SENIOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE SPECIALIST

Salary : $59,228.00 - $75,634.00 Annually
Location : Fresno County, CA
Job Type: Permanent
Job Number: 26-0084
Department: Behavioral Health
Opening Date: 04/27/2026
Closing Date: Continuous


Position Description
APPLY IMMEDIATELY AS THIS RECRUITMENT MAY CLOSE AT ANY TIME

The Fresno County Department of Behavioral Health invites applications for the position of Senior Substance Abuse Specialist . Incumbents are responsible for assessing client needs; providing substance abuse education; providing individual, group and family counseling for substance use disorders; referring clients to community resources; and case management services. Senior Substance Abuse Specialists handle the most difficult assignments, act in a lead worker capacity, and may act as a first line supervisor.
Fresno County is working together for a quality of life for all. Our is to provide excellent public services to our diverse community.

Samples of Duties
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Minimum Qualifications

Please Note: This recruitment has been limited to candidates possessing a specific certification related to the specific position vacancy.
Education : Completion of sixty (60) semester units of coursework that is acceptable within the United States' accredited college or university system. At least twelve (12) of the required semester units must be in Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counseling, Social Work, Sociology, Psychology, Rehabilitation Counseling, Education Counseling, Marriage and Family Counseling, Criminology, or a closely related field.
Experience : Two (2) years of full-time, paid work experience equivalent to that gained as a Substance Abuse Specialist with the County of Fresno.
Substitution : One (1) year of full-time, paid work experience working with clients as a Substance Abuse Counselor, Rehabilitation Counselor, Marriage and Family Counselor, or closely related field may be substituted for up to one (1) year (thirty (30) semester units) of the required education.

Certificate : Current certificate as an Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) Counselor issued by a certifying agency approved by the State of California. Certification must be maintained, as defined by the Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs, California Code of Regulations, Chapter 8, Title 9, Section 13035. Failure to maintain certification may result in release from employment. A copy of your AOD Counselor certificate is required and must be attached to your application.


Pursuant to Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs, California Code of Regulations, Chapter 8, Title 9, licensed professionals, as defined in Section 13015, are not required to obtain AOD certification if their licensure is in good standing with their licensing board. Licensed professionals may be required to complete additional hours of continuing education. If applicable, a copy of your valid professional license must be attached to your application.

License : Possession of a valid Class "C" driver's license, or equivalent, may be required.
HOW TO APPLY:
Applications must be submitted online only .An online application can be found at .

Open the Job Information Flyer and click "Apply" to begin the online application process.


Once the filing deadline has passed, you may check the status of the recruitment at anytime by logging on to:
Please Note:

• It is the applicant's responsibility to notify Human Resources of any email address, mailing address, and telephone number changes.
• Notices from Human Resources will be sent via email only.

REQUIRED APPLICATION MATERIALS:

• A complete, accurate Fresno County employment application must be submitted online only and shall include:
  • All education and work experience to demonstrate the applicant meets the minimum qualifications.
• A copy of your valid AOD Counselor certificate, or if applicable, a copy of your valid professional license, is required.
• A copy of your transcripts that verify possession of the required education; unofficial transcripts are acceptable.
  • If education was completed outside the United States' accredited college or university system, documentation that the education is comparable to that received within the United States' system must be provided by the closing date and time of this recruitment.
• Supplemental Questionnaire

Please Note:

• Resumes and attachments are not accepted in lieu of a completed employment application.
• Incomplete or inaccurate applications will be disqualified.
• Submissions must be received by the closing date and time of this recruitment. Amendments will not be accepted after the filing deadline.
• Applications submitted via U.S. mail, email, fax, or in person in our office will not be accepted.

SELECTION PROCESS:

Pursuant to Fresno County Personnel Rule 4 - Selection Process, applicants may be required to complete an examination process, and successful candidates will be placed on an employment list effective for a minimum of 3 months and certified in final rank order as vacancies occur. Should a recruitment be open on a continuous basis, eligibles shall be certified in the order they are received not to exceed the maximum certification the department is entitled to.

• Tentative Initial Interview Date: MAY 22, 2026
• Subsequent interviews will be conducted approximately two weeks following candidate certification to the hiring department.

Please Note:

• The eligible list for this recruitment may be extended up to 12 months, and may be used to fill both extra-help and permanently allocated positions.
• Individuals selected for extra-help appointment may be transitioned to a permanently allocated position at a later date as authorized by the Fresno County Personnel Rules.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS:

Positions in this classification are in Medical Group I - Light Physical Activity (Personnel Rule 8). This group includes positions which require only light physical effort and may include lifting of small, light objects and some bending, stooping, squatting, twisting, and reaching. Considerable walking or standing may be involved.
The County of Fresno is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). Qualified individuals with disabilities who need a reasonable accommodation during the application, examination, or selection process may contact Human Resources at View phone number on click.appcast.io at least five days prior to the scheduled date or deadline.
Eligible candidates must be able to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The County of Fresno is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of Fresno County to provide employment opportunity for all qualified persons. All applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, ancestry, medical condition, genetic information, or denial of medical family care leave, or any other non-job-related factor.


Analyst: Lucila Garcia
REGULAR, PERMANENT POSITIONS BENEFITS PACKAGE:

• Health Insurance
• Competitive Retirement Plan
• Twelve (12) Paid Holidays per year
• Disability and Life Insurance
• Annual Leave Plan
• Employee Assistance Program

Optional benefits include:

• Deferred Compensation Plan (County-sponsored tax shelter savings plan).
• Flexible Spending Plans - tax shelter (set aside pre-tax $ to pay for eligible medical, dependent care, and qualified parking and mass transit expenses).
• Noble Credit Union - all County employees can take advantage of low interest rates, no annual fees for checking accounts, direct deposit, online banking and many other services.

EXTRA-HELP POSITIONS:

Extra-help positions are temporary, not entitled to benefits and serve at the will of the department head.

CLICK HERE TO REVIEW ADDITIONAL BENEFITS INFORMATION
01


I have attached copies of my transcripts and understand that if they are missing or do not verify I meet the education requirements for the position that my application will be denied.
Please note: The Education section of the application must be completed and must accurately reflect the information shown on the transcripts.

• Yes, I have attached my transcripts.
• No, I have not attached my transcripts and understand my application will be denied.

02


This position requires current certification as an Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) Counselor issued by a certifying agency approved by the State of California or a professional license as defined in Chapter 8, Title 9, Section 13015 of the California Code of Regulations. Please identify which option applies to you.

• I possess a current AOD Counselor certificate issued by a certifying agency approved by the State of California and have attached a copy of my certificate. I understand that if my certificate is not attached, my application will be denied.
• I am a licensed professional as defined in Chapter 8, Title 9, Section 13015 of the California Code of Regulations and have attached a copy of my license. I understand that if my professional license is not attached, my application will be denied.
• None - I do not possess a current AOD Counselor certificate and I am not a licensed professional. I understand I do not meet the minimum qualifications for this position.

03


Where did you first hear about this opportunity?

• County Website
• LinkedIn
• Social Media (Facebook, Instagram, Other)
• Other Website
• Job Fair / Recruitment Event
• Friend, Relative, and/or Current County Employee
• Other

04


If you answered "Other" in any of the options listed in the previous question, please let us know where you first heard about this opportunity in the space below. Otherwise, write "N/A".
05


If you answered "Job Fair/Recruitment Event" in the previous question, please let us know which event you attended and heard about this opportunity in the space below. Otherwise, write "N/A".
Required Question