county of Santa Barbara SOCIAL SERVICES DIRECTOR As Director of Social Services for Santa Barbara County, your vision, leadership, passion and dedication to serving those in greatest need in our community will be a driving force in meeting our commitment to service to our clients and program excellence. Joining Santa Barbara County is an opportunity to positively affect new initiatives that touch the lives and futures of children, families and seniors in our community. The County Santa Barbara County government is a service-oriented organization with an approximate $828 million budget, 20 departments, and a workforce of approximately 3,800 employees dedicated to providing quality services to a diverse population of 425,000. The County is governed by an elected five-member Board of Supervisors which appoints the County Executive Officer (CEO). The Sheriff, District Attorney, Auditor- Controller, Treasurer/Tax Collector and Clerk Recorder are also elected with the majority of the department heads appointed by the CEO. The region is one of the most beautiful areas in California. The County of Santa Barbara hugs the southern California coastline and is 100 miles northwest of Los Angeles and adjacent to San Luis Obispo and Ventura counties. It covers 2,737 square miles, one-third of which is located in the Los Padres National Forest. A strong future is built by investing Bordered on resources in our community. the west and south by the Pacific Ocean, the County has 110 miles of coastline. The County is well-known for its mild climate, picturesque coastline, scenic mountains and numerous parks and beaches. It has four distinct areas: Santa Barbara Coast, Santa Ynez Valley, Santa Maria Valley, and Lompoc Valley. Together these areas contribute to the unique profile of the County, blending the characteristics of each area into one world-class county.
The Organization One Department ~ one Team The Department of Social Services provides a broad range of services and programs critical to delivering a countywide safety net for children, the elderly and dependent adults. Governed primarily by federal and state mandates, the department also provides eligibility determination to access healthcare benefits and supports individuals and families in achieving economic self-sufficiency through various services including: cash assistance, CalFresh (formerly Food Stamps), General Relief and employment training and placement assistance. Helping our community be safe, supported and self-sufficient. The Department has more than 25 programs delivered via a shared accountability approach through four branches which provide supportive services that strengthen the family unit and promote self-sufficiency: Social Services Programs includes child welfare services, foster care, family maintenance and reunification, licensing, adoptions, adult protective programs, in-home supportive services, independent living program and SB 163 wrap around. Administrative Services includes human resources, staff development, compliance, facilities, information systems, fiscal management and contracts. Employment Services includes CalWORKs, CalWIN, adult and dislocated Workforce Investment Act (WIA) programs and all operations and coordination of Workforce Resource Centers. Economic Assistance/ Strategy & Information includes Medi-Cal, CalFresh (Food Stamps) and general relief eligibility. Additionally, this branch will house our new Planning and Development Division which is charged with the project management of departmentwide projects such as Health Care Reform, data collection and warehousing, grants coordination, research and strategic planning. The Department of Social Services strategic actions and priorities are focused on: An efficient professionally managed organization able to anticipate and effectively respond to the needs of the community; A safe and healthy community in which to live, work and visit; A county government that is accessible, open and citizen-friendly; and A community that fosters the safety and wellbeing of families and children. The Position The Social Services Director is appointed by the Board of Supervisors and is under the general direction of the Board with a reporting relationship to the County Executive Officer (CEO). This position oversees an adopted 2012/13 budget of $144 million and four branch Deputy Directors who supervise 665 employees and serve the community from six office locations throughout the County. This position also oversees the Workforce Investment Board (WIB), which is a public/private partnership created by the Federal Workforce Investment Act legislation and is staffed by an Executive Director who reports to an independent board with a dotted line relationship to the Social Services Director. The clients we serve and the public depend upon the decisions we make and the actions we take each day. The Director has overall executive-level responsibility for vision, planning, organizing and directing all activities. The majority of services are provided to children and families, the elderly, the disabled, people attempting to enter or move up in the workforce and those receiving public assistance. The Director works closely with state and federal officials, legislators, the County Executive Office,
Board of Supervisors and other social and human service agencies. In addition, he/she will play a strategic and critical role in collaborating with nonprofit, foundations, committees, communitybased organizations and the community-at-large to set local priorities and ensure a holistic, clientcentered approach to programs and services. We actively accept and take responsibility for the actions, successes, and failures of ourselves and those of our leadership team. Ideal Candidate Profile Our ideal candidate is an experienced organizational leader who is masterful at leveraging the technical expertise of internal and external resources and a proven professional with strong communication skills, politically savvy and the ability to partner, collaborate, build strong relationships and embrace diversity. The Director will manage competing demands and travel to attend local and statewide meetings and conferences. With a passion for public service and a desire to serve the most vulnerable, the Social Services Director will be dedicated to supporting the dignity of social, ethnic and cultural values through collaborative assessment and delivery of services. Preferred background and credentials include: Employment Standards Knowledge and Education A Bachelor s degree in Social Work, Public Administration, Business or Healthcare preferred, and a post graduate degree is highly desirable. Knowledge and experience in a California county system preferred or executive/administrative capacity of comparable level in a state or federal agency. We are looking for a candidate who can demonstrate competency in the following areas: Leadership / Strategic Acumen Support and guide staff to maximize their expertise and ability to work as a team. Provide mentoring to build the department for the future. Use adept problem-solving skills and take a flexible approach to decision making. Incorporate innovative and strategic approaches to management in overseeing the implementation of multiple programmatic and fiscal changes that affect the agency and community. Continue recent improvements in staff development through the utilization of innovation and technology. Possess the ability to successfully work with labor management groups and develop strong relationships with unions. Operations / Business / Administration / Fiscal Management Have a sound working knowledge of the complexities of social services and programmatic financing. Develop and oversee the implementation of the annual budget and key strategic priorities. Design and facilitate improvements to service delivery systems to maximize effectiveness and access to services. Adhere to all fiscal and legal responsibilities as well as federal and state mandates. Oversee compliance with all state reporting and audit requirements, policies and required fiscal controls. Demonstrate operational agility in implementing guidelines that have a direct impact on client s welfare and status. Experience A proven leader with experience at the Director or Deputy Director level with similar organizational responsibilities. Extensive knowledge and background in California health and human service programs, financing, mandates, laws, regulations and federal and California healthcare changes.
County and Public Relations / Legislative Affairs Build and sustain effective relationships with diverse cultural, linguistic and socio-economic communities. Look inward and outward and understand the need to weave the safety net of services between government, nonprofit organizations and foundations to support the needs of the community with a clear understanding that the department is part of the entire network of services. Facilitate relationships at the federal and state level to oversee changes to programming. Monitor legislation and engage elected officials and key decision makers on policy and measures that could affect our community. Possess a clear understanding of how small adjustment at the state and federal levels can have a significant impact on local services. Collaborate, convene and motivate groups of people. We consider effective internal communications to be a critical tool in managing a large and diverse group of employees, functions and programs. Communications / Relationship Building Use excellent verbal and written communications to clearly articulate vision and strategy and develop timely and accurate communications. Use adept public speaking and media relations ability to inform stakeholders and the general community. Build and maintain strong community and departmental partnerships and inform stakeholders of important programmatic, operational, funding and legislative matters potentially impacting the organization. Oversee preparation of concise and accurate reports and recommendations. Facilitate meetings, planning sessions, stakeholder processes and partnering services. Facilitate positive relationships with a variety of stakeholders: unions, community-based organizations, foundations and advocacy groups. Programs and Services Possess a big picture understanding of programs as they relate to the complexity of services; demonstrate the ability to be instrumental while implementing or managing: Affordable Care Act, call center networking, Katie A, Healthy Kids, MediCal, etc., countywide. Maintain current knowledge and expertise on program developments, research and strategies directed towards the clients we serve. Effectively utilize and translate evaluation and program improvements into continuous process and program improvements, and create communications that promote results-based accountability. We jointly commit to the success of the organization and the various components. Characteristics of the Ideal Candidate Considerable senior level management experience with similar organizational responsibilities as outlined in the job announcement and strong interpersonal and communications skills as well as: Demonstrating intensity to go after the goal with passion. Upholding the public trust and leading with integrity and unquestionable ethics. Committing to building successful relationships, promoting involvement of diverse groups, providing excellence in customer service, delivering high quality results and ensuring all commitments are fulfilled. Influencing successful outcomes by presenting an accessible demeanor and encouraging open communication, demonstrating skills of persuasion and building confidence in others. Using high levels of craftsmanship in directing resources, managing programs, communicating with others and implementing mandates. Exhibiting resiliency through flexibility, taking action, leading by example, being self-reliant and navigating effectively in a politically-charged environment.
Salary and Benefits The salary for the Social Services Director is dependent upon qualifications. The County also offers an attractive benefits package which is available at http://www.countyofsb.org/hr/compsumm. aspx?id=11048. The County may provide reimbursement for reasonable relocation expenses up to $20,000 (governed by Board policy). Santa Barbara County offers a generous hiring incentive program. At the discretion of the CEO and Board of Supervisors, the County may provide flexible relocation assistance, housing and student loan offsets, cash incentives, and/or vacation and sick leave pre-accruals in the interest of attracting the best talent to the organization. Apply To be considered for this opportunity, apply by February 1, 2013 and submit cover letter, resume, and current salary information to Wendi Brown at: Email to: wendi@wbrowncreative.com,or Fax to: 866-244-1423 Completion of a County of Santa Barbara application is also required at: www.sbcountyjobs.com. Please contact Wendi Brown with any questions: 541-858-0376 (direct) 866-929-WBCP (toll free) Selection Process Applications will be reviewed to determine those candidates who meet the minimum qualifications and who are best qualified for this position. We will have selection interviews with top candidates. Candidates of interest selected beyond that point will undergo a background and reference check. Other requirements/requests may be needed for final candidate/candidates (e.g., need for a California Driver s License, Medical Examination, etc.). Santa Barbara County is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer