SENIOR HUMAN SERVICES ANALYST

Job Specifications

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY

DEFINITION

Under direction, to plan, develop, review, evaluate and monitor difficult and complex human service programs; to be responsible for several major projects; to provide lead direction to subordinate staff analyst; and to do other work as required.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

This is the super-journey level in the Human Services Analyst series. Positions in this class conduct complex human service program studies, analyses and research projects involving advanced planning and scheduling for social services, income maintenance, and employment and training functions and services. Incumbents are expected to exercise considerable independent judgment in selecting study techniques and resources. Positions in this class are responsible for several major projects. Incumbents provide lead direction to lower level analysts and operations staff as assigned.

TYPICAL TASKS

Conducts complex studies of agency services, policies, procedures, organizational structure, staffing, and budget; measures short-term and long term program objectives; prepares reports and recommendations to implement major program changes in delivery of human services to clients; analyzes pending legislation, laws, regulations and other information received from local, state and federal agencies relating to human service programs and prepares reports and recommendations; conducts major research projects to analyze new programs or to revise existing programs to meet client needs, availability of services, and social and economic patterns within the County; designs and develops measurement techniques to assess needs and services and to evaluate program effectiveness; designs questionnaires and forms to gather, tabulate and analyze data; prepares detailed narrative, oral, statistical and graphic reports; determines local community resources, evaluates services and makes recommendations for new or revised human service programs; evaluates on-going human service programs within the department and provided through contractors or sub-agents; collects and reviews data, evaluates and monitors, and measures service delivery provided by the agency and contractors or sub-agents; reviews contracts, operating plans and goals, audit and progress reports, service reports, case files, and fiscal and statistical data; interviews staff, contractors, sub-agents and clients, prepares organizational and workflow charts; drafts requests for proposals and invitations for bids; reviews proposals and bids, and makes recommendations for funding; negotiates and prepares contracts and contract modifications; develops policies and operating procedures for major demonstration projects and provides assistance and advice during project operation; evaluates project results and integrates results into existing programs; develops and maintains working relationships with a wide variety of community leaders and officials and with local, state and federal agencies; serves as project leader over other analysts and operating personnel; plans, organizes, supervises, and evaluates work of subordinate staff; may provide staff support for commissions or committees.

EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS

Knowledge:

  Thorough knowledge of:

• Human services, basic community needs, and community resources.
• Program evaluation processes.

  Working knowledge of:

• Analytical and research techniques.
• The functions and services of a local human resources agency.
• Contract law and procurement procedures.
• Grant proposal writing and budgeting.
• Administrative theories and techniques.
• Basic statistics.

  Some knowledge of:

• The principles of supervision and training.
• Basic budgetary techniques.

Ability to:

• Define complex problems, design efficient and organized plans to collect and format data, establish facts and draw logical conclusions.
• Create and determine acceptability of social science research hypotheses by drawing from accepted theories, practices, principles and empirical data in the social science field.
• Develop effective strategies for solving a wide variety of complex problems.
• Prepare and present a variety of clear and concise oral and written reports.
• Train, schedule, supervise and evaluate subordinate staff.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with others contacted in course of work.
• Interpret legislation and regulations, administrative policies and procedures.
• Analyze and prepare grant proposals, contracts and related budgets.

Training and Experience:

Any combination of training and experience which would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. Typical ways to obtain these knowledge and abilities would be:

One year of experience at a level equivalent to Associate Human Services Analyst with Santa Cruz County.

Special Requirements:

Possession of a valid California Class C Driver's license or the employee must be able to provide suitable transportation which is approved by the appointing authority.