Human Services Program Specialist

Annual Salary: $98,924.80 - $128,627.20

Deadline to Apply: Wednesday, November 19, 2025

Position Information:

The Human Services Program Specialist performs high level administrative duties to promote positive outcomes for the child welfare, indigent, and vulnerable populations to include comprehensive research and analysis to develop policy and departmental programs; and performs related duties as required.

Area of Assignment

This recruitment has been initiated to fill a Human Services Program Specialist vacancy in the County Manager’s Office as part of a small team of individuals focused on behavioral health initiatives designed to improve behavioral health outcomes in Washoe County. This position will serve in the capacity of a Regional Behavioral Health Coordinator (RBHC) for the Washoe County region and is funded primarily by two behavioral health related grants from the State of Nevada. This position will support the Washoe Regional Behavioral Health Policy Board established by NRS 433.429 and will facilitate collaborative efforts with community partners and the State on specific behavioral health related initiatives. Examples include the Sequential Intercept Model initiative designed to divert and deflect individuals experiencing behavioral health challenges from the justice system to behavioral health care, anti-stigma campaigns, workforce development efforts and other initiatives.

The list created by this recruitment will be used to fill future Human Services Program Specialist vacancies in the Washoe County Human Services Agency. The Human Services Agency is responsible for safeguarding and enhancing the well being of vulnerable children, adults, seniors, and those experiencing homelessness. Human Services Program Specialist positions within HSA may provide direct and specialized programmatic support, or may serve in a cross-departmental role to support a variety of human services programs within the agency. Individuals who are interested in future Human Services Program Specialists roles serving vulnerable children, adults, seniors and those experiencing homelessness are encouraged to apply to be considered for future openings.

Minimum Qualifications:

Four years of full time experience working in indigent, child welfare, and/or vulnerable population programs including three years supervising cases and/or program implementation related to supporting social services programs AND a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in social work, criminal justice, psychology, sociology, public health, education, public policy, or a closely related field; OR an equivalent combination of education and experience.
 
License Or Certificate

A valid driver's license is required at the time of appointment and must be maintained for continued employment in this classification.

Ideal Candidate Will:
 

• Have a strong desire to work collaboratively to address pressing human services related challenges to benefit vulnerable populations in Washoe County.
• Have a desire to work with and/or on behalf of individuals with serious mental illness, chronic substance use, experiencing homelessness, and/or complex trauma.
• Have the ability to identify solutions to address complex needs and problems.
• Have an understanding of community-based resources and gaps in our community’s continuum of care.
• Have extensive understanding of program and policy development, implementation, and evaluation. 
• Have advanced policy writing skills and ability to incorporate cross-system feedback.
• Have an understanding of legislative and regulatory processes affecting human services programs.  
• Have the ability to develop and maintain good relationships with service providers and work toward a common goal. 
• Have the ability to facilitate complicated processes, taking into account feedback from many different players while still making progress on complex initiatives.
• Have ability to facilitate workgroups to develop and implement multifaceted agency policy.
• Be able to actively engage and work within a multidisciplinary team to fulfill program operations and meet the needs of the children, parents, seniors and others we serve.
• Have experience planning, developing and administering program budgets.
• Be open to and willing to supervise staff.
• Be organized, and task oriented to bring projects to completion in a timely manner and meet agreed upon agreed upon deadlines.