COMMUNITY PROGRAM SPECIALIST II

DESCRIPTION

The Community:

Idyllically located on the Pacific Coast just south of Los Angeles and adjacent to Orange County, Long Beach is a vibrant city of approximately 450K residents. Known for its diverse and inclusive community, Long Beach features a unique blend of urban sophistication, cultural richness, and coastal charm. The City encompasses about 51 square miles, offering an array of parks, beaches, and recreational opportunities. Residents enjoy mild climate year-round perfect for outdoor activities such as biking, running, water sports, and much more. Long Beach is home to world-class attractions including the Aquarium of the Pacific, the historic Queen Mary, and the annual IndyCar Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach. Long Beach will be the largest venue city for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Long Beach also boasts a thriving economy supported by industries such as aerospace, education, health services, manufacturing, tourism and professional services. With two advanced educational institutions, California State University Long Beach and Long Beach City College, and robust K-12 schools, the City is a hub for learning and innovation. Transportation options abound. The Long Beach and Metro transit systems along with the City’s own airport provide convenient access throughout the broader Southern California region. Long Beach is recognized as one of the nation’s most walkable and bike-friendly cities.

The City Government:

Long Beach operates as a charter city governed by an elected Mayor and nine City Council members elected by district. The City Manager, appointed by the Mayor and City Council, oversees the daily operations of 15 departments and an FY26 annual budget of approximately $3.7B. The City employs over 6,000 full-time and part-time staff; dedicated to providing exceptional public services with the vast majority being represented by eleven employee associations.

• City Departments
• Citywide FY26 Budget
• 2030 Strategic Vision
• Elevate ’28 Infrastructure Investment Plan

The City of Long Beach fosters an environment where every employee is celebrated for their individuality and unique talents they bring to their role. Reflecting the diversity of the community within the workforce is a key priority embraced at every level of the organization-from management to policy creation. City Leadership actively promotes equity and inclusion by partnering with staff and community stakeholders to advance fairness in all initiatives. Transparency remains a cornerstone of these efforts with demographic data, including workforce diversity and pay equity by race and gender, shared publicly to ensure accountability and progress.

Economic Development & Opportunity:

The Department of Economic Development & Opportunity is an innovative department that leverages Federal, State, and City resources to generate growth in property, sales, and transient occupancy taxes that pay for services citywide. The Department continuously works to implement the recommendations of the Grow Long Beach Economic Blueprint. This comprehensive plan provides policy recommendations and will further Long Beach as an innovative ecosystem that lays a foundation for entrepreneurial success from business start-up to growth.

The Department has approximately 90 employees with five bureaus: Business Development, Business Operations, Real Estate Development, Waterfront Development, and Workforce Development. The Department's mission is to create economic opportunities for workers, investors, and entrepreneurs with an annual budget of over $31 million from eight different City funds.

To learn more about the Department visit:

• Department Website
• Department FY 26 Budget
• Grow Long Beach Initiative
• Bureau Website

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

• Draws on lived experience to create an environment in which jobseekers are motivated and inspired to engage in employment and education programs.
• Verifies general customer eligibility for services funded by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and identifies service priority for individualized career services.
• Meets with individuals to assess education, skills, career interests, and career goals.
• Develops and implements industry-specific Individual Employment Plans (IEPs) in partnership with participants to guide the next steps and manage progress toward goals.
• Develops and facilitates career development and other workforce development-related workshops (e.g., resume development, job search, Labor Market Information, social media tools, negotiation, and more).
• Document progress through case notes via management information systems such as CalJobs
• Monitors and ensures effective program performance.
• In partnership with the Employment & Training Coordinator, develops Individual Training Accounts (ITA’s) based on customers' training interest in in-demand occupations.
• Assist with resume development, job search strategies, mock interviews, job leads, and information on events and job fairs.
• Ensures people are equipped with the basic employment interpersonal skills necessary to participate in training and find and retain employment successfully.
• Researches and keeps up to date on employment and education trends to inform the implementation and continuation of services

REQUIREMENTS TO FILE

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, or closely related field (Proof required at time of application*);
• One (1) year full-time professional experience providing supportive services in grant funded programs, projects, and services
• A Master’s Degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, or closely related field from an accredited college or university may be substituted for up to one (1) year of the required professional experience. (Proof of education required).
• Experience offering specific and substantial preparation for the duties of the position may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis;
• Possess a valid California Drivers License;
• May be required to work extended hours including evenings and weekends to support community events.

*Required documents, such as transcripts, degrees, certificates, or licenses, must be uploaded to the online application in PDF format at the time of filing. Any documents submitted must contain either the applicant's name or other identifying characteristics on the document. Proof of education for academic degrees should indicate the type of degree and date of degree conferral. Candidates who possess degrees or units from outside the United States must attach proof of educational equivalency at the time of filing.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience coordinating federally and locally funded youth workforce development programs;
• Experience with career assessments and work readiness training programs;
• Experience working with opportunity youth ages 16-24;
• Experience with CalJOBS;
• Fluency in one of the three major City languages (Spanish, Khmer, Tagalog).

SUCCESSUL CANIDATES WILL DEMONSTARTE:

• Use skills in coaching, teaching, and/or facilitation to provide exceptional service and develop meaningful rapport in both virtual and in-person settings;
• Apply knowledge of career exploration and job search strategies and tools including labor market information, employment trends, networking, resume development, interview preparation, etc.;
• Strategize and coordinate services with local area partners on behalf of the individuals on their caseload to achieve their employment goals;
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team, be flexible, and manage multiple assignments in a dynamic and fast-paced environment;
• Understanding of youth development, workforce development, and community health-related topics;
• Excellent organizational and administrative skills;
• Understanding of strength-based approaches;
• Understanding of racial equity and trauma-informed practices;
• Knowledge of Positive Youth Development Framework and other best practices, such as Human-Centered Design and Social and Emotional Learning;
• Proficient in using Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, Lists, Planner, and Outlook);
• Proficient in using virtual conferencing applications, including Teams, and Zoom; and virtual whiteboards such as Google Jamboard, and Miro; and comfortable with exploring innovative technology to increase case management and program delivery effectiveness;
• Adhere to service timelines, data entry, and documentation requirements set forth by the Workforce Investment and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and the State of California Workforce Development Board, County of Los Angeles, and other partner agencies and funders.

SELECTION PROCEDURE

This recruitment will close at 11:59 PM Pacific Time on November 11, 2025. To be considered, please submit an online application, including a cover letter, resume, and proof of education (if qualifying with a degree) in PDF format. Applications that fail to include all necessary documents will be considered incomplete and will not be taken into consideration.

Applications will be reviewed for depth and breadth of experience, and for level and relatedness of education. The most qualified candidates will be invited to participate in further selection procedures. The selected candidate may be required to go through a background check and a physical examination prior to appointment. For questions regarding this recruitment, please call (562) 570-6044.

The City of Long Beach is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value and encourage diversity in our workforce. The City of Long Beach is committed to creating a workplace where every employee is valued for who they are. Having our workforce reflect the diversity of our community at various levels of the organization is a continuous goal embraced by our departments, management staff, and policymakers. To support efforts of fairness and diversity, City Leadership is committed to incorporating equity and inclusion into our work by supporting staff and community partners. We are committed to promoting transparency by publishing updated demographic information for employees, including workforce diversity data and pay by race and gender.

The City of Long Beach will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act. You are not required to disclose your criminal history or participate in a background check until you receive a conditional job offer. If the City of Long Beach has concerns about a conviction that is directly related to the job after making a conditional job offer and conducting a background check, you will have the opportunity to explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction, provide evidence to mitigate concerns, or challenge the accuracy of the background report. Find out more about the Fair Chance Act by visiting https://calcivilrights.ca.gov/fair-chance-act .

The City of Long Beach is committed to maintaining fairness and transparency in our hiring practices. We believe in providing equal opportunities to all applicants and ensuring that every applicant is evaluated based on their qualifications and merit. If you believe that you have been unjustly disqualified based on minimum qualifications for an unclassified job opportunity, you have the right to appeal the decision. Find out more about the Unclassified Applicant Appeal Process by visiting Applicant Appeal Process (longbeach.gov).

The City of Long Beach intends to provide reasonable accommodations in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. If special accommodation is desired, or if you would like to request this information in an alternative format, please call (562) 570-3693.

In support of the City’s Language Access Policy, bilingual skills (Spanish, Khmer and/or Tagalog) are desirable for positions interacting with the public.

For technical support with your governmentjobs.com application, please contact (855) 524-5627.

Employee Benefits

The City of Long Beach offers its employees opportunities to grow personally and professionally.As a permanent employee, you are eligible to receive fringe benefits that include:

• Medical and Dental Insurance

• Life Insurance

• Retirement Plan (P.E.R.S.)

• Paid Vacation, Personal Holidays and Sick Leave

• Deferred Compensation

• Credit Union Membership

• Free Bus Transportation (Long Beach Transit)

• Flexible Spending Accounts

• Free Employee Parking
• Paid Parental Leave*
*Paid Parental Leave - after six (6) months of City employment; up to 30 calendar days (160 hours/192 hours for sworn platoon) of PPL, taken in full-day increments, in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster placement of a child, up to the age of seventeen (17).

Closing Date/Time: 11/12/2025 11:59 PM Pacific

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• City of Long Beach

• 5625707057

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