Kids Network Business Specialist

tep into a dynamic role as KIDS Network Business Specialist, where your skills in partnership building, project management, and policy shaping will drive positive change for children and adults in our community.

The County of Santa Barbara Department of Social Services is accepting applications to fill one current Business Specialist vacancy. This position can be filled in Santa Barbara or Santa Maria for the Children & Adult Networks Division.

THE DIVISION: 
The Department of Social Services Adult & Children’s Services Branch administers several Community Networks whose purpose is to bridge public and private sectors and facilitate effective communication, coordination, and collaboration among individuals and organizations to better serve children, youth, families, older adults, and people with disabilities in Santa Barbara County. The Children & Adult Networks Division administers the KIDS Network, Child Abuse Prevention Council, the Adult & Aging Network, and the Network of Family Resource Centers.  Each network has a unique function and focus.   In addition to facilitating community networks, the Division also supports program coordination and operations at the Cuyama Valley Family Resource Center and is responsible for administration and oversight of child abuse prevention funding that comes into the County through the California Department of Social Services Office of Child Abuse Prevention.
For more information, visit: Community Networks | Santa Barbara County, CA – Official Website (countyofsb.org)
 
THE POSITION:  
The Santa Barbara County Department of Social Services has an immediate opening for a Business Specialist in the Adult & Children’s Services Branch.  This position provides a unique opportunity to join the Children and Adult Networks team, where exceptional customer service is focused on strengthening local and regional partnerships across different sectors and disciplines. This position supports ongoing functions of the Children and Adult Networks and requires efficient application of business processes such as data management and reporting, project planning and implementation, fiscal management, public speaking, and contract execution and oversight.

IDEAL CANDIDATE will possess:

• Positive outlook, open-mindedness, strong interpersonal skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including report writing
• Strong analytical, organizational, and project management skills
• Good judgment under pressure, skillful use of tact and diplomacy
• Ability to exercise discretion and professionalism, including ability to maintain confidentiality
• Ability to lead and motivate others
• Flexibility and the ability to adapt to changes, new information, and unexpected obstacles
• Ability to develop and conduct professional presentations for a wide variety of audiences
• Ability to take initiative and move projects forward without specific direction
• Ability to be detail-oriented while handling multiple projects with competing priorities
• Proficiency in MS Excel, Word, PowerPoint
• Bilingual English-Spanish preferred (written and spoken)

Examples of Duties

• Researches and analyzes rules, regulations, legislation, and procedures to determine their impact on departmental processes, reporting, and fiscal requirements; develops and recommends policies and procedures; and identifies and validates business process requirements, critical success factors, and fiscal, technological, and environmental constraints and assumptions.
• Develops written procedures to implement adopted policy or to clarify and describe standard practices; coordinates the development or revision of policies and procedures to support new processes and systems, reduce costs, enhance revenue, and maximize service levels; evaluates organizational impact of changes; prepares response strategies; designs and improves forms; and coordinates publication and dissemination of such material.
• Serves as liaison with clients and representatives of private businesses, state and/or federal agencies, and other County departments to coordinate special projects and to provide specified administrative services such as budget reports generated from automated financial systems or contracts for services based on an analysis of program needs and available funding; represents the department in the development of, or change in, programs and regulations; and gathers information for use in assigned studies or management decisions.
• Participates in meetings and presents data to assist managers in making operational and administrative decisions.
• Acts as program expert in answering staff questions, liaison with community-based organizations, parent leaders, and regional partners
• May lead or supervise staff.

Employment Standards

1.     Possession of a bachelor’s degree in business administration sociology, social work, public administration, economics, human resources, psychology, political science, liberal studies, education, or closely-related field; OR,
2.     Possession of an associate’s degree in business administration sociology, social work, public administration, economics, human resources, psychology, political science, liberal studies, education, assignment or closely-related field AND two years of experience that would demonstrate basic knowledge of (a) fiscal management, budgeting, grant preparation and monitoring, and contract management; (b) automated systems; or (c) project planning and implementation OR,
3.     Four years of experience that would demonstrate basic knowledge of (a) fiscal management, budgeting, grant preparation and monitoring, and contract management; (b) automated systems; or (c) project planning and implementation OR,
4.     A combination of training, education, and/or experience that is equivalent to one of the employment standards listed above and that provides the required competencies.

Note:   Applicants who are currently in their final quarter or semester of study leading to the required degree are encouraged to apply.  Such applicants may compete in the examination process but may not be considered for appointment until they have attained the required degree.

For the required competencies requirements and the full classification specification, click HERE

Additional Information:

• Independent travel throughout the county and state will be required.
• Possession of a valid Class C Driver’s License will be required at appointment time.
• Fingerprinting for the purpose of a criminal record check, as authorized by Section 16501 of the California Welfare and Institutions Code and Section 11105.3 of the California Penal Code, may be required for some positions.

Supplemental Information

APPLICATION & SELECTION PROCESS:

• Review applications and supplemental questionnaire to determine those applicants who meet the employment standards.
•  Supplemental Questionnaire Ranking.  Responses to the required supplemental questionnaire will be evaluated and scored.   Candidates’ final score and rank on the eligibility list will be determined by their responses to the supplemental questionnaire.  This process may be eliminated if there are fewer than eleven qualified candidates.

Candidates must receive a percentage score of at least 70 on the supplemental questionnaire ranking to be placed on an employment list.  An adjustment may be made to raw scores based on factors listed in Civil Service Rule VI.  Those candidates who are successful in the selection process will have their names placed on the employment list for a minimum of three months.  At the time the employment list is established, all candidates will receive an email notice of their score on the exam(s), rank on the employment list, and exact duration of the employment list.

VETERANS PREFERENCE POINTS: Veteran’s preference credit is applicable for this recruitment (5 points for veterans, 10 points for disabled veterans).  To be eligible for this credit, you must be applying for this position within five years from your most recent date of:
(1) honorable discharge from active military service; or,
(2) discharge from a military or veterans’ hospital where treatment and confinement were for a disability incurred during active military service; or, 
(3) completion of education or training funded by a Federal Educational Assistance Act.  No time limit exists for veterans with 30% or more disability.

To receive veteran’s preference points, you must:  (1) check the Veteran’s Preference Points box on the employment application form, (2) submit a copy of your Form DD214 to the Human Resources Department on or before the application deadline, and (3) pass all phases of the examination process.  The preference points will be added to your final test score.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS: The County of Santa Barbara is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants.  Qualified individuals with disabilities who need a reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process should contact the recruiter listed on the job posting.  We require verification of needed accommodation from a professional source, such as a Medical Provider or a learning institution.

Recruiters will communicate with applicants by e-mail during each step in the recruitment process.  Applicants are reminded to check spam filters continuously during the Recruitment & Selection Process steps listed above to ensure they do not miss required deadlines
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The appointee must satisfactorily complete a one-year probationary period.

Disaster Service Workers: Pursuant to Governmental Code section 3100, all employees with the County of Santa Barbara are declared to be disaster service workers subject to such disaster service.  Activities as may be assigned to them by their superiors or by law.

BENEFITS: The County of Santa Barbara offers generous benefits.  For information click here.

Statement of Commitment:
The County of Santa Barbara is dedicated to cultivating and sustaining an environment that exhibits equity and inclusion everywhere and at all levels of our organization.  The County believes equity is a fundamental principle that must be imbedded in policies, institutional practices and systems.  The County recognizes the negative impacts of systemic racism and is committed to eliminating the barriers affecting our Black, Latinx, Indigenous, and Asian community members, as well as people of other diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds.  We envision a world where society and its systems (e.g. education, criminal justice, and health care, housing the economy) are just, fair, and inclusive, enabling all people to participate and reach their full potential.

We celebrate community and employee diversity, strive for inclusion and belonging, and promote empowered participation.  We aspire to build a workforce that is reflective of these values and the communities we serve.  We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and will resolutely uphold federal, California state law and/or Santa Barbara County ordinances.

We believe equity and inclusion are vital to fulfill the County’s mission and to embody a culture of “One County, One Future.” Expanding the full range of employee talent allows the County to deliver our best to all our community members.

We believe in the dignity and humanity of all people.  We strive for a healthy and prosperous society that promotes all people having equitable access and opportunity.

APPLICATION AND SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE DEADLINE: 10/15/24, 4:59 P.M. (PST)  Applications and job bulletins can be contained 24 hours a day at www.sbcountyjobs.com

For questions regarding this recruitment, contact Jasmine Gaytan at jgayta@countyofsb.org