Assistant Agency Director, Social Services Agency

Job Description

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.

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

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 5:00:00 p.m. on the Last Day for Filing. Failure to submit the Supplemental Questionnaire will result in disqualification.

Applications and Supplemental Questionnaires will only be accepted on-line.

DESCRIPTION

THE COMMUNITY

The County of Alameda is the geographic center of the San Francisco Bay Area, located on the east side of the Bay across from the San Francisco Peninsula. Commonly referred to as the “East Bay,” the region has been the fastest growing in the San Francisco Bay Area for more than two decades. The East Bay is popular due to its desirable location, incredible diversity, ideal climate, broad economic base, welcoming communities, and business opportunities. The County itself is one of the most culturally diverse regions in the country.

Alameda County offers a variety of popular destinations including theatre, world-class symphony performances, dining, and many top-rated accommodations. The County is also home to many popular attractions including, The Oakland Museum, Chabot Space and Science Center, the Oakland Athletics, and Livermore and the Tri-Valley Wine Country. In addition, there are numerous parks, trails, and championship golf courses to enjoy. The University of California, Berkeley and California State University, East Bay are just two of the distinguished academic institutions serving Northern California. Urban transportation options are extremely accessible including the Oakland International Airport, the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system, and the San Francisco Bay ferry system. For more information on this charming county, please visit the County of Alameda’s website at https://www.acgov.org

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 SOCIAL SERVICES AGENGY

The Alameda County Social Services Agency (SSA) is comprised of over 2,400 employees working collectively and in partnership with community-based organizations, neighborhood groups and policy makers to serve the needs of the community. SSA has a proposed FY24/25 Budget of over $906 million and is comprised of four operating departments: Agency Administration & Finance; Adult & Aging Services; Children & Family Services; and Workforce & Benefits Administration. For more information about SSA, visit https://www.alamedacountysocialservices.org.

THE POSITION

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.

Assistant Agency Directors function at the second highest operational level 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.

For more detailed information about the job classification, visit: Assistant Agency Director, Social Services Agency

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

• Possesses sound understanding of Social Services programs and the needs of our clients and community as well as a track record of providing high-quality services management, efficiently leveraging state and federal resources

• Identifies and understands complex problems , applies logic, uses good judgement to design solutions, formulates and articulates action plans proactively and collaboratively, developing and implementing programmatic modifications based on legislative changes, sound decision maker

• Is a Strong leader and collaborator, politically astute, develops effective teams at the senior manager and supervisor levels, manages work groups by inspiring, advising and delegating to subordinates, and facilitating the accomplishment of goals, tracking and evaluating performance to ensure success

• Is adaptive to latest trends in technology to maximize performance, using data to inform and set priorities

• Is an innovative thinker who can explore situations from multiple perspectives, seeking understanding through establishing relationships with people of other backgrounds

• Conveys respect to enhance dignity of diverse customers, partners and employees, and continually examines own biases and behaviors to avoid stereotypical responses

• Champions diversity , advocates its value to others, recruits and develops people with varied backgrounds, uses diversity as an advantage, confronts and challenges exclusionary organizational practices

• Is a great communicator and listener , quick and clear thinker, calm under pressure

You are invited to review the brochure for this recruitment at the link below :

Assistant Agency Director, SSA Recruitment Brochure

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

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.

AND EITHER

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.

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 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.

EXAMINATION COMPONENTS

THE EXAMINATION WILL CONSIST OF THE FOLLOWING STEPS:

Closing Date/Time: 11/6/2026 5:00:00 PM