This is highly responsible executive level work in planning and directing activities of the Community Action Agency.

An employee in this class is responsible for directing a complex human services delivery system providing a broad range of human and social services in distributed geographical locations. Emphasis of the work is on directing and coordinating various services, representing departmental interests to legislative bodies, special interest groups and the general public, maintaining liaison with other county as well as state, federal and community officials and ensuring appropriate expenditure of a multiplicity of funds from various sources. The incumbent exercises extensive independent judgment and professional social service and managerial knowledge in formulating departmental policies and directing a wide variety of programs. Supervision is exercised through various levels of subordinate executives and supervisors over a large and varied staff of professional, technical, administrative, specialized and clerical employees assigned to various departmental activities. General direction is received from the Department Director who holds the incumbent responsible for the attainment of identified objectives and for the professional management of specified operations.

ILLUSTRATIVE TASKS

Directs and coordinates diversified and dispersed human and social service activities through subordinate executives and supervisors engaged in self- sufficiency, Head Start, elderly services, and community services.

Directs, through subordinate executives and supervisors, a variety of departmental administrative and financial activities including personnel administration, financial/accounting management, procurement, contract and lease administration, budget preparation and monitoring, grants management and fiscal planning, computer operations and facilities and community involvement programs.

Directs, through subordinate executives and supervisors, the development of new policies and the revision of existing policies; defines departmental and divisional goals and objectives; guides staff members in establishing appropriate priorities; periodically evaluates divisional performance in relation to goals and objectives.

Convenes meetings with key departmental personnel to discuss major operating problems, program accomplishments, status of expenditures in various funding categories, need for legislation to improve human resource programs or delivery, and related management considerations.

Directs, through subordinate administrators and supervisors, planning and research activities; meets with divisional staff and program directors to identify long and short range goals; assigns projects for study and evaluation and development of recommendations for new programs, revised organizational patterns or improvements in existing programs; consults with staff to formulate final plans.

Directs, through subordinate administrators and supervisors, the development of budget proposals for operations; reviews and approves division budgets; consults with the director on projected organizational plans, financial needs and recommendations for improvement.

Coordinates departmental operations with other county executives and with senior county management; provides liaison with Federal Head Star officials, other state officials and major community agencies; plans with state executives for joint direction of specified federally funded projects.

Represents the department in various boards, conferences and meetings; serves on committees of national groups and organizations with professional management or social service objectives and interests; serves in an advocacy role for human services.

Interprets county and departmental policies to employees through subordinate program directors; insures appropriate communications mechanisms for a large and dispersed department staff; visits facilities operated by the department periodically.

Directs, through subordinate administrators and supervisors, detailed research into funding sources for low income clients and other human services including f Federal and state; supervises the preparation of grant proposals for funds to support new or improved Head Start programs for the elderly, client energy and renovation programs, or related activities.

Makes recommendations regarding hiring, discipline and promotion of subordinates; reviews performance reports prepared by subordinates and rates performance; recommend departmental personnel actions consistent with collective bargaining agreements, county personnel rules and all other applicable rules and regulations.

Performs related work as required.

KNOWLEDGES, ABILITIES AND SKILLS

Extensive knowledge of the operation of a large-scale and complex human service organization.

Extensive knowledge of the principles of public administration.

Thorough knowledge of the principles of management and their application to the administration of government activities.

Thorough knowledge of social and human services administration for low-income population in the public sector.

Thorough knowledge of supervisory principles and practices.

Thorough knowledge of applicable county, state and federal laws, rules and regulations pertaining to departmental operations.

Thorough knowledge of the principles of public personnel administration.

Thorough knowledge of public relations principles and techniques.

Considerable knowledge of human dynamics and group processes in citizen group participation in social and human service delivery activities.

Knowledge of various community resources that provide social and health services.

Ability to use advanced professional knowledge of the principles of management and public administration to formulate departmental policy and control departmental activities.

Ability to plan, organize and supervise, through various levels of executives and supervisors, the work of subordinates in a manner conducive to full performance and high morale.

Ability to delegate the authority to subordinates necessary to complete responsibilities in varied departmental activities.

Ability to effectively evaluate the impact of alternative possible courses of action, future developments and circumstances of a new or unprecedented nature.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with subordinates, superiors, a variety of government and private officials, legislators and the public.

Ability to work with the community at large on sensitive issues and be responsive to community concerns.

Ability to evaluate results in achievement of departmental goals and objectives and to redirect efforts and priorities as needed.

Ability to serve in an advocacy role for human services.