by staff, and overall quality of services provided
• Delegate work assignments and appropriate level of responsibility to employees in order to ensure the completion of work assignments and projects
• Read and understand complex written materials, such as laws, proposed legislation, policies, reports, etc., in order to interpret, explain, and apply
• Use a personal computer to input data, access information, and create materials and documents using a variety of software applications
• Communicate verbally, in person or by telephone, clearly and concisely with a variety of audiences on a variety of matters
• Write to ensure effective and clear communication and proper composition of reports, correspondence, email, and other written communication
• Review and edit documents written by others to ensure proper format, sentence structure, grammar, and punctuation

Qualifications

Pattern 1: One (1) year of full-time experience performing duties as a Social Services Program Manager, Program Manager, Staff Services Manager, or Senior Staff Services Manager within an Interagency Merit System county;

OR

Pattern 2: Four (4) years of full-time supervisory experience in employment, eligibility, social service programs, or administrative and staff services work in areas such as personnel, administrative analysis, accounting, auditing, budgeting, or data processing in a public social services agency.

OR

Pattern 3: A graduate degree in public administration or business administration or a Master's Degree in Social Work or a Master's Degree from a two year counseling program; AND two (2) years of full-time supervisory or managerial experience in employment, eligibility, social service programs, or administrative and staff services work in areas such as personnel, administrative analysis, accounting, auditing, budgeting, or data processing in a public social services agency.

Supplemental information

EXAMINATION INFORMATION

TRAINING & EXPERIENCE EXAMINATION – WEIGHTED 100%

The Training & Experience Examination is designed to elicit a range of specific information regarding each candidate’s knowledge, skill, abilities, and potential to effectively perform the duties relative to the classification. Responses to the questionnaire will be assessed based on pre-determined rating criteria. All applicants must complete the entire examination to receive a score. In order to obtain a position on the eligible list, candidates must receive a minimum rating of 70% on the examination.

Examination administration and processing time is approximately two weeks after the closing date of the job bulletin. If conditions warrant, an Experience and Education examination may be conducted in lieu of the Training and Experience Examination. Please review the Experience and Education examination information below:

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE EXAMINATION – WEIGHTED 100%

The Education & Experience examination is based solely upon information provided from the application and supplemental information (e.g., resumes, transcripts). Information provided from the application and supplemental information will be assessed compared to a standard developed in relation to the elements of the. Special care should be taken to submitting a complete description of your education and experience relevant to the typical tasks, scope, and minimum qualifications stated on this bulletin. Supplemental information will be accepted, but competitors should read this bulletin carefully to determine what kind of information will be useful to those individuals completing the evaluation. In order to obtain a position on the eligible list, candidates must receive a minimum rating of 70% on the examination.

Examination administration and processing time is approximately two weeks after the closing date of the job bulletin.

ELIGIBLE LIST INFORMATION

A departmental open eligible list will be established for the county of Del Norte. The list will be utilized for 12 months after it is established unless the needs of the service and conditions of the list warrant a change in this period.

RETEST PERIOD

Once you have taken the examination, you may not retest for SIX (6) MONTHS from the established eligibility date.

SPECIAL TEST ARRANGEMENTS

Special testing arrangements may be made to accommodate applicants for disability, military, or religious reasons. If you require such arrangements, please contact CalHR at mssprogram@calhr.ca.gov or 916-909-3701 upon notification that your application has been approved.

APPLICATION DOCUMENTS

If you are using education to meet the minimum qualifications, you must attach your transcripts to your application. Applicants with foreign transcripts must provide a transcript evaluation that indicates the number of units to which the foreign course work is equivalent. Transcripts and evaluations may be unofficial; official transcripts may be required upon appointment. Please redact birthdates and social security numbers.

GENERAL INFORMATION

MSS reserves the right to revise the examination plan to better meet the needs of the recruitment if the circumstances under which this examination was planned change. Such revision will be in accordance with civil service laws and rules and all competitors will be notified.

If you meet the requirements stated on this bulletin, you may take this examination. Your performance in this examination will be rated against predetermined rating criteria. All competitors who pass will be added to the eligible list. Meeting the entry requirements does not assure success in the examination or placement on the eligible list.

General Qualifications: Applicants must possess essential personal qualifications including integrity, initiative, dependability, good judgement, the ability to work cooperatively with others, and a state of health consistent with the ability to perform the assigned duties of the class. A medical examination may be required. As part of the hiring process, a background investigation may be required.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

The Merit System Services program is committed to equal employment opportunity for all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

Is this number being monitored by a designated staff person?

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• A valid driver's license may be required at the time of appointment and employees may also be required to drive their own car, provide proof of car insurance, and a DMV clearance. Individuals who do not meet this requirement due to a disability will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
• As a condition of employment, the County of Del Norte will require proof of ability to work in the U.S.
• This recruitment will be used to fill full-time, part-time, and extra-help positions as vacancies occur.

ABOUT DEL NORTE COUNTY

Del Norte County, where the redwoods meet the sea, is located in the northwest corner of California along the Pacific Ocean and adjacent to the Oregon border. The substantially rural county is notable for forests containing coast redwoods, some over 350 feet tall. These redwoods are the tallest living things on Earth, dating back over 2,000 years. Notably, the County is located in one of the few rain forests in the temperate region. The County is home to a multitude of unique plants and flowers, coastal bird and fish species, rocky primitive beaches and sea stacks, pristine rivers, and historic lighthouses. Del Norte County is home to several fun rivers and ocean activities, a variety of food festivals, including local seafood, a sanctioned BBQ cook-off, raft races on the beautiful and wild Smith River, and the very popular ocean stand-up paddleboard race. There are numerous hiking trails located within the national and state parks, as well as sponsored park events throughout the year. Star Wars enthusiasts will also recognize the County as being the location of some of the forest scenes used in Return of the Jedi.