Program Specialist II

County of Riverside•Riverside, CA

6d•Onsite

About The Position

The County of Riverside's Department of Housing and Workforce Solutions (HWS), Office of Homeless Services (OHS), is seeking a Program Specialist II to coordinate and administer federal and state homeless programs and services. The role administers and monitors services—including outreach, case management, advocacy, and housing—for adults, youth, and families experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Services are delivered by subcontracted providers, and the specialist works with external agencies and service providers to support effective delivery. The position may also assist with encampment coordination, including on-site surveying, site clean-ups, and connecting people experiencing homelessness with appropriate services. The role works under the guidance of the Senior Program Specialist and the direct supervision of the Supervising Development Specialist. The incumbent may serve as a technical resource for temporary employees and/or interns and may perform additional duties as assigned. The department seeks candidates experienced in grant administration and homeless service programming, including grant proposals, requests for proposals, budget monitoring, funding compliance, deliverable tracking, reporting, funder coordination, and technical assistance to subcontracted providers. Experience with HMIS and strong customer service, communication, organizational, and analytical skills are also sought. Spanish bilingual ability is highly desired but not required. The HWS Office of Homeless Services works to develop and maintain a county-wide Continuum of Care (CoC), which organizes supportive social services and housing options for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Its goal is to move people toward stable housing and self-sufficiency and to end homelessness in Riverside County.

Requirements

Option I: Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in social welfare, social or behavioral sciences, social/human services, counseling, or a closely related field. Additional caseworker experience in the relevant program may substitute at one year of experience for 30 semester or 45 quarter units of college coursework.
Option I: One year of lead or supervisory caseworker experience in a human services program.
Option II: One year of experience comparable to a Program Specialist I in a Department of Social Services.
Knowledge of social services and/or child support principles, philosophies, operations, programs, supporting legislation, sources of rules and regulations, and principles of organization, planning, research, and analysis.
Ability to interpret regulations and project their impacts; develop, revise, and implement operating policies and procedures; identify organizational, procedural, and resource-allocation problems; evaluate data and develop conclusions, alternatives, and recommendations.
Ability to perform mathematical and statistical computations for cost analysis, reports, and record keeping as needed.
Ability to prepare clear, concise, and complete reports, correspondence, directives, and manuals; communicate effectively; establish working relationships at all organizational levels; and give and follow oral and written instructions.
Ability to work amid changing priorities and tight schedules and to operate a microcomputer and varied application software.
Valid California Driver's License required.
Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of application; the County does not provide employment-based visa sponsorship.

Nice To Haves

Experience in grant administration, including preparing federal and state grant proposals, issuing requests for proposals, monitoring grant budgets, ensuring funding compliance, tracking deliverables, submitting progress or financial reports, coordinating with funding agencies, and providing technical assistance to subcontracted providers.
Prior experience with homeless service programming.
Experience using the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS).
Professional customer service, communication, organizational, and analytical skills.
Spanish bilingual ability; highly desired but not required.

Responsibilities

Administer and monitor homeless programs, including outreach, case management, advocacy, and housing services delivered by subcontracted providers.
Coordinate with external agencies and service providers to support effective delivery of services to clients.
Assist with encampment coordination, including on-site surveys of homeless populations, site clean-ups, and connections to appropriate services.
Analyze new and revised legislation governing social services programs and assess impacts on operations; analyze existing operations and procedures.
Conduct studies and recommend procedural or organizational changes, including staffing requirements and costs; coordinate implementation of program changes with systems and other departmental areas.
Oversee the general complaint function and investigate complaints involving homeless and social services programs.
Develop and review departmental policies and procedures to ensure compliance with state and federal legislation, regulations, and directives.
Compose, organize, and revise policy and procedure manuals; coordinate development of programs, contracts, and interagency agreements as needed.
Serve as a technical resource regarding social services and homeless program policies and procedures.
Research, analyze, and prepare recommendations for special projects assigned by directors, managers, or other administrative staff.
Prepare correspondence, reports, and directives for division or department use.
Correspond with and serve as a liaison to state agencies and departments; represent the department on homeless and social services assistance committees as needed.
Prepare federal and state grant proposals and local requests for proposals; monitor grant budgets, funding compliance, project deliverables, and progress or financial reports; coordinate with funding agencies and provide technical assistance to subcontracted providers.