Human Resource Services
Alameda Skyline

Associate Program Specialist

Recruitment #24-0301-01

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Introduction

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.

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.  Failure to submit the Application or Supplemental Questionnaire will result in disqualification.

Applications and Supplemental Questionnaires will only be accepted online.

DESCRIPTION

THE COUNTY

Alameda County was established in 1853 and operates under a Charter form of government. The five-member Board of Supervisors is elected by district on a nonpartisan basis, with members serving staggered four-year terms. The Board is responsible for setting policy, overseeing all County operations, approving the annual budget, and representing the County in special districts, regional agencies, and other areas. The Board-appointed County Administrator oversees County operations and services.


The City of Oakland serves as the seat of the County, which is comprised of over 20 agencies and departments. More than 9,700 professional and highly-trained County employees deliver a full spectrum of services ranging from general government and internal services to health care, social services, public works, and public safety. The County has a balanced $3.2 billion budget for FY 2018-19, including funding for initiatives that address some of the County’s most difficult challenges: affordable housing, chronic homelessness, and maintenance and improvement of aging infrastructure.


The Alameda County Board of Supervisors recently approved a new strategic plan, “Vision 2026,” that outlines County priorities for advancing local communities toward a healthy, prosperous future by the year 2026. The four visions of the new strategic plan are healthy environment, thriving and resilient population, safe and livable communities, and prosperous and vibrant economy. The County has also set “10X Goals,” with the aim of improving each of the following by 10 times:


  • Eliminate Homelessness
  • Healthcare for All
  • Employment for All
  • Eliminate Poverty and Hunger
  • Crime-free County
  • Accessible Infrastructure

Alameda County is committed to open government and citizen engagement and encourages employees and contributors to not only “think outside the box” but to “rethink the box.”


THE POSITION

Under close supervision, assist with providing technical programmatic services primarily related to program development and implementation; reviews and evaluates functions to direct client service delivery programs where such services are provided by community-based organizations (CBO’s), contract service providers and/or County staff in a wide variety of service areas; acts as County liaison with service providers and funding sources and ensures program regulations and procedures are followed; and, performs other related work as required.

IDEAL CANDIDATE
In addition to meeting the minimum qualifications stated below, the ideal candidate will possess the following critical attributes:

  • Basic understanding of programmatic needs assessments for program planning and evaluation purposes.
  • An individual who is a problem solver.
  • Strong communication skills, both written and oral, and the ability to communicate effectively with diverse audiences and in a variety of contexts.
  • An understanding of how use of performance measures and/or monitoring systems provide timely and pertinent information to track program performance.
  • Ability to identify and understand complex problems and concepts, to gather and analyze relevant information, and to exercise good judgment and decision-making based on available data.
  • Ability to maintain effectiveness even when experiencing changes in work responsibilities, priorities and deadlines and can take prompt action to accomplish objectives.
  • An employee who can independently prioritize tasks, provide status updates on short notice and demonstrate exceptional organizational skills.

THE VACANCIES
There are immediate vacancies located in Alameda County Health and the Social Services Agency. However, the eligible list resulting from this recruitment may be used by any department needing to fill a vacancy.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

EITHER I
Experience:
The equivalent of two years of full-time experience in one of the following classes: Supervising Eligibility Technician; Health Educator II; or, Consumer/Family Relations Program Assistant in the Alameda County classified service. (Non-classified includes the District Attorney’s Office, Hospital Authority, and the Consolidated Courts).

OR II
 
Education:
The equivalent to graduation from an accredited four-year college or university (180 quarter units or 120 semester units) with major coursework in business or public administration, a social science or field related to the program area to which assigned.

(Additional experience as outlined below may be substituted for the education on a year-for-year basis.)

AND
 
Experience:
The equivalent of two years of full-time professional-level or supervisory work in the direct delivery of services to clients or the oversight of such services in the program area to which assigned, one year of which must have included program planning and evaluation, or in program administration, contract negotiations, grants management and similar financial services.

OR III

Education:
Possession of a Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in business, public administration, social science or a field related to the program area to which assigned.

Licenses:
Specified positions may require possession of a valid California driver's license. Specified positions may also require licensure or certification in the programmatic area to which assigned.

NOTE: The Civil Service Commission may modify the above Minimum Qualifications in the announcement of an examination.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

The most suitably qualified candidates will possess the following competencies:

Knowledge of:
  • Principles, practices, funding sources and administrative requirements in the program area to which assigned
  • Principles and practices of direct client service delivery
  • Applicable federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations
  • Computer applications related to the work
  • Office administrative practices and procedures, including records management and the operation of standard office equipment
  • Various resources, services, and other benefit programs administered by public and private entities related to the work
  • Basic supervising principles and practices

Ability to:
  • Plan, monitor and evaluate program and service delivery effectiveness in the programmatic area to which assigned
  • Identify programmatic and operational problems, investigate and evaluate alternatives, and implement effective solutions
  • Interpret, explain and apply complex regulations, policies and procedures
  • Prepare clear, accurate and effective reports, correspondence, policies, informational brochures and other written materials
  • Represent the department and the County in meetings with others and make effective presentations to diverse groups
  • Organize and prioritize work and meet critical deadlines
  • Maintain accurate records and files
  • Exercise sound independent judgment within established policies and guidelines
  • Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of the work
  • Effectively communicate orally and in writing
  • Research, compile and summarize varied information, evaluate alternatives and reach sound conclusions

EXAMINATION COMPONENTS

THE EXAMINATION WILL CONSIST OF THE FOLLOWING STEPS:

  1. A review of applicants' applications to verify possession of minimum requirements. Those applicants 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 determine the best qualified. Those candidates considered the best qualified will move on to the final step in the examination 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 may 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, hrs.alamedacountyca.gov.

 

RECRUITMENT AND SELECTION PLAN

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 RECRUITMENT PLAN: 

Deadline for Filing:   

5:00:00 PM, Friday, September 6, 2024

Review of Minimum Qualifications:

September 18, 2024

Review of Supplemental Questionnaire for Best Qualified:

October 21, 2024

Virtual Pre-Recorded Civil Service Oral Examination:

October 21 - October 30, 2024

Notification of Results:

 Week of November 18, 2024

TENTATIVE SELECTION PLAN: 

Departmental Hiring Interviews:

 TBD

WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE ANNOUNCED RECRUITMENT & SELECTION PLAN

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 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, hrs.alamedacountyca.gov.

BENEFITS

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

  • 12 paid holidays
  • Floating Holidays
  • Vacation and sick leave accrual
  • Vacation purchase program
  • Management Paid Leave**
  • Catastrophic Sick Leave
  • 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
  • 1st 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.

Conclusion

All notices related to County recruitments for which you have applied will be sent/delivered via email. Please add @jobaps.com, @acgov.org, Noreplyalamedacountyhr@acgov.org and Noreply@jobaps.com as accepted addresses to any email blocking or spam filtering program you may use. If you do not do this, your email blocking or spam filtering program may block receipt of the notices regarding your application for recruitments. You are also strongly advised to regularly log into your County of Alameda online application account to check for notices that may have been sent to you. All email notices that will be sent to you will also be kept in your personal online application account. You will be able to view all of your notices in your online application account by clicking on the "My applications" button on the Current Job Openings page.

Please take the steps recommended above to ensure you do not miss any notices about a recruitment for which you have applied. The County of Alameda is not responsible for notices that are not read, received or accessed by any applicant for a County recruitment.

NOTE: All notices are generated through an automated email notification system. Replies to the email boxes Noreply@jobaps.com and noreplyalamedacountyhr@acgov.org are routed to unmonitored mailboxes. If you have questions, please go to our website at hrs.alamedacountyca.gov. You may also contact the Human Resources Analyst listed on the job announcement for the recruitment for which you have applied.

Angelica Cuevas, Human Resources Analyst

Human Resource Services, County of Alameda

(510) 271-5154 | Angelica.Cuevas@acgov.org

hrs.alamedacountyca.gov  

DISASTER SERVICE WORKER

All Alameda County employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law.  Employment with the County requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect.  Employees are required to report to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.

 

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Alameda County has a diverse workforce, that is representative of the communities we serve, and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.  All aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance and business need. Alameda County does not discriminate in employment on the basis of, race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factors protected under federal, state and local law. Alameda County celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive, and welcoming workplace environment.