Assistant Director, Employment and Benefit Services

**Reimagine Public Service. Lead Systemwide Impact.** The **County of Santa Clara** is not just any government agency—it’s a premiere public agency known for its high standard of excellence, strategic leadership, and innovative thinking. With a population of more than 1.9 million residents, Santa Clara County is the largest of the nine Bay Area counties in Northern California, and larger than 12 states. With a workforce of **more than 23,000 employees** across 30+ departments, we deliver critical safety-net services in health, public safety, social services, housing, and more. Our organization is made up of public servants who are dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for everyone in our community, and especially for those most in need. The **Social Services Agency** (SSA) plays a critical role in strengthening our community’s safety net. Within SSA, the **Department of Employment and Benefit Services** (DEBS) provides services that promote health, nutrition, safety, and well-being to Santa Clara County residents. DEBS provides essential income support, employment services, and pathways to stability for tens of thousands of households. We are seeking a **strategic, people centered, and operationally exceptional leader** to serve as the next **Assistant Director, Employment and Benefit Services**. This is an opportunity to shape how vital services are delivered across the county, building systems that provide families with compassionate, timely, and effective support. **Your Mission** Lead a portfolio of bureaus within DEBS that provide essential public assistance and employment programs. As the Assistant Director, you will partner with leadership, community organizations, and dedicated staff to advance SSA’s mission of supporting residents in achieving safety, stability, and economic mobility. You will guide multi-bureau operations, ensure compliance with complex regulations, and drive improvements in service delivery, all while fostering an environment of transparency, learning, and collaboration. **What Makes This Role Meaningful** • **Scale & Service Impact:** You’ll oversee operations that provide core safety net programs, including Employment Services, Intake Services, and Continuing Benefit Services, that directly support thousands of households in navigating employment, income supports, and pathways to self sufficiency. • **Operational Excellence:** You will drive consistency, quality, and accountability across multi layered bureaus, helping ensure DEBS delivers services with integrity, clarity, and compassion. • **Community Connection:** You’ll work closely with community partners, listening deeply to assess needs, identify service gaps, and ensure DEBS programs effectively support those who need them most. • **Strategic Leadership:** From budget development to policy implementation, you will influence decisions that shape the overall direction and performance of the department. **What You’ll Do** Strategic & Operational Leadership • Plan, organize, manage, evaluate, and direct bureau operations and staff. • Guide managers in setting and implementing departmental objectives aligned with Agency priorities. • Establish and monitor operational procedures to ensure regulatory compliance and exceptional service delivery. Organizational Effectiveness • Review organizational structures, service models, and workloads to maximize efficiency. • Provide coaching and direction to strengthen staff understanding of policies, procedures, and program expectations. Community & Stakeholder Engagement • Maintain strong relationships with community partners to assess needs, evaluate program effectiveness, and expand outreach efforts. • Represent DEBS in interagency initiatives, collaborative forums, and community engagements. What You Bring • Deep understanding of eligibility programs, case management practices, and the operational realities of caseloads, workloads, and service delivery. • A collaborative leadership style that build…