Social Services Program Manager - Child Protective Services

Salary: $54.33 - $66.04 Hourly
Location : Sutter Creek
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: MSS05873
Department: Amador County Department of Social Services
Opening Date: 03/20/2026
Closing Date: Continuous


Position Information
Under direction, the Social Services Program Manager plans, organizes, and directs the operations and functions of a Child Welfare Services program and/or Adult Protective Services program in a local public social services department or agency; and performs related duties as assigned. Some positions may have additional responsibility for administrative services units.

Use of the Social Services Program Manager classification is an option for counties that have a classification structure that articulates a distinguishable difference in the complexity of assignments and consequence of error in Child Welfare Services or Adult Protective Services programs compared to other functional areas such as Eligibility and Employment Services.


The Social Services Program Manager classification differs from the next higher level Deputy Director classification in that the latter typically has responsibility for multiple eligibility, employment, or social service functions in a department or for a single program where two or more subordinate levels of supervision exist. In these departments, the Social Services Program Manager serves in a first-level managerial capacity.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED AND RECEIVED
Incumbents in the Social Services Program Manager classification receive supervision from a Deputy Director, Director, or other higher-level management classification. A Social Services Program Manager provides direct supervision to supervisors in the assigned program areas, and to other staff as assigned.

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

• Manage the daily work activities of a Child Welfare Services and/or Adult Protective Services program, directly or through subordinate supervisors, by establishing performance levels, communicating goals and performance expectations, and monitoring and reviewing work to ensure conformance to established policies and procedures, and standards for quality and timeliness
• Assess service delivery to communicate findings to upper management, implement changes to improve efficiency and service quality, maximize effectiveness of program operations, and ensure alignment with the agency's mission
• Oversee personnel actions to determine compliance with policies and procedures, and provide guidance to subordinate supervisors regarding personnel matters
• Ensure that programs or work units are staffed with qualified individuals by resolving performance problems, documenting performance according to policy, training and developing staff, and assisting in the selection, hiring, and promotion of staff
• Interpret laws and regulations, including new laws and proposed legislation, to determine relevancy to department operations and services, and assess program compliance with laws and regulations
• Assess the need for changes to policies or programs based on initiatives to improve services, new services or program modifications, and opportunities for cross-collaboration of program areas
• Develop or revise policies or procedures to improve operational efficiency and effectiveness, and assist higher-level management in departmental strategic planning
• Serve as an internal technical expert regarding program matters by providing consultation and guidance to staff regarding problems with complex social service cases and delivery of services, and taking corrective actions to improve the quality and efficiency of social services
• Work collaboratively with personnel of other agencies, community groups, contractors, and other public and private organizations to determine needs for social services, and coordinate shared services or collaborative projects, or the provision of services by contracted agencies
• Ensure that information regarding department services and policies is provided accurately and thoroughly to external parties, and respond to the most sensitive complaints from the community, foster parents, and staff
• Serve as an external technical expert by providing consultation regarding program, legal, or policy matters to external entities such as County department managers or administrators, State departments, Board of Supervisors, advisory boards, and advocacy groups
• Assist in development of the budget for assigned programs by preparing cost estimates and projections, and performing ongoing monitoring of expenditures to ensure compliance with budget provisions
• Perform other duties as assigned

EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS
Knowledge of:

• Program development, administration, and service delivery related to Child Welfare and/or Adult Protective Services
• Current management and leadership techniques, performance appraisal methods, and public administration
• Planning and scheduling techniques to ensure that timelines and schedules are established appropriately, modified as needed, and adhered to
• Budgeting principles in order to develop, manage, and/or track budgets, budget allocations, and expenditures
• Public and private community resources
• Effective casework practices in order to oversee staff providing services

Ability to:

• Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with internal management and staff, and with a variety of external stakeholders
• Identify, analyze, and evaluate situations or problems to determine appropriate courses of action
• Analyze laws, regulations, and policies to ensure all programs and activities are in compliance
• Apply knowledge of laws, regulations, and policies to decision making and problem solving to identify solutions and courses of action that are most appropriate or compliant
• Be flexible in adapting to changes in priorities or resources that impact pre-established timelines and courses of action
• Maintain awareness of the functioning and status of multiple work groups or program areas simultaneously
• Delegate work assignments and appropriate level of responsibility to employees in order to ensure the completion of work assignments and projects
• Read and understand complex written materials, such as laws, proposed legislation, policies, reports, etc., in order to interpret, explain, and apply
• Use a personal computer to input data, access information, and create materials and documents using a variety of software applications
• Communicate verbally, in person or by telephone, clearly and concisely with a variety of audiences on a variety of matters
• Write to ensure effective and clear communication and proper composition of reports, correspondence, email, and other written communication
• Review and edit documents written by others to ensure proper format, sentence structure, grammar, and punctuation

Minimum Qualifications
One (1) year of full-time experience performing duties comparable to a Social Worker Supervisor I or II;

AND

A master's degree in Social Work or a master's degree from a two year counseling program.
Supplemental Information
Training & Experience Examination - Weighted 100%

The Training & Experience Examination is designed to elicit a range of specific information regarding each candidate's knowledge, skill, abilities, and potential to effectively perform the duties relative to the classification. Responses to the questionnaire will be assessed based on pre-determined rating criteria. All applicants must complete the entire examination to receive a score. To obtain a position on the eligible list, candidates must receive a minimum rating of 70% on the examination.

MSS is accepting applications on a continuous basis. Qualifying candidates will be notified via email with instructions for completing the examination within 30 days of the date of application.

Eligible List Information

A departmental open eligible list will be established for the county of Amador. The list will be utilized for 12 months after it is established unless the needs of the service and conditions of the list warrant a change in this period.

Retest Period

Once you have taken the examination, you may not retest for SIX (6) MONTHS from the established eligibility date.

Special Testing Arrangements

Special testing arrangements may be made to accommodate applicants for disability, military, or religious reasons. If you require such arrangements, please contact CalHR at View email address on click.appcast.io or View phone number on click.appcast.io upon notification that your application has been approved. Documentation from medical, military, school or church officials outlining the accommodation request must be received by our office a minimum of five business days prior to a scheduled examination.

Education Documents

If you are using education to meet the minimum qualifications, you must attach your transcripts to your application. Applicants with foreign transcripts must provide a transcript evaluation that indicates the number of units to which the foreign course work is equivalent. Transcripts and evaluations may be unofficial; official transcripts may be required upon appointment. Please redact birthdates and social security numbers.

General Information

This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States without the need for visa sponsorship by the start date of employment.

MSS reserves the right to revise the examination plan to better meet the needs of the recruitment if the circumstances under which this examination was planned change. Such revision will be in accordance with civil service laws and rules and all competitors will be notified.

If you meet the requirements stated on this bulletin, you may take this examination. Your performance in this examination will be rated against predetermined rating criteria. All competitors who pass will be added to the eligible list. Meeting the entry requirements does not assure success in the examination or placement on the eligible list.

General Qualifications: Applicants must possess essential personal qualifications including integrity, initiative, dependability, good judgement, the ability to work cooperatively with others, and a state of health consistent with the ability to perform the assigned duties of the class. A medical examination may be required. As part of the hiring process, a background investigation may be required.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The Merit System Services program is committed to equal employment opportunity for 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.

Additional Information
• The ability to speak, read and write Spanish in addition to English would be an asset in this position, but is not required.
• A valid driver's license may be required at the time of appointment. Individuals who do not meet this requirement due to a disability will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
• Positions may require pre-employment screening, including background checks, and fingerprinting.
• Government agencies accessing US government information, which include federal tax information must ensure that background investigation requirements for all agency employees and contractors that have access to federal tax information are consistent to the IRS background investigation requirements for access to federal tax information. A background check may be required if the position requires access to these types of records. Background requirements consist of three components which include, fingerprinting, citizenship verification and local law enforcement checks. State agencies must conduct investigation during time of hire and ensure a reinvestigation is conducted 10 years from the date of the previous background investigation for each employee that has access to federal tax information.

About Amador County

Billed as "The Heart of the Mother Lode," Amador County is located in the Gold Country in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California. Though geographically one of the smallest counties in California, Amador County offers several bodies of water, from lakes to reservoirs and rivers, and is home to over 40 different wineries and vineyards. Residents and visitors in Amador County enjoy year-round recreation and activities, with hiking trails for all abilities, as well as fishing, cycling, skiing, and golf. The county is also host to a myriad of music events, festivals, and local sporting events.
Merit System Services does not negotiate or determine the benefits or salaries for positions offered by its partners. For more information about benefits or salaries, please visit the listed county or child support office's website or contact their human resources department.