Supervising Administrative Specialist

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:
Established in 1853, Alameda County has a population of over 1.6 million residents, making it the second largest county in the Bay Area and the seventh largest in the State. The County encompasses 14 cities including Alameda, Albany, Berkeley, Dublin, Emeryville, Fremont, Hayward, Livermore, Newark, Oakland, Piedmont, Pleasanton, San Leandro, and Union City as well as six unincorporated communities and rural areas that span a total of 738 square miles.

Alameda County employs approximately 9,000 employees working in 21 different agencies and departments and has an annual budget of over $3 billion. As a major urban County, Alameda delivers a full spectrum of services, including general government and internal services, health care, social services, public works, criminal justice, and other public safety services for its community.

The County celebrates the rich diversity of its workforce, which in large measure, reflects the cultural and ethnic diversity of the community it serves. The County’s mission is to enrich the lives of its residents through visionary policies and accessible, responsive, and effective services. Its vision is to be recognized as one of the best counties in which to live, work, and do business.

THE POSITION:

Under general direction, to provide supervision for administrative and operational functions in County departments or agencies; to provide complex professional-level operational, systems and administrative services to the County department or agency to which assigned; to facilitate the implementation of a wide variety of programs and projects; and to do related work as required.

IDEAL CANDIDATE:

In addition to meeting the minimum qualifications stated below, the ideal candidate will have demonstrated a track record of success in the following areas:

• Possesses outstanding communication and listening skills, with the ability to clearly articulate information verbally and in writing.
• Exercises sound judgment and decision-making, including the ability to identify and understand complex problems and concepts.
• Maintains exceptional organizational skills to effectively manage changing priorities.
• Brings experience as a manager with strong supervisory skills, instructing, guiding, and supporting others in accomplishing performance goals and work objectives.
• Builds and sustains effective relationships, relating well to individuals of diverse cultures, styles, abilities, motivations, and backgrounds, even in times of conflict.
• Applies knowledge of administrative principles, policies, and regulations to ensure compliance and support effective departmental operations.
• Utilizes strong analytical and problem-solving skills to evaluate processes or data, identify issues, and develop practical, well-supported solutions.
• Oversee budget and fiscal activities, including monitoring expenditures, tracking resources, and ensuring alignment with organizational and program goals.
• Develops, improves, and maintains administrative systems and workflows to enhance efficiency, accountability, and overall operational effectiveness.

THE VACANCIES:

We are currently recruiting to establish a countywide eligible list that will be used by any County department or agency needing to fill a vacancy in this classification. There are immediate vacancies in the Social Services Agency.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

EITHER I
Experience:
The equivalent of two years of full-time experience at the level of or higher than the class of Administrative Specialist II in the Alameda County classified service (non-classified includes District Attorney’s Office, Hospital Authority, and the Consolidated Courts).

Completion of the Alameda County Management Academy “Management & Supervision Certificate Program” may substitute for six (6) months of the required qualifying experience for the internal patterns.

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

(Additional professional or paraprofessional administrative services experience may be substituted for the education on a year-or-year basis.)

Experience:
The equivalent of two years of full-time professional-level experience in independently planning, organizing and conducting administrative or management studies and providing ongoing administrative services at a level equivalent to the Alameda County classified service of Administrative Specialist II, preferably in a public agency setting. Some prior lead or supervisory experience is desirable.

License:
Possession of a California Motor Vehicle Operator’s license.

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:

• Supervisory principles, including work planning, direction and review.
• Principles of public administration.
• Practices and techniques of administrative analysis and report preparation.
• Computer applications related to the work.
• Budgetary and financial record-keeping techniques.
• Office administrative practices and procedures, including records management and the operation of standard office equipment.
• Basic public personnel, purchasing and contract administration practices.

Ability to:

• Plan, supervise, review and evaluate the work of others through subordinate supervision.
• Train others in work procedures.
• Plan and conduct administrative and operational studies.
• Research, compile and summarize varied information, evaluate alternatives and reach sound conclusions.
• Interpret, explain and apply complex policies, regulations and procedures.
• Prepare clear and accurate reports, correspondence, procedures and other written materials.
• Represent the department and the County in meetings with others.
• 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.

EXAMINATION COMPONENTS

THE EXAMINATION WILL CONSIST OF THE FOLLOWING STEPS:
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. 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. 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, Thursday, May 28, 2026

Review of Minimum Qualifications:

June 10, 2026

Review of Supplemental Questionnaire for Best Qualified:

July 13, 2026

Virtual Pre-Recorded Civil Service Oral Examination:

Rating of Oral Examinations:

Closing Date/Time: 5/28/2026 5:00:00 PM

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• County of Alameda

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