Job Description:

ABOUT THE POSITION

The Program Specialist II is the journey level class of the Program Specialist series. Assignments may include complex studies and projects requiring extensive research, exacting analysis, the development of recommendations, and the implementation and coordination of program or operational changes. Assignments within DPSS require specific knowledge at an advanced level in one or more of the following areas: case planning and case management in a social services agency, determining eligibility for social services assistance programs or developing employment opportunities in order for disadvantaged individuals to gain self-sufficiency.

The ideal candidate will have previous grant administration, program coordination, and compliance experience.

Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:30 AM - 5:00 PM (9/80 shift, meaning nine hour days with every other Friday or Monday off).

Meet the team! The Housing and Workforce Solutions department transforms and promotes health, thriving communities, reignites hope and restores human dignity through housing assistance, homeless prevention and workforce development programs.

Click HERE to see the benefits of the Temporary Assignment Program (TAP)

EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES
• Analyze new and revised legislation which govern social services and/or child support programs to determine impact upon operations; analyze existing operations and procedures within an assigned area.

• Conduct studies and make recommendations for procedural or organizational changes including staffing requirements and costs; plan and coordinate the implementation of program changes with systems (EDP) and other departmental areas.

• Oversee general complaint function: investigate complaints involving various social services and child support programs.

• Develop and review departmental policies and procedures to ensure compliance with state and federal legislation, regulations, and directives.

• Compose, organize, and revise departmental policy and procedure manuals; may plan and coordinate the development of new and revised programs, contracts, and interagency agreements with department staff, other County departments, and community agencies.

• Act as a technical expert or resource person to department staff and other interested individuals regarding social services and/or child support program policies, and procedures.

• Research, analyze, and prepare recommendations regarding special projects assigned by the Director of Public Social Services, Director of Child Support Services, or other administrative staff.

• Compose selected correspondence, reports, and directives for use by the Director and designated staff members in public hearings and meetings with state officials.

• Correspond with and act as a department liaison with various state agencies and departments; may serve as a department representative on various social services assistance committees.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
OPTION I

Education: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree in social welfare, social or behavioral sciences, social/human services, counseling, or a closely related field.

Additional caseworker experience in the program for which the position is being filled may be substituted for the required education on the basis of one year of experience for 30 semester or 45 quarter units of college level coursework.

Experience: One year of lead or supervisory caseworker experience in the program for which the position is being filled.

OPTION II

Experience: One year of experience comparable to a Program Specialist I in a Department of Social Services.

Knowledge of: Principles, philosophies, and operations of social services and/or child support programs; the federal, state, and local social services and/or child support programs and their supporting legislation; available sources of social services rules and regulations; principles of organization, planning, research and analysis.

Ability to: Interpret new and revised regulations and project possible and/or probable impacts to the department; develop, revise, and implement departmental operating policies and procedures; define organizational, procedural, and resource allocation problems; collect, organize, and evaluate pertinent data, define and validate conclusions, identify alternative solutions and project consequences of decisions and recommendations; may perform mathematical and statistical computations required for cost analysis, reports, and record keeping; prepare clear, concise, and complete reports, correspondence, directives, and manuals; speak effectively in groups and individual situations; establish and maintain effective line of communication and working relationships at all organizational levels; give and follow oral and written instructions; work in the presence of changing priorities and tight time schedules; operate a microcomputer and use a variety of applications software packages.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
General Information For specific questions regarding this position, please contact Sharlah Harvey at sharvey@rivco.org.

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APPLICATION INFORMATION

Veteran's Preference
The County has a Veterans Preference Policy applicable to new hires. To qualify, upload a copy of your (or your spouse's) Member-4 Form DD-214 indicating dates of service, and a copy of your spouse's letter of disability (if applicable) with your application. For privacy reasons, it is recommended that you remove your social security information from the document(s). A Human Resources Representative will review the materials and determine if you qualify for veterans' preference.The Veterans Preference Policy, C-3 is available here: https://rivcocob.org/board-policies

Reasonable Accommodations
The County of Riverside is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). Qualified individuals with disabilities who need a reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process should contact the recruiter for the position noted above. For additional information and/or to obtain the appropriate form for requesting a reasonable accommodation, please visit the Disability Access Office web page located at: https://rc-hr.com/disability

Proof of Education
If using education to qualify or when requested by the recruiter, upload a copy of any license(s), official/unofficial transcript(s), degrees, and/or related employment documents to your NeoGov account at the time of application and before the closing date. Official or unofficial transcripts will be accepted.

If your education was completed outside of the United States, you will need to provide a copy of your Foreign Education Equivalency evaluation from a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services ( NACES ) or Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. ( AICE ).

Equal Opportunity Employer
The County of Riverside is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of the County of Riverside to provide equal employment opportunities for all qualified persons. All applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, ancestry, medical condition (cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, or denial of medical and family care leave, or any other non-job-related factors.

Pre-Employment
All employment offers are contingent upon successful completion of pre-employment requirements including a criminal background investigation, which involves fingerprinting. (A felony or misdemeanor conviction may disqualify the applicant from County employment). A pre-employment physical examination and background check may be required.

Probationary Period
As an Approved Local Merit System, all County of Riverside employees, except those serving "At Will," are subject to the probationary period provisions as specified in the applicable Memorandum of Understanding, County Resolution, or Salary Ordinance. Temporary and Per Diem employees serve at the pleasure of the agency/department head.

General Information
Current County of Riverside and/or current employees of the hiring department may receive priority consideration. Qualified candidates may be considered for future County vacancies.

Job postings may close without notice based on application volume. Submit your complete application by the recruitment close date; no late applications are accepted. Ensure all relevant experience/education is reflected on your application/resume, as a failure to demonstrate position requirements may disqualify applicants. A description of job duties directly copied from the job classification or job posting will not be considered.

Please read and follow any special application instructions on this posting. Click the 'Apply' link located on this page to submit your application. For additional instructions on the application process, examinations, Veteran's preference, pre-employment accommodation or other employment questions, please refer to our web site, www.rc-hr.com .

If you are experiencing technical problems, you may contact the governmentjobs.com applicant support desk Monday through Friday, 6 am to 5 pm Pacific Time at support@governmentjobs.com or toll-free 1-855-524-5627.

MEDICAL/DENTAL/VISION INSURANCE: A choice of different medical, dental and visions plan are available to elect. The County provides a Flexible Benefit Credit contribution as governed by the applicable SEIU Memorandum of Understanding to contribute towards the cost of these plans.

Note: Employees on assignment through the Temporary Assignment Program (TAP) receive different benefits. See the list here .
MISCELLANEOUS RETIREMENT: County of Riverside has three retirement Tiers through the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS).

• 
  Tier I (Classic Member - Formula 3% @ 60): Applicable to current and former County of Riverside local miscellaneous employees hired prior to 08/24/2012 and did not withdraw CalPERS contributions. The employee contribution is eight (8%) percent.


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  Tier II (Classic Member - Formula 2% @ 60): Applicable to local miscellaneous employees 1) hired after 08/23/2012 through 12/31/2012; 2) Previously employed with another CalPERS contracting public agency or a reciprocal retirement system, with a break in service of less than six months between the separation date with the previous employer and the appointment date with the County of Riverside. The employee contribution is seven (7%) percent.


• 
  Tier III (PEPRA New Member - Formula 2% @ 62): Applicable to CalPERS local miscellaneous new members hired on or after the implementation of the Public Employees' Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA) which took effect January 1, 2013. Effective July 1, 2023 employee contributions are 7.25% and will increase to 7.75% effective July 1, 2024.
  

A new member is defined as any of the following:

A new hire who enters CalPERS membership for the first time on or after January 1, 2013, and who has no prior membership in any California Public Retirement System.

A new hire who enters CalPERS membership for the first time on or after January 1, 2013, and who was a member with another California Public Retirement System prior to that date, but who is not subject to reciprocity upon joining CalPERS.

A member who first established CalPERS membership prior to January 1, 2013, and who is rehired by a different CalPERS agency after a break in service of greater than six (6) months.

CalPERS refers to all members that do not fit within the definition of a new member as "classic members".

Contribution rates are subject to change based on the County of Riverside annual actuarial valuation.

Note:

This summary is for general information purposes only. Additional questions regarding retirement formulas can be sent to retirement@rivco.org or by calling the Benefits Information Line at (951) 955-4981,
Option 2.

If you have prior service credit with another CalPERS agency or within agencies, please contact CalPERS at (888) 225-7377 to determine which retirement tier would be applicable to you. CalPERS is governed by the Public Employees' Retirement Law. The Retirement Law is complex and subject to change. If there's any conflict between this summary and the law, the law will prevail over this summary.
DEFERRED COMPENSATION: Voluntary employee contribution with a choice between two 457 deferred compensation plan options.

VACATION ACCRUAL (Bi-Weekly Accrual):

0< 3 year = 80 Hours (10 Days)

4< 9 years = 120 Hours (15 Days)

10 or more years = 160 Hours (20 Days)

Maximum Vacation leave accumulation is 480 hours.

SICK LEAVE: Four (4) hours Sick Leave accrual per pay period with unlimited accrual.

HOLIDAYS: Normally 12 paid holidays per year.

BEREAVEMENT LEAVE: Allowed 5 days (3 days are County paid; 2 additional days can be taken from accrued Sick Leave balance).

BASIC LIFE INSURANCE: Equal to one times annual base salary not to exceed $50,000 of term life coverage. Premiums are paid by the County. Additional Supplemental Life plan is available for employee purchase.

DISABILITY: Short-term Disability benefit pays up to a maximum of $461.54 weekly, payable up to a maximum of 52 weeks.

POST RETIREMENT MEDICAL CONTRIBUTION: A monthly contribution is made by the County towards retiree health insurance offered through the County as governed by the applicable SEIU Memorandum of Understanding.

OTHER: There may be other benefit provisions as specified in the applicable Memorandum of Understanding. Please contact the recruiter listed on the job posting directly for more information.

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