Join our team as the Homelessness Assistance Program Manager and make a meaningful impact in Santa Barbara County!   The Community Services Department is accepting applications to fill one full-time Homelessness Assistance Program Manager vacancy in Santa Barbara.  If you are passionate about integrating policies, programs, and resources to address homelessness and improve lives, we invite you to bring your expertise and dedication to this rewarding position!

The job classification for this position is a Community Resources Manager III.  This is an at-will position, exempt from Civil Service provisions, who serves at the pleasure of the Department Director.

THE DEPARTMENT/DIVISION  
As part of the County of Santa Barbara's Community Services Department, the Housing and Community Development (HCD) Division uses state, federal, and local funding to provide a variety of critical public service programs and public facility projects, including affordable housing, homeless assistance, and Community Development Block Grant/ HOME Investment Partnership (CDBG/HOME) programs. The Division also supports the Capital Loan Committee, Continuum of Care Board, and Human Services Commission.

THE POSITION
The Homelessness Assistance Program Manager is responsible for administering Santa Barbara County's homeless programs by monitoring and evaluating program compliance with policies established by the Board of Supervisors, the County Executive's Office, and the local Santa Maria/ Santa Barbara County Continuum of Care. Serving as a liaison between the County, local jurisdictions, funding sources and various public and private agencies, the incumbent will facilitate the alignment and integration of federal, state and local homelessness initiatives and programs, policies, and a wide-range of social services and funding sources.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED
Reports to the HCD Division Manager.  Oversees the work of a team or teams of individual contributors through subordinate managers. Exercises direct and indirect supervision over assigned management, professional, technical, and administrative staff. 

IDEAL CANDIDATE
The ideal candidate will be well versed and current on homeless demographics, federal and state priorities, and best practices in homeless service and housing delivery; and able to analyze the strengths and gaps in the regional housing market, government programs, the local homeless service and housing delivery system. The ideal candidate will have in-depth knowledge of the issues of why people become homeless and barriers to exiting homelessness, homeless prevention, and rapid rehousing.  This position requires someone who is open and approachable, honest, and who has high integrity. He/she will have strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize, remain calm in highly contentious situations, and be professional and personable.

• Serves as a member of the County's management team by planning, organizing, coordinating, and directing the activities in homeless assistance, and homeless assistance-related programs. 
• Establishes annual or mid-term priorities, goals, and operational plans for the division or programs. 
• Recommends, establishes, and provides direction for new or revised services, programs, processes, policies, standards, or operational plans based on the department's longer-term strategies. 
• Recommends division's strategic plans within department strategic direction to next level manager or director. 
• Develops, administers, and evaluates community resources services and programs to ensure compliance with strategies and performance goals; manages work systems and processes; maintains and updates procedures and ensures compliance; researches trends and best practices; and recommends and implements changes. 
• Monitors state and federal grant funding for projects, programs, and other initiatives beneficial to the County. 
• Develops and administers work unit budget and procurement processes; reviews and approves budget requests and transactions; negotiates and manages contracts; researches and analyzes financial information; makes resource allocation recommendations; and implements resource allocation decisions. 
• Researches, analyzes, develops, and reviews original fiscal, compliance, and related reports, contracts, plans, grant proposals, materials, presentations, and other documents; and develops and makes recommendations to higher-level staff. 
• Develops, implements, and evaluates services and programs to ensure adherence to strategic and performance goals; manages work systems and processes; maintains and updates procedures; researches trends and best practices in the area of assignment; and recommends and implements operational and program changes. 
• Performs long-term planning and recommends policy and procedure improvements to meet changing program requirements and legislative changes. 
• Develops and administers budgetary and procurement processes; manages contracts; researches and analyzes financial information; makes resource allocation recommendations; and implements resource allocation decisions.
• Troubleshoots and resolves program or work unit issues and informs higher-level management of issues/resolution. 
• Oversees the preparation of or prepares contracts, reports, records, plans, and other documents involved in managing the area of assignment; oversees and participates in the research and analysis of policy and related information; and makes recommendations to higher-level management staff. 
• Supervises management, professional, paraprofessional, and support staff; conducts performance evaluations, employee development, hiring, discipline, and termination procedures. 
• Coordinates work with the general public, County staff, and external agencies; may represent the County on various professional committees; and prepare and make presentations to the public, elected officials, boards, and other stakeholders. 
• Performs other related duties as required.

The knowledge, skills, and abilities listed below may be acquired through various types of training, education, and experience. A typical way to acquire the required knowledge and abilities would be:

• Equivalent of a bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university in public administration, business administration, planning, community development, social science, behavioral science, biological science, or a specific field related to program assignment AND,
• Seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience managing or administering homeless assistance programs for a public or non-profit agency; or behavioral health, health care, social service, public assistance or other programs that serve the homeless community, including responsibility for policy development and grant management, including at least three (3) years as a supervisor or manager.   

Note: If you have an international degree, documentation from an evaluation service demonstrating equivalent U.S. education standards and transcripts will be required. A list of evaluation services can be found by visiting http://www.naces.org/members.html

Licenses and Certificates
A valid California Class C Driver's License may be required by time of appointment. Incumbents will be required to travel throughout County and State.

Knowledge of:

• Principles, practices, and techniques of community resources in a public agency setting, including homeless assistance programs and related initiatives including the interpretation of laws, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Available public and private community resources, grants, and funding. 
• Social, political, and economic issues related to community resources and homeless assistance program administration.
• Community resources and homeless assistance programs and services.
• Principles and practices of public administration and program management, including strategic planning, implementation, and evaluation. 
• Management principles, practices, and techniques.
• Principles and practices of governmental accounting, fiscal management, budgeting and auditing.
• Principles and practices of program planning and administration. 
• Personnel management principles and practices, including employee supervision, training, and evaluation. 
• Principles and practices of group facilitation, conflict resolution, and consensus building.
• Principles and practices of procurement and contract administration.
• Principles and techniques of effective oral presentations.
• Applicable federal, state, and local laws, codes, regulations, and standards.
• Business systems, equipment, and applications relevant to the area of assignment.

Ability to:

• Effectively administer various activities and initiatives related to housing and homeless assistance programs.   
• Negotiate among different constituency groups with diverging interests to achieve a shared understanding and commonality of purpose.
• Establish partnerships with County staff, vendors, the general public, and/or external agencies in the establishment of community resources policies and programming.
• Manage assigned operations/programs and ensure ongoing compliance with strategic objectives and performance measures. 
• Develop and implement policies and procedures. 
• Manage and evaluate assigned staff, including training, coaching, participating in developing goals and strategic objectives, coordinating deadlines, prioritizing work demands, and assigning and monitoring work. 
• Analyze and evaluate operational programs, projects, and procedures. 
• Plan, organize, coordinate, and supervise changes and improvements in public agency projects and studies. 
• Manage budgets, contracts, grants, and resource allocation. 
• Interpret, monitor, and report financial information and statistics. 
• Oversee the implementation of and adherence to quality assurance activities and standards. 
• Research, recommend, and implement industry trends, solutions, and best practices.
• Resolve complex problems within the area of assignment. 
• Prepare and oversee the preparation of reports, grant proposals, documents, and presentations.
• Create and provide informative presentations to stakeholders, elected officials, County leadership, and the public. 
• Collaborate with program stakeholders, elected and appointed boards, the public, and internal leadership. 
• Manage the planning and operation of in-service training programs.
• Interpret and apply applicable laws, codes, regulations, and standards. 
• Communicate effectively, clearly, and concisely.
• Maintain composure in difficult situations.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with a diverse range of individuals, including but not limited to coworkers, subordinate staff, supervisors, other managers, professional agencies, and the general public.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• May be required to work a varied schedule of hours, which may include evenings, weekends, and holidays.