Senior Employment and Training Specialist - Promotional

Salary : $79,310.56 - $96,424.94 Annually
Location : Santa Rosa, CA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 26/05-3031-DP
Department: Human Services Department (HSD)
Opening Date: 05/28/2026
Closing Date: 6/8/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
Bargaining Unit: 05


Position Information
This recruitment is promotional only. You must presently be a full or part-time regular or probationary County of Sonoma, Community Development Commission, Sonoma County Fairgrounds, or Sonoma County Water Agency employee in order to apply for this position.
The Human Services Department's (HSD) Employment and Training Division has requested a department promotional certification to fill a Senior Employment and Training Specialist position. Only qualified permanent and/or probationary Human Services Department employees on the eligible list may be eligible for referral to the department for the advertised positions. This employment list may also be used to fill future full-time or part-time positions as they occur during the active status of the list.

Senior Employment and Training Specialists in the Human Services Department function as lead workers in a unit of Employment and Training Specialists, and are responsible for determining initial and ongoing eligibility for families receiving public assistance and employment program services. They assist clients in attaining self-sufficiency goals by identifying possible barriers to employment, and gathering information to determine a client's job readiness and ability to meet work requirements. Additional responsibilities include:

• Maintaining a specialized caseload
• Providing specialized technical assistance and training to assigned staff related to program requirements, goals, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures
• Making complex decisions independently as a lead worker and case manager
• Reading and reviewing Employment and Training Specialists' case files and checking for accuracy and compliance
• Working closely with counselors and partner staff in support of client's ongoing progress and case management
• Entering and retrieving data from electronic data systems and processing paperwork according to standardized procedures
• Monitoring, motivating, and assisting clients in carrying out employment related activities
• Assuming supervisory responsibilities when the supervisor is absent

The ideal candidate will have considerable knowledge of Employment and Training Division programs, goals, policies, and procedures, and will possess many of the following:

• Strong caseload management and technical skills
• Experience working with the challenges of homelessness, mental illness, substance abuse, poverty, and other significant barriers to employment
• Experience reviewing the work of others, providing training to line staff, and conferring with staff on client issues
• Experience conducting client interviews in order to gather necessary information
• Skill in understanding and addressing the needs of program clientele
• Strong communication, interpersonal, and relationship building skills
• A passion for helping others in the community
• The proven ability to lead, train, and work with staff is highly desired
• Intermediate Microsoft Office skills are desired, but not required

Application submissions require the Supplemental Questionnaire to be completed.

Minimum Qualifications
Experience and Education: Any combination of coursework, training, and/or work experience that clearly demonstrates possession of the knowledge and abilities listed. Normally, one year as an Employment and Training Specialist coupled with some course work or specialized training in the principles and techniques of leadership and training will provide an opportunity to acquire the knowledge and abilities listed.
License: Possession of a valid driver's license at the appropriate level including necessary special endorsements, as required by the State of California to perform the essential job functions of the position.

The position advertised on this announcement does not require possession of a valid California Driver's License.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Considerable knowledge of: Federal, State and County employment and training programs, goals, regulations, policies and procedures; principles, methods, and techniques of effective interviewing and techniques related to gathering relevant information; socioeconomic, physical, mental, and behavioral problems, cultural differences, and language barriers to employment; dynamics of human behavior including problem solving and motivational techniques; the use of computer information systems used within the agency; basic record keeping procedures and general office procedures; and how to organize information and time.
Working knowledge of: cultural and human behavior, including knowledge of self, to deal effectively with clients and staff; public and private community resources available to meet client needs; and the principles and techniques of leadership and training.
Ability to: interpret and apply rules, regulations, and revisions affecting the eligibility determination and case management process; provide assistance and develop strategies with team members to accomplish program goals; maintain a complex or specialized caseload; conduct interviews effectively in a variety of settings; accurately gather, record, and evaluate data in order to determine eligibility, manage a case load, and review the work done by others; elicit factual information from applicants and recipients with communication or emotional problems; confer with staff on client problems, issues and progress; refer clients to program components, staff, and other community services as needed; speak and write effectively; assume responsibility as appropriate; reason logically and accurately, think clearly, remain calm and continue working under stress and pressure; understand and follow complex instructions; maintain accurate and systematic records; listen actively and ask pertinent questions; establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with fellow employees and the general public; and lead and direct the work of others.

Selection Procedure & Some Helpful Tips When Applying

• Your application information and your responses to the supplemental questions are evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the entire selection process.
• You should list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application. Be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.
• You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, list out each position separately.
• Failure to follow these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification.

Please visit to review more detailed information about the hiring process, including the application process, examination steps, and department selection process.

Application submissions require the Supplemental Questionnaire be completed.

Responses to supplemental questions will be scored using position-specific criteria. Please provide specific and detailed responses of a reasonable length to allow for a thorough assessment of your qualifications. Responses that state, "See Resume" or "See Application" may be considered insufficient and therefore may not be scored.

The selection procedure will consist of the following examination:

An Application and Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination (weight 100%) may be conducted to evaluate each applicant's application and supplemental questionnaire for satisfaction of minimum qualifications (pass/not pass); and for educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities which relate to this position. Personally identifiable information (PII) is removed from the standard application fields and applicable attachments. This PII blind screening practice redacts a candidate's personal information that could potentially influence or bias the scoring process. Personal information includes the applicant's name, former last name, address, phone number, email, driver's license number, school name, education start and end dates, age, date of birth, gender, and race. This PII blind screening practice helps contribute to a fair and equitable examination process.

Each applicant will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Relevance of work history, related experience, and achieved level of education and/or training as described in the application and responses to the supplemental questions.

Candidates demonstrating possession of the minimum qualifications will be placed on an employment list in order of most qualified to least qualified based on the achieved score received in the Application and Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination which evaluates the education, training, experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, and other qualifications that you demonstrate in your application and/or response to the supplemental questionnaire. Please be aware that resumes and cover letters are not typically evaluated in the Application and Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination. Scores may be adjusted based on such factors as the number of candidates, anticipated vacancies, past practice, and natural breaks in the scores achieved by this group of candidates.

Additional Information

A background investigation is required prior to employment. Candidates referred to departments for a selection interview are typically required to sign authorization and release forms enabling such an investigation. Failure to sign prescribed forms will result in the candidate not being considered further for that vacancy. Reference information will not be made available to candidates.

Additional requirements, such as successful completion of a physical exam, drug screen, etc., may apply, depending on the duties and responsibilities of the position. If you receive a conditional job offer for the position, the requirements upon which the offer is contingent will be outlined in the conditional job letter. You may also review the to determine the requirements for this position.
How to Apply

Applications are accepted online at: Paper applications may be submitted by person, fax View phone number on click.appcast.io), email, or through the mail. All applications and appropriate supplemental information as outlined in the job bulletin must be received by the time and date specified on the first page of this job announcement. Applications received after the recruitment closes will not be accepted.

The County of Sonoma values diversity and is dedicated to creating a workplace environment that provides individuals with a sense of belonging. We are committed to having a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. The County is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer where all aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance, and business need.

HR Analyst: EP
HR Tech: VH
Important Note: Benefits described herein do not apply to Extra Help positions.

County of Sonoma Benefits: General*

These are some of the excellent benefits the County offers:

Paid Time Off: Competitive vacation accrual and sick leave accruals; additional management leave annually; 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year; and may be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) of Paid Parental Leave after 12 months of County employment.

Health Plan: Choose from nine health plans (three HMOs, three deductible HMOs, and three HSA-qualifying plans) with a generous County contribution to the premium (the contribution amount varies by bargaining unit). For more information, please see the appropriate MOU.

Retirement: Fully integrated with Social Security. For more information regarding eligibility, retirement contributions, and reciprocity with prior public service, please visit


IRS 457 Plan: Pre-tax employee contribution up to the IRS annual maximum.

Retiree Medical: County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits.

Student Loan Debt Relief: County employees may be eligible for through the U.S. Department of Education.

Plus, excellent dental, vision, disability, life insurance, professional development, and more.

For answers to specific questions regarding the employment process and more details about benefits or retirement, please contact Human Resources at View phone number on click.appcast.io. Additional details about benefit and compensation packages can be found in the MOUs located at For specific information about health and welfare benefits, including plan options, coverage, and premium amounts, go to or contact the Human Resources' Risk Management-Benefits Office at or View phone number on click.appcast.io.

*Important Notes: Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice.
01


For this question, and all subsequent questions, please provide sufficient information to allow for a thorough evaluation of your qualifications. Responses to supplemental questions may be scored using specific criteria and may be reviewed by hiring managers.
Please describe your one or more years of experience as an Employment and Training Specialist, coupled with course work or training in the principles and techniques of leadership. For each relevant position, include job title(s), employer's name(s), employment dates (mm/yy - mm/yy), and a description of your primary duties.


02


Please describe your experience conducting interviews to gather information from clients and determine eligibility for social service programs.
03


Please provide an example of a challenging Employment and Training related case you resolved. Include:

• An overview of the challenge(s)
• The actions you took and specific resources you used to address the issue
• Your assessment of the outcome

04


Please describe any experience you have leading and/or directing the work of others. Include details about the scope of your duties, as well as the number and types of staff (e.g., professional, technical, administrative) for which you were responsible.
Required Question