Human Services Manager

This posting is for the Ventura County Human Services Agency; vacancy location is All Sites.

Be part of the strength of human relationships and community partnerships by becoming a Human Services Manager for the Human Services Agency at the County of Ventura!  

OUR COUNTY AND COMMUNITY

Ventura County is located on California’s “Gold Coast,” approximately 35 miles northwest of Los Angeles and 20 miles southeast of Santa Barbara. Residents enjoy rolling hills and sweeping ocean views in a nearly perfect Mediterranean climate. The beauty and weather combined with a wonderful quality of life are among the many reasons our residents choose to call Ventura County “home.”
 
Ventura County is a “general law” county, governed by a five-member, elected-by-district Board of Supervisors. The Supervisors appoint a County Executive Officer (CEO) to oversee the County budget, day-to-day operations, and to advise, assist, and act as an agent for the Board of Supervisors in all matters under the Board’s jurisdiction. It focuses on providing excellent services to its residents by promoting engagement, strategy, execution, and accountability to include diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives to ensure that all employees are treated with respect and without discrimination, and to improve culturally appropriate outcomes for community members.

THE AGENCY

To learn about the Human Services Agency (HSA), click “Who We Are” to view a short video about our multiple departments. 

HSA is comprised of nearly 1600 staff members who serve approximately a third of Ventura County residents, all of whom have unique experiences and perspectives. We are committed to delivering services in a manner that is inclusive, competent, and respectful of each community's beliefs, practices, and expressions. We value diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace and assist communities by bringing these values into the workforce. 

WHAT WE OFFER
The County of Ventura offers an attractive compensation and benefits package that includes:

• General Salary Increase (GSI) – 3.5% effective December 20, 2026 and 3.5% effective December 19, 2027.
• Merit Increases – New employees are eligible for an initial 5% merit increase within the pay range upon completion of at least 1,040 hours (approximately 6 months) assuming work meets satisfactory standards. Subsequent merit increases within the pay range will be upon completion of each additional 2,080 hours (approximately one year) from the initial merit increase. 
• Educational Incentive - An educational incentive of 2.5% for completion of an associate's degree, 3.5% for completion of a bachelor's degree, OR 5% for completion of a graduate degree.
• Bilingual Incentive - Based on agency need, proficiency levels by exam are $.69 per hour (Level I), $1.00 per hour (Level II), or $1.32 per hour (Level III).
• Flexible Workweek/Telework Schedule – We support work life balance by offering compressed work (e.g., 9/80 workweek) and remote hybrid telework schedules for most positions subject to organizational needs and satisfactory performance. 
• Annual Leave Accrual – New regular, full-time employees in this classification will earn 208 hours per year, increasing to 288 hours after 5 years of service. 
• Annual Leave Redemption – An employee may elect to "cash in" or redeem up to 100 hours of vacation accrued in the same year after using 80 hours of vacation in the preceding 12 months. 
• Deferred Compensation - Eligible to participate in the County's 401(k) Shared Savings Plan and/or the Section 457 Plan. This position is eligible for up to a 3.00% match on your 401(k) contributions. 
• Health Plans–Full-time employees are given a flexible credit allowance of up to $26,626.86 annually to offset the purchase of medical, dental, and/or vision insurance for you and your dependents.
  • Employee only - $463.99 per biweekly pay period
  • Employee plus one dependent - $834.32 per biweekly pay period 
  • Employee plus family - $1,024.11 per biweekly pay period 
• Flexible Spending Accounts - Choice of participation in the Flexible Spending Accounts, which increase spending power through reimbursement of pre-tax dollars for IRS approved dependent care and health care expenses. 
• Pension Plan - Both the County and employees contribute to the County's Retirement Plan and to Social Security. If eligible, reciprocity may be established with other public retirement systems, such as PERS.
• Holidays - 13 paid days per year, which includes a scheduled floating holiday.
• Additional Benefits - Tuition Reimbursement, Disability Plans, Employee Assistance Program, Life Insurance, Wellness Program.

THE POSITION 
The Human Services Agency is seeking Human Services Manager who, under general direction, provide management and supervision to assigned administrative or departmental operations and services supporting the Human Services Agency. The Human Services Manager focuses on full management responsibility for strategy, planning, implementation, and evaluation of line operations and service delivery. This position typically reports to agency or department senior leadership and may supervise at least one level of direct reports.

Human Services Manager is a management classification and is not eligible for overtime compensation. Incumbents in these classifications are eligible for benefits at the MB4 level. 

IDEAL CANDIDATE

The ideal candidate will possess a collaborative, integrative, and inclusive leadership style with demonstrated experience as a champion of implementing organizational change. They will have extensive experience working at a supervisory/management level in, or in collaboration with, a social service agency; proven work history evaluating the effectiveness of programs and services, and the ability to adapt in a fast-paced changing work environment. The ideal candidate will possess strong resource, administrative, and management skills; have a dynamic personality with excellent oral and written communication skills; be able to effectively cultivate collaboration and teamwork with internal and external collaborators; exhibit a strong understanding of and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion as a priority practice in strategy and decision making; have familiarity with the delivery of strength-based services which are mindful of different cultural and language traditions, as well as, trauma informed and healing centered engagement practices to ensure positive outcomes of integrated human services for vulnerable populations.

Ideal candidates will possess the following competencies: 

• Adaptability & Flexibility – Responding positively to change and fluidly modifying behavior as the situation requires
• Communication – Respectfully delivering pertinent, truthful, and timely information and comprehending information delivered by others
• Critical Thinking & Problem Solving – Analyzing and evaluating information, problems, and options with logic and good judgment 
• Cross-Divisional Collaboration – Facilitating collaboration across organizational units to accomplish common goals
• Engagement & Inclusion – Involving coworkers, teams, and outside partners for input, contribution, coordination, and shared responsibility
• Leadership – Establishing shared goals, values, and principles and strategically guiding others
• Managerial Courage – Addressing uncomfortable and/or interpersonally charged situations with bravery, poise, and tact in a timely, measured, and diplomatic manner
• Negotiation & Influence – Persuading, compromising, and working toward consensus to gain support and cooperation
• Organizational Culture Management – Establishing, adapting, and upholding norms, behaviors, and processes to support a coherent and effective institutional philosophy
• Performance Management – Improving employee effectiveness with honest and constructive feedback and dialogue
• Professional Integrity & Ethics – Demonstrating high standards of conduct and consistently adhering to sound moral principles
• Relationship Building – Developing and maintaining stable, mutually beneficial networks of cooperation among clients, coworkers, vendors, and other organizations
• Results Focus – Initiating tasks, meeting organizational goals, and committing to proficient accomplishment
• Staff Development – Supporting others in the pursuit of their goals and expansion of their potential through feedback, instruction, and encouragement
• Strategic Vision – Developing and communicating clear, compelling, long-term objectives aligned with the County’s mission, values, and guiding principles

Duties may include, but are not limited to the following: 

• Plans, organizes, coordinates, and supervises the activities of subordinate administrative, technical or operations staff within a service area or division to meet the goals and objectives of the agency. Creates the conditions necessary for direct reporting staff to succeed, including utilizing coaching techniques, encouraging collaboration, and seeking staff’s input to improve work processes. 
• Prepares required reports and activity/work measurement reports; compiles and analyzes financial and statistical information to improve operations and/or change service delivery methods in alignment with current agency objectives.
• Analyzes needs, gaps and resource utilization data, and crafts data-based recommendations for optimizing resources. 
• Designs effective work processes and monitors performance outcomes to meet agency goals and objectives, using approaches that promote employee engagement; respect for community voice; collaborative, integrated and healing-centered service delivery; continuous learning; diversity, equity and inclusion, and resource optimization.
• Markets the services of the unit, program, and agency; establishes and maintains an effective internal and external customer service program.
• Collaborates with other department and agency managers on policy matters and work challenges; ensures adherence to mandated policies and procedures and encourages changes to adopt best practices. 
• Represents the County and the agency/department in contacts with other governmental agencies or departments, private organizations, and the public. 
• Identifies opportunities for revenue maximization and enhancement activities, including collaborative efforts with partners and participation in pilot programs.
• Represents the department and agency in developing, negotiating, and monitoring contracts and contractor performance.
• May serve as liaison to technical, operations, or administrative staff to analyze new legislation, work methods or reporting requirements, set up and make enhancements to automated systems, train staff, and assist in presenting informational sessions to agency/departmental staff and staff from other agencies and departments. 
• Performs other related duties as required.

These are entrance requirements to the exam process and assure neither continuance in the process nor placement on an eligible list.
 
EDUCATION, TRAINING, and EXPERIENCE 
Extensive professional-level administrative, management, supervision, or lead operational experience which has led to the acquisition of the required knowledge, skills, and abilities. An example of qualifying experience may be obtained by the possession of a Bachelor's Degree in a related discipline AND a minimum of four years management, supervision or professional-level administrative experience within a multi-disciplinary public administrative or human service delivery system.
 
Substitution: Related experience as noted above may be substituted for the education requirement on a year for year basis.

DESIRED

• Four (4) or more years of supervising or managing social services programs in (or in collaboration with) a public agency
• Work history of resource management that achieves optimum outcomes or business results
• Highly developed skills in the areas of change management, time management, team leadership, and facilitation of work groups and meetings
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Possession of a master’s degree in a related discipline
• Extensive knowledge of strengths-based, trauma informed and healing centered practices

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS 

• Must be willing and able to work evenings, overnight, weekends, and holidays.
• Must possess knowledge of State of California laws, rules, and regulations governing the delivery of social services applicable to the assigned department.
• Must be willing and able to travel in or out of the county, throughout the state of California, and out of state as needed.
• Some positions may require possession, prior to appointment, and maintenance of a valid California driver license. 
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal. Skills must be demonstrated in the completion of the employment application and supplemental questionnaire and will be evaluated during the probationary period. 

WORKING CONDITIONS

Work is primarily performed in an office environment but may require visits to other organizations, agencies and departments, private businesses, client homes or work locations; and will require direct meetings with the public, co-located and external program partners and other community groups. 

Operational Service Hours

Positions may require flexible schedules, including evenings, at designated service locations to ensure adequate staffing coverage during extended hours to accommodate customer needs.

COUNTY EMPLOYEES AS DISASTER SERVICE WORKERS

When a disaster strikes of natural or manmade origin, Ventura County employees may be called upon to provide service to the community by assisting in emergency response efforts. This may require employees to work in other locations, different hours, and out of class. At the time of hire, all County employees will be required to sign an Oath or Affirmation of Allegiance for Disaster Service Workers and Public Employees (Sections 3102 and 3103, Government Code of California)

FINAL FILING DATE: Applications must be received by County of Ventura, Human Resources in Ventura, California, no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday, October 23, 2026.
 
To apply online, please refer to our website at www.venturacounty.gov/jobs. If you prefer to fill out a paper application form, please call (805) 654-5129 for application materials and submit them to County of Ventura Human Resources, 800 South Victoria Avenue, L-1970, Ventura, CA 93009.
 

Information for Transfer Candidates: NOTE: If presently permanently employed in another "merit" or "civil service" public agency/entity in the same or substantively similar position as is advertised, and if appointed to that position by successful performance in a "merit" or "civil service" style examination, then appointment by "Lateral Transfer" may be possible. If interested, please click here for additional information.
 
Note: It is essential that you complete all sections of your application and supplemental questionnaire thoroughly and accurately to demonstrate your qualifications. A resume and/or other related documents may be attached to supplement the information in your application and supplemental questionnaire; however, it/they may not be submitted in lieu of the application.
 

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE - qualifying: All applicants are required to complete and submit the questionnaire for this exam AT THE TIME OF FILING. The supplemental questionnaire may be used throughout the recruitment and hiring process to assist in determining qualifications for the position. Failure to complete and submit the questionnaire may result in removal of the application from further consideration.

APPLICATION EVALUATION - qualifying: All applications will be reviewed to determine whether the stated requirements are met. Applicants meeting the stated requirements will be invited to continue to the next step in the examination process.

TRAINING & EXPERIENCE EVALUATION: A Training and Experience Evaluation (T&E) is a structured evaluation of the job application materials submitted by a candidate, including the written responses to the supplemental questionnaire. The T&E is NOT a determination of whether the candidate meets the state requirements; rather the T&E is one method for determining who are the better qualified among those who have shown that they meet the stated requirements. In a T&E, applications are either scored or rank ordered according to criteria that most closely meet the business needs of the department. Candidates are typically scored/ranked in relation to one another; consequently, when the pool of candidates is exceptionally strong, many qualified candidates receive a score or rank which is moderate or even low resulting in them not being advanced in the process.
 
NOTE: The selection process will likely consist of an Oral Exam, which may be preceded or replaced with the score from a Training and Experience Evaluation (T&E), contingent upon the size and quality of the candidate pool. In a typical T&E, your training and experience are evaluated in relation to the background, experience and factors identified for successful job performance during a job analysis. For this reason, it is recommended that your application materials clearly show your relevant background and specialized knowledge, skills, and abilities. It is also highly recommended that the supplemental questions within the application are completed with care and diligence. Responses such as "See Resume" or "Refer to Resume" are not acceptable and may disqualify an applicant from further evaluation.

ORAL EXAMINATION - 100%: A job-related oral examination will be conducted to evaluate and compare participating examinees' knowledge, skills, and abilities in relation to those factors which job analysis has determined to be essential for successful performance of the job. Examinees must earn a score of seventy percent (70%) or higher to qualify for placement on the eligible list.

NOTE: If there are three (3) or fewer qualified applicants, an examination may not be conducted. Instead, a score of seventy percent (70%) will be assigned to each application, and each applicant will be placed on the eligible list.
 
ELIGIBLE LIST: Applicants successfully completing the exam process may be placed on an eligible list for a period of one (1) year.

The eligible list established from this recruitment may be used to fill current and future Regular (including Temporary and Fixed-term), Intermittent and Extra Help vacancies within the Human Services Agency.  
 
SELECTION INTERVIEW: When a position becomes available, applicants are referred to the employing department for interviews beginning with the highest scoring applicants, moving down the list from the top until the available positions are filled.
 
BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: A thorough pre-employment, post offer background investigation which may include inquiry into past employment, education, criminal background information, and driving record is required for this position.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY: The County of Ventura is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

RECRUITER CONTACT INFORMATION: For further information about this recruitment, please contact Jennifer Rayner by email at [email protected] or by telephone at (805) 477-5390.