Senior Human Services Analyst

Job Summary

The City of Santa Monica is actively seeking candidates for

Senior Human Services Analyst

Homelessness Prevention and Intervention team

The City of Santa Monica is seeking an energetic and collaborative team member to support the City’s efforts to support the City’s policy and programs serving vulnerable households, with emphasis on homelessness prevention. This position, located in the Housing and Human Services Department’s Human Services Division, is a multi-faceted opportunity for the right candidate looking to lead a variety of high-profile community projects through thoughtful policy and program analysis, cross-departmental collaboration, grants management, and meaningful community engagement. This position will work closely with a diverse range of stakeholders, including internal City departments, regional county partners, local business and faith partners, non-profit service agencies and concerned residents to develop and implement programs and policies that support and align with the City’s Homelessness Strategic Plan. In addition, this position will play a key role in assessing current and future needs for resources and policy revisions to prevent evictions and other crisis situations that put vulnerable residents at risk of homelessness and will support implementation of a community-wide strategy to address local behavioral health needs. The Senior Human Services Analyst is expected to represent the City and the Department as a subject matter expert on homelessness prevention, making presentations and conducting training both internally to the City and externally to community groups and at regional, state, and national conferences. This position will be managing a portfolio of homelessness prevention service programs, including fiscal and programmatic monitoring, technical assistance and service coordination, as well as researching and applying for appropriate grant opportunities that support the City’s priorities.

This position is responsible for managing a range of policy and program initiatives in a dynamic and rapidly changing work environment and requires a versatile, transferable skill set that transcends specific job functions and can be seamlessly applied in a variety of settings. These positions also require strong written and verbal communication skills, as the team is required to author staff reports and other policy memos as well as make presentations to a variety of audiences. The ability to distill complex social and economic issues into accessible and persuasive material will be a necessary trait. The ideal candidate will be a motivated self-starter with excellent critical thinking, project management, and written and oral communication skills, as well as a deep understanding of regional policies and service systems affecting people experiencing homelessness and other vulnerable populations.

While the number of people experiencing homelessness continues to climb, both locally and across the state, Santa Monica offers a dedicated environment in which to contribute knowledge and passion towards effective and strategic initiatives to help the most vulnerable individuals secure stable housing and appropriate care and prevent homelessness. Santa Monica’s sustained investments of land, capital funding, operational support and significant political will have fostered a dynamic, comprehensive service system that provides an array of emergency service, case management, treatment, and housing options. Leveraging this local investment with federal, state, and county resources, the Senior Human Services Analyst can play a key role in managing and aligning these resources to generate the most benefit to individuals at risk of homelessness, and the community at large. These positions will report to the Human Services Administrator and will interface with key internal and external parties working together to address and prevent homelessness.

The ideal candidate has:
Graduated from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree in Public Administration, Urban Planning, Social Welfare or a related field. Master's Degree desirable. Master's Degree in a related field is desirable;
Deep understanding of issues related to serving people experiencing homelessness and vulnerable populations at risk of homelessness, including regional policies and service systems;
Three years of recent, paid, work experience developing, organizing, evaluating and managing social services programs, providing high level administrative support, and preparing complex analytical reports.
Proven track record of successfully applying skillset in a variety of settings.

Representative Duties

Assists in the administration of the City's Human Services Grants Program (HSGP) including the establishment of funding priorities and recommendations, program design and implementation, and performance evaluation.

Monitors contract compliance and performance of City-funded social service agencies. Reviews and assesses audited financial statements from City-funded social service agencies.

Reviews program performance measures and outcomes. Analyzes and interprets program data to generate meaningful conclusions and appropriate recommendations.

Ensures the City remains in compliance with respect to its contracts with external funding agencies, (e.g., state and federal agencies such as the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority).

Plans, organizes and directs special programs and projects that advance community priorities and council adopted strategies and enhance civic wellbeing, including funding applications to external funding agencies.

Provides technical assistance to non-profit organizations on program development, policies and procedures, project budget, documentation and data collection, program outcomes, and other administrative and fiscal areas.

Works with City divisions, non-profit service providers, other community organizations and members of the public to ensure alignment and the effective coordination of social services consistent with policies adopted by the City.

Works with regional organizations and coalitions to ensure the coordination of social services delivery, policy and funding across the region.

Procures and manages consultants engaged by the City.

Participates in the preparation of a variety of reports including staff reports, fiscal and/or budgetary reports and required federal, state and local plans and reports.

Conducts complex and/or administrative research, studies and surveys. Prepares reports recommending appropriate courses of action for solutions and/or advocacy on issues related to the work of the Human Services Division.

Acts as a resource to the public, City Departments, commissions and other organizations on homeless issues.

Makes presentations to boards and commissions, public and non-profit agencies and other community groups on issues related to the work of the Human Services Division.

Provides staff support to City Commissions and committees as assigned.

Provides administrative support to the division through participation in team meetings and generates recommendations regarding division programs designs, policies and procedures.

Researches, analyses and interprets data and other information related to social service programs and policies.

Coordinates the responses and follow-up for public complaints, inquiries, requests and suggestions. Ensures that complaints are dealt with in a timely and effective manner. Disseminates accurate information regarding the work of the Human Services Division and related community agencies to the public.

Keeps abreast of new legislation, regulations and policies relevant to division's operations and recommends and/or makes adjustments to division's procedures to ensure compliance.

Assigns, monitors and reviews work of support staff, as assigned.

Performs other related duties, as assigned.

Requirements

Knowledge of:

Low-income and vulnerable populations, including homeless people, seniors and people with disabilities. Economic and social issues that contribute to poverty and social inequity.
Challenges/barriers faced by low-income households to housing stability, economic stability, education and other opportunities.
Available and emerging programs and community issues related to low-income and vulnerable populations.
Best practices in program and project development, implementation and evaluation relating to low-income and vulnerable populations.
Development of and processes associated with Request for Proposals (RFPs).
Grants and contractual agreement management.
Budget development and management.
Report and grant writing techniques.
Supervisory principles and practices.
Best practices in service delivery funding sources and other resources relating to serving low-income and vulnerable populations.
Principles of staff training and supervision.
Effective supervisory techniques.
Effective customer service techniques.

Ability to:

Develop, implement and administer projects and programs that advance the work of the Human Services Division.
Analyze large quantities of data and synthesize major issues and potential solutions, make decisions regarding program development and operations, resource needs and budgetary requirements.
Interpret, explain and apply applicable local, state and federal laws, legislation and regulations pertaining to the work of the Human Services Division.
Analyze and apply federal and local monitoring, reporting performance and audit requirements.
Establish and maintain effective and cooperative working relationships with City employees and a wide variety of individuals, agencies, boards, commissions, community organizations and the general public.
Supervise, train and evaluate the work of staff.
Review and analyze program budgets and fiscal reports.
Analyze and solve administrative and budgeting problems.
Prepare analytical reports, including staff reports to Council and Commissions.
Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
Provide effective customer service.
Maintain accurate records and files.

Skill in:

Independent, complex problem solving and analysis.
Dealing with the public.
Working cooperatively with community groups.
Writing reports and correspondence.
Using a personal computer and applicable software applications.

Education, Training and Experience:

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree in Public Administration, Urban Planning, Social Welfare or a related field. Master's Degree desirable. Master's Degree in a related field is desirable.

Three years of recent, paid, work experience developing, organizing, evaluating and managing social services programs, providing high level administrative support, and preparing complex analytical reports.

Supplemental Information

How to Apply:

Applicants must submit a clear, concise, completed on-line City Application along with any required supplemental application materials with the Human Resources Department by the filing deadline. If you do not submit your on-line application by the filing deadline, you will not be considered for this position. Please note, applications may be rejected if incomplete. Resumes, CVs and cover letters are not reviewed as part of the application screening process.

You must attach a copy of your college level transcripts or diploma to your online application. Applicants who indicate receipt of college level coursework or degree from a foreign institution must provide United States credential equivalency verification along with a copy of your college diploma/transcripts. All materials must be received in the Human Resources Department no later than the filing deadline. Failure to do so may result in your application being disqualified.

Selection Process:

All applicants must submit clear, concise and complete information regarding your work history and qualifications for the position. All applicants will be reviewed and only those applicants determined to be most qualified on the basis of experience, training and education, as submitted, will be invited to participate further in the selection process.

Testing may consist of a combination of any of the following and is subject to change as needs dictate:

Training and Experience Evaluation
Writing exercise/practical assessment

Oral Interview

If three or more qualified City employees apply and pass the examination, a promotional list will be established in addition to an open-competitive list. If fewer than three qualified City employees pass the examination, the appointing authority, in accordance with the City's civil service rules and regulations, can decline to use a promotional list, in which case a promotional list will not be established for this position.

Background Investigation:

Candidates who have successfully completed all prior phases of the selection process will be subject to a thorough background investigation.

Inclusion & Diversity Statement

The City of Santa Monica is a progressive, inclusive and culturally rich community. As leaders in public service, we strive to be an employer of choice by attracting and retaining a highly talented workforce where people of diverse races, religions, cultures and lifestyles thrive. Our goal is to create a welcoming and inclusive environment where our staff are empowered to perform at their highest level and where their differences make a positive impact.

The City is an equal opportunity employer and strives to build balanced teams from all walks of life without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, ancestry, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state and/or local law. We aim to create a workplace that celebrates and embraces the diversity of our employees. Join us!

Special assistance with the application and examination process is available, upon request, for persons with disabilities. Call (310) 458-8246, TDD (310) 458-8696 (Hearing Impaired Only).

Please note the request for reasonable accommodations must be made to Human Resources at least three work days prior to the examination.

WORKING CONDITIONS:
Work is primarily performed indoors in a busy office environment with constant interruptions and changing deadlines. Work includes field work in the community. Occasionally required to work evenings and/or weekends for meetings or special assignments.

The City's liberal fringe benefits for full-time employment include sick leave, holiday and vacation pay, the Public Employees Retirement System, medical, dental and vision insurance, credit union, deferred compensation, tuition reimbursement, Dependent Care Assistance Plan and Marine Park Childcare Center.

Closing Date/Time: 5/24/2024 5:00 PM Pacific

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