Assistant Agency Director, Social Services Agency

THIS IS A NEW ASSEMBLED EXAMINATION. The eligible list resulting from this examination will cancel any existing list and may last approximately one year, but can be extended.

Applications must be in the possession of the Human Resource Services Department by 5:00 p.m. on the Last Day for Filing. Applications will only be accepted on-line.

Supplemental Questionnaire: A properly completed Supplemental Questionnaire must be submitted with each application. Applications and Supplemental Questionnaires must be in the possession of the Human Resource Services Department by 5:00 p.m. on the Last Day for Filing. Applications will only be accepted on-line. Failure to submit the Application or Supplemental Questionnaire will result in disqualification.

Please see attached recruitment brochure, Assistant Agency Director, Social Services Agency.

Assistant Agency Directors plan, organize, and administer client programs and operations of the Benefit/Employment Services, Child/Family Services, Adult/Aging Services, or Administrative Services Departments in the Social Services Agency; determine and interpret departmental policies; direct the activities of assigned units and personnel; act for the Agency Director as Department Head of specific client programs; and do related work as required.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES

Assistant Agency Directors function at the second highest operational level client program of management in the Social Services Agency and report to the Director of the Social Services Agency. The incumbents are responsible for providing coordination of programs, personnel, internal management, and administration of the department to which assigned, and/or are responsible for the design of new programs in response to changes in the public domain.

Ideal Candidate

• Individual with a track record of providing high quality services management based upon a strong understanding of programmatic elements within Social Service areas with a focus on leveraging state and federal resources.
• Visionary and passionate administrator with a sound understanding of Social Services programs and the needs of our clients and our community.
• Strategic planner with a sound understanding of designing, developing and implementing programmatic modifications based on legislative changes.
•  Sound decision maker with the ability to identify and understand complex problems and concepts, apply logical thinking and quantitative methods of gathering and analyzing information and exercise good judgment based on available data, design solutions to problems, formulate and articulate action plans proactively and collaboratively.
•  Strategic and creative administrator who can forecast program needs of a variety of service areas and collaborate with organization leaders to develop and manage resources.
•  Strong leader who aligns the organization’s vision and values and manages work groups by inspiring, advising and delegating subordinates, facilitating goal accomplishments and tracking and evaluating performance to ensure success and inspires, supports, monitors and acknowledges front line staff.
• Team builder who develops effective teams at the senior manager and supervisor levels.
• Great communicator and listener, quick and clear thinker, calm under pressure.
• Advanced user of computer applications who champions technology and adapts to the latest trends to maximize performance management processes; uses data to inform and set program priorities and identify policy challenges/opportunities.
•  Politically astute leader, possessing the skills necessary for identifying, navigating and successfully interacting within the dynamics of the organization while maintaining sensitivity to the competing needs of the wide variety of internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong collaborator, adept in identifying opportunities and acting to build strategic relationships to help achieve agency goals.
• Innovative thinker who combines ideas in unique ways and can explore situations from multiple perspectives while quickly calculating risks and initiating action to achieve a recognized benefit.
• Seeks understanding- Establishes relationships with and learns more about people of other cultures and backgrounds (i.e., their special issues, social norms, decision-making approaches, and preferences).
• Conveys respect – Uses language and behavior that consistently reflect and enhance the dignity of diverse customers, partners, and employees; takes actions that show consideration for cultural concerns and expectations; continually examines own biases and behaviors to avoid stereotypical responses.
• Uses diversity as an advantage- Seeks out and uses ideas, opinions and insights from diverse sources; optimizes effectiveness by using individuals’ particular talents and abilities for relevant tasks or assignments.
• Champions diversity – Advocates the value of diversity to others; takes actions to increase diversity in the workplace (e.g., by recruiting and developing people with varied backgrounds and from different cultures); confronts racist, sexist, or inappropriate behavior; challenges exclusionary organizational practices.

Education:

Possession of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Public Administration, Business Administration, Social Welfare or closely related field of study is required.

Experience:

The equivalent of four years of full-time experience in the classification of Division Director or higher level classification in the Alameda County classified service, which included responsibility for major program administration and policy direction.

Or

Experience:

The equivalent of five years of full-time, increasingly responsible administrative experience, two years of which must have been as a Program Director in public welfare administration or a closely-related program, with direct responsibility for major program operations, budget or policy direction.

A Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in Public Administration, Business Administration, Social Welfare or a closely related field may be substituted for two years of the required work experience in either pattern above.

Knowledge of:

·         Principles and practices of public welfare and human services administration.

·         Provisions of the California Welfare and Institutions Code.

·         Principles of supervision, budgeting, modern organizational development, management, public relations and budget.

·         Community resources and current trends.

Ability to:

·         Communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.

·         Make effective decisions.

·         Use analytical and problem solving skills.

·         Plan and organize.

·         Manage and control.

·         Take leadership.

·         Demonstrate interpersonal sensitivity.

·         Demonstrate flexibility.

THE EXAMINATION WILL CONSIST OF THE FOLLOWING STEPS:

1) A review of candidates' applications to verify possession of minimum requirements. Those candidates who possess the minimum requirements for the class will move on to the next step in the examination process.

2) A review of candidates’ Supplemental Questionnaires to select the best qualified applicants to continue in the process.

3) An oral interview which will be weighted as 100% of the candidate's final examination score. The oral interview may contain situational exercises.

CANDIDATES MUST ATTAIN A QUALIFYING RATING ON EACH PORTION OF THIS EXAMINATION.

We reserve the right to make changes to the announced examination components.

Alameda County utilizes a Civil Service Selection System founded on merit. Such a system is competitive and based on broad recruitment efforts and equal opportunity for qualified applicants to test in an examination process designed to determine the qualifications, fitness, and ability of competitors to perform duties of the vacant position. Many of our recruitments are targeted and specific to the needs of a current vacant position, in which case, the eligible list may be exclusively used for that current vacant position. Other recruitments many be more broadly used for both current and future vacancies, or for other alternate jobs with comparable scopes of work.

To learn more about our recruitment and selection process, please visit the “What You Need to Know” section of our website, www.acgov.org/hrs.

Applicants will be informed via email with reasonable notice in advance of any examination process which will require their attendance. The following dates are tentative and subject to change based on the needs of the Agency:

TENTATIVE SELECTION PLAN

*If designated as a combined oral examination/hiring interview, in addition to establishing an eligibility list, the oral interviews may serve as the final selection interview for vacancies in this classification.

Alameda County and the Human Resource Services Department will make reasonable efforts in the examination and/or selection process to accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities and/or medical conditions in accordance/compliance with the State Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), Federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Alameda County’s Reasonable Accommodation Policy and applicable statutes. To request an accommodation due to a disability/medical condition during this or other phases of the examination/selection process, please contact the assigned Human Resources Representative listed on the job announcement before the last date of filing. Alameda County requires applicants to provide supporting documentation to substantiate a request for reasonable accommodation. In order to qualify for a reasonable accommodation, applicants must have a disability/medical condition pursuant to the ADA, FEHA and applicable statutes.

For more information regarding our Reasonable Accommodation procedures, please visit our website, www.acgov.org/hrs

Alameda County offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that affords wide-ranging health care options to meet the different needs of a diverse workforce and their families. We also sponsor many different employee discount, fitness and health screening programs focused on overall well being.  These benefits include but are not limited to*:

For your Health & Well-Being

• Medical – HMO & PPO Plans
• Dental – HMO & PPO Plans
• Vision or Vision Reimbursement
• Share the Savings
• Basic Life Insurance 
• Supplemental Life Insurance (with optional dependent coverage for eligible employees)
• Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance 
• County Allowance Credit
• Flexible Spending Accounts - Health FSA, Dependent Care and Adoption Assistance
• Short-Term Disability Insurance
• Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Voluntary Benefits - Accident Insurance, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity and Legal Services
• Employee Assistance Program

For your Financial Future

• Retirement Plan - (Defined Benefit Pension Plan)
• Deferred Compensation Plan (457 Plan or Roth Plan)

For your Work/Life Balance

• 11 paid holidays
• Floating Holidays
• Vacation and sick leave accrual
• Vacation purchase program
• Management Paid Leave**
• Catastrophic Sick Leave
• Employee Mortgage Loan Program
• Group Auto/Home Insurance
• Pet Insurance
• Commuter Benefits Program
• Guaranteed Ride Home
• Employee Wellness Program (e.g. At Work Fitness, Incentive Based Programs, Gym Membership Discounts)
• Employee Discount Program (e.g. theme parks, cell phone, etc.)
• Child Care Resources
• 1^st United Services Credit Union 

*Eligibility is determined by Alameda County and offerings may vary by collective bargaining agreement.  This provides a brief summary of the benefits offered and can be subject to change.

** Non-exempt management employees are entitled to up to three days of management paid leave. Exempt management employees are entitled to up to seven days of management paid leave.