Job Description
The County of Riverside's Department of Public Social Services (DPSS) is seeking a Senior DPSS Program Specialist for the Adult Services Division in Riverside. This position will oversee and coordinate multiple homeless programs and funding streams, including Housing and Disability Advocacy Program (HDAP), Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (HHAP), Encampment Resolution Funding (ERF), and other state and federally funded initiatives. The incumbent will serve as a lead subject matter expert responsible for program implementation, operational oversight, funding coordination, and cross-system collaboration to support housing stability for vulnerable populations.
Primary duties include managing program operations, including voucher processing, housing assistance, and supportive services, while ensuring compliance with State, Federal, and County requirements. The position will monitor program performance and expenditures, develop tracking systems and reports, analyze data to identify trends, and recommend strategies to improve outcomes and efficiency. The incumbent will also support the development of policies and procedures, coordinate contracts and interagency agreements, and serve as a liaison with internal divisions and external partners.
Additionally, this role provides technical guidance and lead support to staff, ensures compliance with reporting and audit requirements, supports funding strategies, and represents DPSS in meetings and community collaborations related to homeless services and housing programs.
The ideal candidate will have experience administering homeless or housing assistance programs (such as HDAP, Home Safe, HHAP, or ERF), along with knowledge of housing-first models and homeless systems of care. Strong experience in program monitoring, compliance, and managing multiple funding streams is highly desired, along with excellent analytical, organizational, and project management skills.
Meet the Team!
The Riverside County Department of Public Social Services ?(DPSS) is comprised of employees who work collectively and in partnership with community-based organizations to serve the needs of the community.
The Riverside County Department of Public Social Services (DPSS) provides services and assistance to protect and empower vulnerable people in our community.• Identifies the need for research and statistical investigation using information from existing data warehouses and/or other sources.
• Plan and design research and statistical inquiries and coordinate the activities of the investigation.
• Provide technical supervision and guidance to subordinates to develop research and analytical skills.
• Make recommendations based on result of research and statistical inquiries to assist in the development of strategic plans and program goals for DPSS.
• Analyze new and revised legislation which govern social services programs to determine impact upon departmental operations and those of service provider contracts and interagency agreements.
• Plan and coordinate the development of new and revised programs, contracts, and interagency agreements with department staff, other County departments, and community agencies.
• Prepare invitation for bids, review bids submitted for compliance with specifications, analyze bids and makes recommendations for awards.
• Coordinate the contract approval process and the transition of service providers to new contracts; negotiate contract extensions and modifications to interagency agreements and contracts.
• Perform the more difficult and complex administrative assignments and studies which require broader departmental knowledge and/or more advanced analytical and research skills.
• Develop and make recommendations for procedural or organizational changes including staffing requirements and costs; outline proposed recommendations for administrative and supervisory staff and review input submitted by them to determine the most cost effective and productive approach.
• Coordinate with staff to implement revised operational procedures and act as a technical expert or resource person to department staff and other interested individuals regarding social service programs, policies and procedures.
• Serve as lead over subordinate staff; coordinate and assign work and assist supervisor in evaluating and training staff.
• Compose selected correspondence, reports and directives for use by the director and designated staff members in public hearings and meetings with State officials.
• Serve as a department representative on various public assistance committees.Education: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree, with a major in social welfare, social or behavioral sciences, social/human services, counseling or a closely related field. (Additional caseworker experience in the program for which the position is being filled may be substituted for the required education on the basis of one year of experience for 30 semester or 45 quarter units of college level coursework.)
Experience: One year of experience comparable to a DPSS Program Specialist II in a Department of Public Social Services.
Knowledge of: Rules and regulations governing social services programs; the principles, philosophies, and operation of social services programs; principles of organization, planning, research, and analysis; principles of effective supervision.
Ability to: Perform difficult or complex analysis and evaluations involving independent judgment and initiative; perform the more complex review of departmental or contract provider methods, policies, and procedures; performs complex mathematical and statistical computations required for reports and cost analysis; understand and apply departmental policies, practices, and procedures; acts as liaison between the department and other governmental agencies; establish and maintain effective lines of communication and working relationships at all organizational levels; work in the presence of changing priorities and tight time schedules. Who May Apply:
This recruitment is open to Riverside County Employees Only.
For questions regarding this recruitment
Please contact Ebelyn Skinner at 951-955-5196 or eskinner@rivco.org . Please allow 1-2 business days for a response to general inquiries.
Primary duties include managing program operations, including voucher processing, housing assistance, and supportive services, while ensuring compliance with State, Federal, and County requirements. The position will monitor program performance and expenditures, develop tracking systems and reports, analyze data to identify trends, and recommend strategies to improve outcomes and efficiency. The incumbent will also support the development of policies and procedures, coordinate contracts and interagency agreements, and serve as a liaison with internal divisions and external partners.
Additionally, this role provides technical guidance and lead support to staff, ensures compliance with reporting and audit requirements, supports funding strategies, and represents DPSS in meetings and community collaborations related to homeless services and housing programs.
The ideal candidate will have experience administering homeless or housing assistance programs (such as HDAP, Home Safe, HHAP, or ERF), along with knowledge of housing-first models and homeless systems of care. Strong experience in program monitoring, compliance, and managing multiple funding streams is highly desired, along with excellent analytical, organizational, and project management skills.
Meet the Team!
The Riverside County Department of Public Social Services ?(DPSS) is comprised of employees who work collectively and in partnership with community-based organizations to serve the needs of the community.
The Riverside County Department of Public Social Services (DPSS) provides services and assistance to protect and empower vulnerable people in our community.• Identifies the need for research and statistical investigation using information from existing data warehouses and/or other sources.
• Plan and design research and statistical inquiries and coordinate the activities of the investigation.
• Provide technical supervision and guidance to subordinates to develop research and analytical skills.
• Make recommendations based on result of research and statistical inquiries to assist in the development of strategic plans and program goals for DPSS.
• Analyze new and revised legislation which govern social services programs to determine impact upon departmental operations and those of service provider contracts and interagency agreements.
• Plan and coordinate the development of new and revised programs, contracts, and interagency agreements with department staff, other County departments, and community agencies.
• Prepare invitation for bids, review bids submitted for compliance with specifications, analyze bids and makes recommendations for awards.
• Coordinate the contract approval process and the transition of service providers to new contracts; negotiate contract extensions and modifications to interagency agreements and contracts.
• Perform the more difficult and complex administrative assignments and studies which require broader departmental knowledge and/or more advanced analytical and research skills.
• Develop and make recommendations for procedural or organizational changes including staffing requirements and costs; outline proposed recommendations for administrative and supervisory staff and review input submitted by them to determine the most cost effective and productive approach.
• Coordinate with staff to implement revised operational procedures and act as a technical expert or resource person to department staff and other interested individuals regarding social service programs, policies and procedures.
• Serve as lead over subordinate staff; coordinate and assign work and assist supervisor in evaluating and training staff.
• Compose selected correspondence, reports and directives for use by the director and designated staff members in public hearings and meetings with State officials.
• Serve as a department representative on various public assistance committees.Education: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree, with a major in social welfare, social or behavioral sciences, social/human services, counseling or a closely related field. (Additional caseworker experience in the program for which the position is being filled may be substituted for the required education on the basis of one year of experience for 30 semester or 45 quarter units of college level coursework.)
Experience: One year of experience comparable to a DPSS Program Specialist II in a Department of Public Social Services.
Knowledge of: Rules and regulations governing social services programs; the principles, philosophies, and operation of social services programs; principles of organization, planning, research, and analysis; principles of effective supervision.
Ability to: Perform difficult or complex analysis and evaluations involving independent judgment and initiative; perform the more complex review of departmental or contract provider methods, policies, and procedures; performs complex mathematical and statistical computations required for reports and cost analysis; understand and apply departmental policies, practices, and procedures; acts as liaison between the department and other governmental agencies; establish and maintain effective lines of communication and working relationships at all organizational levels; work in the presence of changing priorities and tight time schedules. Who May Apply:
This recruitment is open to Riverside County Employees Only.
For questions regarding this recruitment
Please contact Ebelyn Skinner at 951-955-5196 or eskinner@rivco.org . Please allow 1-2 business days for a response to general inquiries.
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