Social Services Program Administrator

Travis County Health and Human Services, Family Support Division, is seeking a Social Services Program Administrator to manage the Community Center of Central Austin.

The positions of our Community Center Managers at Health and Human Services require individuals deeply committed to providing comprehensive and holistic programming and services to a diverse population with critical and immediate needs. We seek established leaders with extraordinary emotional intelligence and leadership to support and collaborate with our outstanding staff and community partners.

Directs the overall operations and staff of a comprehensive and complex social services program. Directs the day-to-day operations through subordinate managers and supervisors. Plans and develops policies, procedures and programs to accomplish goals and objectives. Oversees and performs managerial, consultative, technical and administrative work, develops and recommends strategic plans and new program initiatives, and directs and prepares annual budget.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:

This is a job classification within the Social Services job family. This classification is responsible for directing the operations and staff of a comprehensive and complex social services program. This classification is distinguished from the Social Services Manager by the responsibility for developing strategic plans, goals and objectives, initiatives, and budget for a large, comprehensive, complex program or programs. The classification has a broad scope of operational and staff responsibility and typically directs through subordinate managers.

• Represents the organization and collaborates with governmental and public agency representatives, community outreach and advocacy groups, service providers and others.
• Directs the service delivery and program operations. Oversees the establishing of procedures and priorities and directs the monitoring of activities and assignments to achieve desired results. Resolves problems.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.
• Provides technical advice, policy interpretation and guidance for application of appropriate procedures to staff.
• Directs the planning and operations of a comprehensive and complex social services program. Directs subordinate managers and staff, including hiring, training, performance evaluation, disciplinary actions and dismissals, ensuring activities are consistent with policies, procedures, laws, regulations, goals and objectives. Creates opportunities for improved performance, learning and development of staff, and identifies and addresses problems or conflicts.

Education and Experience:
Bachelor’s degree in Social or Behavioral Sciences or a directly related field AND seven (7) years increasingly responsible experience in social services, including two (2) years of supervisory or management experience;

OR,

Any combination of education and experience that has been achieved and is equivalent to the stated education and experience and required knowledge, skills, and abilities sufficient to successfully perform the duties and responsibilities of this job.

Licenses, Registrations, Certifications, or Special Requirements:
Valid Texas Driver’s License.

Preferred:
Master’s degree in Social or Behavioral Sciences or a directly related field.

Knowledge of:

• Federal, State and Local program laws and requirements.
• Business letter writing, grammar and punctuation, and report preparation.
• Computer equipment to include word processing, spreadsheets, databases and a variety of software packages.
• Advocacy groups, social service providers and community outreach organizations.
• Program administration and oversight techniques.
• Policies, practices and procedures within area of assignment.
• Modern office practices, procedures and methods.
• Budgetary practices and techniques.
• May be required to develop knowledge of and adhere to federal and state laws requiring the confidential handling of certain health information.
• Management and supervisory principles, practices and techniques.

Skill in:

• Both verbal and written communication, including presentations.
• Developing and monitoring program budgets.
• Problem-solving and decision-making.
• Strategic planning, development, monitoring and evaluation of social service programs and services.
• Leadership and community collaboration.
• Operating a variety of modern office equipment, including a computer.
• Supervising others, allocating resources and evaluating programs.

Ability to:

• Prepare administrative and statistical reports.
• Manage time well, perform multiple tasks, and organize diverse activities.
• Serve as technical consultant and liaison.
• Create and recommend program initiatives.
• Work independently.
• Direct, motivate, train, develop and evaluate staff.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with departmental clientele, representatives of outside agencies and providers, other County employees and officials, and the general public.
• Communicate effectively.
• Deal effectively with mentally ill or emotionally distressed individuals undergoing acute episodes, who may also be hostile and aggressive.

Physical requirements include the ability to lift/carry up to 25 pounds occasionally, visual acuity, speech and hearing, hand and eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate a computer and office equipment. Subject to standing, sitting, walking, climbing stairs, bending, stooping, crouching, kneeling, pushing, pulling, reaching, twisting, balancing, repetitive motion, driving, client/customer contact, and squatting to perform the essential functions.

Travis County employees play an important role in business continuity. As such, employees can be assigned to business continuity efforts outside of normal job functions.