County of Alameda

DESCRIPTION

Under general direction, to perform training and staff development activities in areas including but not limited to management development, automation, clerical, eligibility, health equity, compliance, probation services, and social work; to assess training needs, develop programs, and evaluate their effectiveness; and to perform related duties as required.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES

Positions of Staff Development Specialist are found in various Alameda County agencies/departments. This classification is distinguished from other classes in that these positions require knowledge of needs assessment, curriculum design, classroom delivery, program evaluation, and group facilitation. Staff Development Specialists report to and serve as staff to a supervisor who has day-to-day responsibilities related to supervising a training or staff development unit within the agency/department.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

NOTE: The following are the duties performed by employees in this classification. However, employees may perform other related duties at an equivalent level. Each individual in the classification does not necessarily perform all duties listed.  

1. Consult with top- and mid-level managers on various components of staff development programs.
2. Facilitate annual training needs assessment process and analyze training needs on an ongoing basis.
3. Determine appropriate teaching methods and procedures, including use of audio-visual equipment and automation technology.
4. Plan and coordinate organizational-wide training sessions. Assists with scheduling and facilitation or training modalities including classroom, small group, online, live-remote, and off-site learning.
5. Design and/or review lesson plans, including organization and sequencing of content; develop audio-visual supports; develop and publish handouts.
6. Research/learn a variety of topics, laws, regulations, new theories, tools, developments in respective fields and incorporate these into trainings.
7. Deliver formal training and/or facilitate classes for County employees, and may include Community Based Organizations (CBO) and community members, in a variety of content areas in order to meet organizational goals and objectives; teach job tasks, promote good performance levels; and enhance skills and abilities for career development opportunities.
8. Recruit, contract and/or coordinate external vendors, including colleges and universities for a variety of training programs.
9. Complete special assignments and work on projects or committees; coordinate with divisions within the organization and with outside agencies.
10. Develop reports to provide information to management, other government agencies, and/or community organizations.
11. Develop special reference materials in coordination with program staff.
12. Evaluate training programs to measure their effectiveness and determine appropriate methods to ensure goals and objectives are continually met.  
13. In some departments, may be responsible for the administration/liaison of the Learning Management System with the Training and Education Center (TEC).

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

EITHER I  

Experience:

The equivalent of one (1) year of experience in the classification of Supervising Eligibility Technician or in an equivalent or higher-level classification in the Alameda County classified service. (Completion of one (1) or more courses of study in methods, principles, practices and techniques of Adult Education is desirable).  

Completion of the Alameda County Management Academy “Management & Supervision Certificate Program” may substitute for six (6) months of the required qualifying experience for the internal patterns.  

OR II  

Education:  

Possession of a Bachelor's degree in the field of education, organizational development, business administration, social welfare, social/human services, sociology, or other behavioral science.  

AND  

Experience:  

The equivalent of two (2) years of full-time experience as a Social Worker II, Adult Protective Services Worker II, Deputy Public Guardian-Conservator/Investigator or higher-level social worker classification in the Alameda County classified service.  

OR III  

Experience:  

The equivalent of three (3) years full-time experience providing social casework services in a professional capacity in the field of adult and aging or gerontology in a public or private human services agency after receipt of the degree or three (3) years of such experience if obtained prior to the receipt of the master's degree.  

(Note: Possession of an MSW from an accredited school of social work or possession of a Master's degree from an accredited college or university in Counseling or Clinical Psychology, with a specialization in Marriage, Family and Child Counseling may be substituted for a maximum of one (1) year of the required experience.)  

OR IV  

Experience:  

The equivalent of three (3) years of full-time experience which involved planning, developing, conducting, and/or evaluating adult education and training programs.

(A Bachelor's degree in teacher education, psychology, or industrial training or a closely related field may be substituted for two (2) years of the required experience.)  

License:  

Possession of a valid California Motor Vehicle Operator's license.  

Special Requirements for positions located at the Alameda County Department of Child Support Services and Probation Department:

• A thorough pre-employment background investigation, including fingerprinting, will be conducted of all candidates who have accepted a conditional offer of employment to ensure suitability for related work.    

NOTE:    The Civil Service Commission may modify the above Minimum Qualifications in the announcement of an examination.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

NOTE:    The level and scope of the following knowledge and abilities are related to duties listed under the “Examples of Duties” section of this specification.  

Knowledge of:  

• Principles of adult education and training.
• Teaching methods and procedures.
• Organization and project management.
• Public and community resources and services.
• Federal, State, and local laws, codes, regulations in the field of public welfare, social services, health care, probation and law enforcement, or closely related programs.
• Operation and application of automated systems and software programs.
• Consultation techniques.  

Ability to:  

• Prepare and present lesson plans.
• Establish and maintain effective and cooperative relationships with other employees.
• Research, review, interpret and synthesize information on a variety of topics.
• Analyze and evaluate training needs and make appropriate recommendations.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of training activities.
• Facilitate and lead groups.
• Facilitate and model effective written and oral communication with attention to linguistic preferences and cultural proficiency.
• Operate automated systems and software programs.
• Be flexible with multiple projects and priorities at the same time.
• Provide consultation techniques.
• Incorporate departmental core values and ethical standards of practice into all interactions with individuals, organizations, and communities.

CLASS SPEC HISTORY

TT:Lfm

Revised: 1/82

Retyped: 3/85

RE:jc Revised: 3/97
Formerly: 0677h
Old document: 6796h.doc
New document: Jobspecs/6796

ys/9/01
CSC Date: 4/16/97
RE:cs Administrative Change 8/6/13

RY:cs Revised 11/6/15
CSC Date: 6/8/16
MG:sa Revised 05/27/2021

CSC Date: 10/20/2021

BENEFITS

Alameda County offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that affords wide-ranging health care options to meet the different needs of a diverse workforce and their families. We also sponsor many different employee discount, fitness and health screening programs focused on overall well being.  These benefits include but are not limited to*:

For your Health & Well-Being

• Medical – HMO & PPO Plans
• Dental – HMO & PPO Plans
• Vision or Vision Reimbursement
• Share the Savings
• Basic Life Insurance 
• Supplemental Life Insurance (with optional dependent coverage for eligible employees)
• Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance 
• County Allowance Credit
• Flexible Spending Accounts - Health FSA, Dependent Care and Adoption Assistance
• Short-Term Disability Insurance
• Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Voluntary Benefits - Accident Insurance, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity and Legal Services
• Employee Assistance Program

For your Financial Future

• Retirement Plan - (Defined Benefit Pension Plan)
• Deferred Compensation Plan (457 Plan or Roth Plan)

For your Work/Life Balance

• 12 paid holidays
• Floating Holidays
• Vacation and sick leave accrual
• Vacation purchase program
• Management Paid Leave**
• Catastrophic Sick Leave
• Pet Insurance
• Commuter Benefits Program
• Guaranteed Ride Home
• Employee Wellness Program (e.g. At Work Fitness, Incentive Based Programs, Gym Membership Discounts)
• Employee Discount Program (e.g. theme parks, cell phone, etc.)
• Child Care Resources
• 1^st United Services Credit Union 

*Eligibility is determined by Alameda County and offerings may vary by collective bargaining agreement.  This provides a brief summary of the benefits offered and can be subject to change.

** Non-exempt management employees are entitled to up to three days of management paid leave. Exempt management employees are entitled to up to seven days of management paid leave.