Employment Services Section Manager

Position Information

Take Your Career in Human Services to the Next Level!

Join the County of Sonoma Human Services Department (HSD) as an Employment Services Section Manager!

Starting salary up to $ 75.46 /hour ( $ 157,494 / year) plus a competitive total compensation package!

The Employment Services Section Manager is responsible for the supervision and administration of SonomaWORKS Employment Services programs at the Employment and Training (E&T) Division of the Human Services Department. This position provides leadership, direction, and oversight to staff that provide case management, wrap around supportive services, and payments to families participating in the County’s Welfare to Work, Family Stabilization, Child Care, Home Visiting, and/or CalOAR programs. Additional responsibilities include:

• Providing oversight and guidance to program staff regarding business processes and changes, and coordinating workloads
• Reviewing statewide regulations and guidance and implementing changes in coordination with analysts and supervisors
• Communicating internal announcements to ensure staff are informed of program changes
• Managing the Employment and Training Division's recruitment and hiring process
• Overseeing contracts, external communications, and outreach to community partners
• Managing the budget and budget planning process for E&T programs
• Overseeing the development and implementation of the CalOAR continuous quality improvement processes
• Attending community, regional, and statewide meetings representing Sonoma County Employment and Training programs
• Maintaining relationships with HSD partners including the Department of Health Services, community-based organizations, individual providers, schools, etc.

The ideal candidate will possess many of the following:

• A degree in social work, gerontology, public administration, business administration, economics, psychology, sociology, or a closely related area
• Significant knowledge and experience in CalWORKs or a program working with families experiencing poverty and/or family crises
• Strong supervision and/or program management experience
• Knowledge and skills in change management strategies and budget management
• An understanding of trauma informed care practices
• Experience engaging community groups around the issues of poverty and family self-sufficiency
• Emotional intelligence, excellent communication skills, experience in elevating marginalized people, and a commitment to racial equity
• Experience with CalWIN/CalSAWS or other statewide public assistance databases
• Strategic leadership skills with the ability to implement new initiatives, apply change management practices, and motivate/lead staff through the change process
• Experience managing high-volume workload environments
• The ability to problem-solve complex client and/or staffing situations
• Intermediate Microsoft Office skills, with the ability to use Excel in budget development and monitoring

About the Employment and Training Division (E&T)

The Employment and Training Division helps individuals and families with the full spectrum of employment and training services, wrap around support services, housing services, and financial assistance. It also assists employers in finding qualified workers and supports workforce development through community partnerships and Job Link, Sonoma County’s Workforce Investment Board job center. The Division consists of counselors, eligibility specialists, social workers, program coordinators, fiscal staff, administrative staff, and clerical support staff. For additional information about the Employment and Training Division, please visit our website at https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/health-and-human-services/human-services/divisions-and-services/employment-and-training or the Sonoma County Job Link website at https://joblinksonoma.org/ .

About the Human Services Department (HSD)

As the largest agency in Sonoma County government, the Human Services Department’s mission is to build upon strengths, as we bridge clients to opportunities through responsive safety-net services. We work to protect vulnerable children and adults, to help people rise above poverty and thrive in our community, and to promote maximum independence and well-being for individuals and families. HSD is responsible for child and adult protective services, veteran services, and administration of state and federal programs, including CalFresh, CalWORKs, Medi-Cal, and In-Home Supportive Services. The department is dedicated to providing responsive, client-focused services so that all in our community can live freely chosen lives up to their full potential throughout their lifespan. The core values that drive our work are dignity, humility, integrity, responsiveness, partnership, and belonging.

HSD fosters a positive work environment, where our commitment to providing opportunities for advancement is strengthened by a robust staff development program. We believe in the merits of work/life balance and enjoy the satisfaction of knowing that our work contributes to the betterment of our community.

The Department works collaboratively at the federal, state, and local levels to find creative solutions to support the well-being of individuals, families, and the community. To meet that goal, the department has fostered strong relationships with other public and private sector partners, including other government agencies, community-based organizations, and business leaders. For more information regarding HSD's services please visit http://sonomacounty.ca.gov/Human-Services .

What We Offer
Working at the County of Sonoma offers expansive opportunities for growth and development, the ability to be a part of a challenging and rewarding work environment, and the satisfaction of knowing your contributions work to better our shared community. You can also look forward to flexible work arrangements and excellent benefits* including:

• Hybrid Telework - A schedule that meets the needs of our staff, department operations, and the communities we serve may be available depending on the assignment
• Salary Advancement - A salary increase after 1,040 hours (6 months when working full-time) for good work performance; eligibility for a salary increase for good performance every year thereafter, until reaching the top of the salary range
• Paid Time Off - Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals, 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year
• County Paid Health Premium Contributions - 100% premium contribution for the majority of employee-only and employee + family health plan options
• Staff Development/Wellness Pay - Annual benefit allowances of up to $2,000 and ongoing education/training opportunities
• Post-Retirement Health Reimbursement Arrangement - County contributions to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits
• Incentive Retirement Savings Plan (IRSP) and 457 Voluntary Deferred Compensation- 3% of salary County contribution to a 401(a), in addition to the County matching up to 1% of base salary in 401(a), based upon employee contribution
• Retirement - A pension fully integrated with Social Security
• Paid Parental Leave - May be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) after 12 months of County employment
• Student Loan Debt Relief - County employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education

*Salary is negotiable within the established range. Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can be found in the Salary Resolution (SalRes) and our Employee Benefits Directory .

This employment list may also be used to fill future full-time, part-time, or extra-help (temporary) positions as they occur during the active status of the list. Qualified County employees who wish to be considered for future positions should consider applying to this recruitment. The Civil Service title for this position is Human Services Section Manager.

Application submissions require the Supplemental Questionnaire to be completed.

Minimum Qualifications

Experience: Any combination of training and experience, which would provide an opportunity to acquire the knowledge and abilities listed.

Five years of experience providing social services, employment and training, services for children and families, services to older adults, or economic assistance services, including at least two years in a supervisory or administrative capacity would provide such opportunity. Specific experience related to the assigned division may be required for designated positions.

Education: Any combination of education and training which would provide the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and abilities listed.

Normally, graduation from a college or university with a degree in social work, gerontology, public administration, business administration, economics, psychology, sociology, or a closely related area would provide this opportunity. A Master’s Degree in a field related to the assigned division is highly desirable and may be required for some positions.

License: Possession of a valid driver's license at the appropriate level including necessary special endorsements, as required by the State of California to perform the essential job functions of the position.

The position advertised on this announcement does not require possession of a valid California Driver’s License.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Considerable knowledge of: the legislation and laws which regulate the operations of the Human Services Department or the Department of Child Support Services; modern methods of human services or child support enforcement administration; techniques, principles and work of the assigned section; social and economic problems which call for the use of public and private county services; the principles and practices of personnel management, employee supervision, and training.


Ability to: plan, organize, coordinate and direct the work of a section of the Human Services Department or the Department of Child Support Services; select, train, and supervise staff; develop, evaluate, and analyze operational policies and procedures; analyze problems and complaints and identify solutions; prepare, interpret and evaluate a variety of narrative and statistical data and reports; communicate orally and in writing on a variety of issues; understand, interpret and apply procedures, laws, rules and regulations as they apply to assigned area; ensure proper compliance with federal, state and local guidelines, policies, goals, rules and regulations; develop and maintain harmonious relationships with employees, public officials, community groups, other agencies and the general public.

Selection Procedure & Some Helpful Tips When Applying

• Your application information and your responses to the supplemental questions are evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the entire selection process.
• You should list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application. Be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.
• You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, list out each position separately.
• Failure to follow these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification.

Please visit Getting a Job with the County of Sonoma to review more detailed information about the application, examination, and department selection processes.

Application submissions require the Supplemental Questionnaire to be completed. Responses to supplemental questions will be scored using position-specific criteria. Please provide specific and detailed responses of a reasonable length to allow for a thorough assessment of your qualifications. Responses that state "See Resume" or "See Application" may be considered insufficient and therefore may not be scored.
The selection procedure will consist of the following examination:

An Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination (weight 100%) will be conducted to evaluate each applicant's application and supplemental questionnaire for satisfaction of minimum qualifications (pass/not pass); and for educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities which relate to this position. Each applicant will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Relevance of work history, related experience, and achieved level of education and/or training as described in the application and responses to the supplemental questions.

Candidates demonstrating possession of the minimum qualifications will be placed on an employment list in order of most qualified to least qualified based on the achieved score received in the Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination which evaluates the education, training, experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, and other qualifications that you demonstrate in your application and/or response to the supplemental questionnaire. Please be aware that resumes and cover letters are not typically evaluated in the Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination. Scores may be adjusted based on such factors as the number of candidates, anticipated vacancies, past practice, and natural breaks in the scores achieved by this group of candidates.

Additional Information

A background investigation is required prior to employment. Candidates referred to departments for a selection interview are typically required to sign authorization and release forms enabling such an investigation. Failure to sign prescribed forms will result in the candidate not being considered further for that vacancy. Reference information will not be made available to applicants.

Additional requirements, such as successful completion of a physical exam, drug screen, etc., may apply, depending on the duties and responsibilities of the position. If you receive a conditional job offer for the position, the requirements upon which the offer is contingent will be outlined in the conditional job letter. You may also review the Job Classification Screening Schedule to determine the requirements for this position.

How to Apply

Applications are accepted online at: www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org . Paper applications may be submitted by person, fax (707-565-3770), email, or through the mail. All applications and appropriate supplemental information as outlined in the job bulletin must be RECEIVED by the time and date specified on the first page of this job announcement. Applications received after the recruitment closes will not be accepted.

The County of Sonoma values diversity and is dedicated to creating a workplace environment that provides individuals with a sense of belonging. We are committed to having a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. The County is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer where all aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance, and business need.

HR Analyst: EP
HR Tech: VH

Important Note: Benefits described herein do not apply to Extra Help positions.

County of Sonoma Benefits: Management*

These are some of the excellent benefits the County offers:

Paid Time Off: Competitive vacation accrual and sick leave accruals; additional management leave annually; 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year; and may be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) of Paid Parental Leave after 12 months of County employment.

Health Plan: Choose from nine health plans (three HMOs, three deductible HMOs, and three HSA-qualifying plans) with a generous County contribution to the premium (the contribution amount varies by bargaining unit). For more information, please see the appropriate MOU.

Retirement: Fully integrated with Social Security. For more information regarding eligibility, retirement contributions, and reciprocity with prior public service, please visit https://scretire.org/active-/-deferred/when-you-are-hired .

IRS 457 Plan: Pre-tax employee contribution up to the IRS annual maximum.

Retiree Medical: County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits.

Student Loan Debt Relief: County employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education.

Plus, excellent dental, vision, disability, life insurance, professional development, and more.

For answers to specific questions regarding the employment process and more details about benefits or retirement, please contact Human Resources at (707) 565-2331. Additional details about benefit and compensation packages can be found in the MOUs located at Labor Agreements & Salary Resolution . For specific information about health and welfare benefits, including plan options, coverage, and premium amounts, go to Human Resources or contact the Human Resources' Risk Management-Benefits Office at benefits@sonomacounty.gov or (707) 565-2900.

*Important Notes: Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice.

Closing Date/Time: 9/2/2025 11:59 PM Pacific

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• County of Sonoma

• 707-565-8059

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