Services Specialist II - Limited Term

Overview

Note:
The job announcement was amended on January 28, 2026 to add Bilingual English/Spanish preferred to the ideal candidate.

The Human Services Agency (HSA) of the County of San Mateo is seeking a qualified candidate for the Employment Services Specialist II position.

Under general supervision, the Employment Services Specialist II will provide a variety of employment services to clients, including assessment, counseling, and case management. Employment Services Specialist II will exercise independent judgment in assessing and counseling clients regarding training and employment in accordance with established County policies and procedures and program regulations.

The Employment Services Specialist in this classification works with a diverse population with various obstacles to employment. Additionally, the Employment Services Specialist is expected to provide the following service range.

Responsibilities

• Screen clients for eligibility for a broad range of employment related services strategies to guide individuals into the labor market.
• Utilize a variety of vocational assessment materials, inventories and information to analyze and interpret client skills, abilities, aptitudes, values, and personal traits to develop service plans that strengthen entry/re-entry into the labor market.
• Develop individual service plans with clients by identifying training and employment goals and implementing strategies to achieve goals.
• Assist in developing knowledge of employment and job placement opportunities.
• Arrange and schedule training and educational programs for clients.
• Communicate, collaborate and maintain regular contact with service providers and clients to ensure coordinated care services to meet client needs are provided.
• Participate in team meetings to discuss client strengths, challenges, and resources available to support the client.
• Maintain clear and concise documentation including letters, reports, forms, and case notes, utilizing the county’s case management system.
• Interpret Federal and State regulations and apply them to program policy and procedures.
• Abide by program rules, regulations, policies and procedures.
• Conduct community outreach and recruitment activities.
• Train new staff on the key aspects of operations, including working with supervisors to develop and conduct individual on-the-job training for new employees having difficulty applying policies and procedures.
• Train ongoing staff and supervisors on new or updated policy/procedures using adult learning theory.
• Provide assistance in collecting and disseminating quality assurance data, interpreting data and reports, analyze and identify trends, and in developing recommendations.
• Create graphs, charts, and summary reports to communicate findings to various stakeholders.

Ideal candidate will have two years of professional experience providing a variety of employment services to clients including assessment, counseling, and case management; demonstrated a broad range of skills and abilities working with a diverse population as it relates to their employment needs; experience interpreting laws, rules, regulations, standards, policies, and procedures; and be highly proficient in using standard computer software programs for word processing, spreadsheets, or databases.

In addition, the candidate must possess excellent interpersonal and writing skills and have a general understanding of the principles, practices and techniques of career and vocational assessment and counseling, problem solving, and interviewing. Bilingual English/Spanish preferred.

Note: This is a limited-term assignment. Limited term employees are assigned to assignments not to exceed three years. They receive medical and dental benefits similar to regular employees, and a defined contribution retirement plan. This recruitment may be used to fill future limited term positions.

Education and Experience: Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to qualify for an ESS II is two years of professional experience providing a variety of employment services to clients including assessment, counseling and case management.

Knowledge of: Principles, practices and techniques of career and vocational assessment and counseling, including interviewing and problem solving techniques; community resources and referral services; employment practices and strategies and local labor market trends; educational and employment training schools, programs and services; applicable federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations, and County and program policies and guidelines; computer applications related to the work and office administrative practices and procedures, including records management and the operation of standard office equipment.

Skill/Ability to: Assess and counsel job seeking clients effectively and assist them in employment problem solving and decision making; develop individualized, practical and…