Human Services Program Specialist

Under direction performs high level administrative duties to promote positive outcomes for the child welfare indigent and vulnerable populations to include comprehensive research and analysis to develop policy and departmental programs; and performs related duties as required.

This is an Open Competitive/Countywide Promotional recruitment being conducted to fill a current full-time vacancy in the Office of the County Manager. The list established from this recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies throughout the County as they occur.

Area of Assignment
This recruitment has been initiated to fill a Human Services Program Specialist vacancy in the County Managers Office as part of a small team of individuals focused on behavioral health initiatives designed to improve behavioral health outcomes in Washoe County. This position will serve in the capacity of a Regional Behavioral Health Coordinator (RBHC) for the Washoe County region and is funded primarily by two behavioral health related grants from the State of Nevada. This position will support the Washoe Regional Behavioral Health Policy Board established by NRS 433.429 and will facilitate collaborative efforts with community partners and the State on specific behavioral health related initiatives. Examples include the Sequential Intercept Model initiative designed to divert and deflect individuals experiencing behavioral health challenges from the justice system to behavioral health care anti-stigma campaigns workforce development efforts and other initiatives.

The list created by this recruitment will be used to fill future Human Services Program Specialist vacancies in the Washoe County Human Services Agency. The Human Services Agency is responsible for safeguarding and enhancing the well being of vulnerable children adults seniors and those experiencing homelessness. Human Services Program Specialist positions within HSA may provide direct and specialized programmatic support or may serve in a cross-departmental role to support a variety of human services programs within the agency. Individuals who are interested in future Human Services Program Specialists roles serving vulnerable children adults seniors and those experiencing homelessness are encouraged to apply to be considered for future openings.

For more information on this position please see the Job Specification at Qualifications

Four years of full time experience working in indigent child welfare and/or vulnerable population programs including three years supervising cases and/or program implementation related to supporting social services programs AND a bachelors degree from an accredited college or university in social work criminal justice psychology sociology public health education public policy or a closely related field; OR an equivalent combination of education and experience.

License Or Certificate
A valid drivers license is required at the time of appointment and must be maintained for continued employment in this classification.

Ideal Candidate Will:

• Have a strong desire to work collaboratively to address pressing human services related challenges to benefit vulnerable populations in Washoe County.
• Have a desire to work with and/or on behalf of individuals with serious mental illness chronic substance use experiencing homelessness and/or complex trauma.
• Have the ability to identify solutions to address complex needs and problems.
• Have an understanding of community-based resources and gaps in our communitys continuum of care.
• Have extensive understanding of program and policy development implementation and evaluation.
• Have advanced policy writing skills and ability to incorporate cross-system feedback.
• Have an understanding of legislative and regulatory processes affecting human services programs.
• Have the ability to develop and maintain good relationships with service providers and work toward a common goal.
• Have the ability to facilitate complicated processes taking into account feedback from many different players while still making progress on complex initiatives.
• Have ability to facilitate workgroups to develop and implement multifaceted agency policy.
• Be able to actively engage and work within a multidisciplinary team to fulfill program operations and meet the needs of the children parents seniors and others we serve.
• Have experience planning developing and administering program budgets.
• Be open to and willing to supervise staff.
• Be organized and task oriented to bring projects to completion in a timely manner and meet agreed upon agreed upon deadlines.

The Washoe County Employees Association (WCEA) Supervisory Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) covers the Human Services Program Specialist position.

Background checks will be conducted on selected applicants through the State of Nevada and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

Per the Washoe County Background and Reference Checks Policy new and rehired employees are required to submit to a fingerprint based background investigation. Effective January 1 2025 the $39.00 fee associated with this background investigation will be paid by the employee (if applicable) and deducted automatically from the first paycheck. Employment is contingent upon the results of the background check although a record of conviction will not necessarily bar an applicant from employment.

Certain positions in the Human Services Agency have access to criminal justice agency systems including NCIC and CJIS. All felony convictions gross misdemeanor and certain misdemeanors will prohibit that employee from working with NCIC and CJIS criminal justice systems. Additionally the Human Services Agency will run a background check via the Child Abuse and Neglect Registry.

Human Services Agency employees will be required to have a tuberculosis test. The cost of the test will be borne by the selected applicant(s).

Washoe County requires its employees to reside in the state of Nevada or neighboring California communities such as Truckee South Lake Tahoe or Susanville as of their first day of work.

Washoe County hires all new employees at the minimum rate of the salary range and eligible employees may receive an annual merit increase of 5% until they reach the maximum salary for the classification. Upon promotion current Washoe County employees are placed at the minimum rate of the salary range for the higher classification of the new position OR a promotional calculation whichever is greater.

1. After your application is screened you will be notified via the email you provided whether you have met the minimum requirements for the position. Those applicants who do not meet the qualifications have one (1) business day to file an appeal and request a review of their qualifications.

2. Applicants who meet the minimum requirements will receive an email invitation to take the Supervisory Level online exam administered remotely; notices will be delivered within 1 week from the closing of the recruitment.

This exam link will tentatively be delivered via email the week ofDecember 1 2025 and qualified candidates will have a time limit to complete the exam within 4 calendar days. **You will be notified if you are eligible to transfer an exam score within 1 week following the closing date of the recruitment.

The exam will evaluate your expertise knowledge skills and abilities in the following areas:

• General Supervisory Concepts
• Performance Management
• Employee Relations
• Analytical Skills
• Communication Skills

• Applications to view a list of the recruitments which you have applied for your submitted application for each recruitment a copy of the job listing and your applicant history for each recruitment.
• Inbox to view the notices which have been sent to you for each recruitment
• Account to update your contact information. Please note to update your phone number on previously submitted applications you must contact .