Salary : $98,904.00 - $132,537.60 Annually
Location : All Locations - San Luis Obispo County, CA
Job Type: Permanent - Salary
Job Number: 0826PM-300905-01
Department: Social Services
Opening Date: 08/06/2026
Closing Date: 8/21/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

About the Position
The Department of Social Services is seeking a qualified, highly motivated candidate to serve in the position of Health & Human Services Program Manager. Under general direction the Health & Human Services Program Manager, plans, organizes, and manages one or more assigned health or human services programs typically within the Department of Social Services, Public Health, or Behavioral Health. The Health & Human Services Program Manager exercises full program-level responsibility and accountability for program direction, policies, procedures, performance, and outcomes; establishes program goals, priorities, and operational strategies within applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, funding requirements, and policy frameworks governing health and human services programs; oversees program budgets, staffing, contracts, and resources and collaborates with internal and external stakeholders to ensure effective, compliant, and high-quality service delivery.
An informational session will be held virtually with DSS leadership on Monday, August 17, 2026, at 3:00p.m.

Click Hereto join the session

We strongly encourage your attendance and look forward to seeing you.
This recruitment may also be used to fill future permanent, substitute, limited term, and temporary positions, both full-time and part-time throughout the County.

to view detailed job description.
The Ideal Candidate
Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of program management, oversight, and accountability as applied to health or human services programs
• Applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, policies, and funding requirements governing health or human services program design, delivery, and administration
• HHS program policy development, service delivery models, and performance management
• Budget preparation and control, grant administration, and contract management related to health and human services programs
• Methods of analyzing program performance, service outcomes, compliance data, and operational risks
• Effective verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills
• Applicable local, state, and federal rules, regulations, and laws
• Principles, practices, and procedures of supervision, leadership, mentoring, evaluation, training, team dynamics, and team building

Ability to:

• Provide leadership and direction for health or human services programs and exercise full program-level accountability
• Establish and implement program policies, procedures, goals, and performance measures within applicable legal, regulatory, and funding frameworks
• Develop and manage program budgets, grants, contracts, and other assigned resources
• Analyze program performance, service delivery outcomes, compliance requirements, and direct program improvements
• Exercise sound judgment, initiative, and discretion in matters with significant service, fiscal, regulatory, or public impact
• Evaluate, apply, and ensure compliance with complex and evolving laws, regulations, and funding requirements
• Utilize computer systems and software including those applications specific to the department, division, and/or program
• Promote an organized, professional, and safety-conscious work environment
• Communicate effectively verbally and in writing to a diverse population of individuals and groups
• Foster effective and positive working relationships with individuals from diverse perspectives by demonstrating strong interpersonal skills, including active listening, effective communication, advisory expertise, mediation, conflict resolution, and consensus building

Education and Experience

A combination of education, training, and experience resulting in the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.

An example of qualifying education and experience includes: Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university in public health, social services, behavioral sciences, or a closely related field. In addition, three years of progressively responsible professional experience in the planning, coordination, administration, or management of health, housing, or human services programs, including responsibility for program operations, budgets, contracts, grants, and staff.

How to Apply
Applications, including answers to supplemental questions, must be submitted online by the final filing date. Apply for this position at Most County recruitments require you to respond to supplemental questions as part of the application process. We recommend that you review these questions prior to beginning your application.

An initial application review will be conducted. Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications and are best qualified will be invited to participate in selection activities which may include online assessments, performance exams, written exams, and interviews.

Final candidates will be required to have an in-depth background review performed before proceeding in the process. Please note that references will not be contacted until the end of the process.

If you have questions or would like to discuss the opportunity further, please contact Human Resources at Confidential inquiries are welcomed.

For further information regarding the County of San Luis Obispo, visit our website at
Compensation and Benefits
Your annual salary is supplemented by a generous benefit package.

In general, temporary employees are not eligible for County-sponsored benefits and may have limited benefit options available to them. For more information on benefit eligibility, please e-mail .

For additional information regarding the benefits listed that may be available to you, visit the associated Benefits-At-A-Glance webpage (click here for link).

Some benefits include:
- Medical (PPO, EPO, HDHP), Dental (HMO, PPO) and Vision Insurance
- Health enhancing programs such as Hinge Health, GIThrive and Carrum Health for medical enrollees.
- Cafeteria (County contribution to pay for insurance premiums)
- Free visits to the employee health clinic
- Mental Health resources/benefits including Headspace
- Voluntary insurance plans (life insurance, disability, critical illness and many more)
- A lifelong retirement benefit through the San Luis Obispo County Pension Trust
- Optional deferred compensation plan with up to $500 per year match (depending on bargaining unit)
- Tax savings accounts (medical and dependent care)
- Paid personal, sick and vacation days
- 12 paid holidays
- Employee Assistance Program
- Education and Wellness Allowance
- Post Employment Health Plan
- Family Friendly workplace policies
- Flexible work schedule options
- Rideshare commuter benefits
- Pet Insurance
The County of San Luis Obispo has been recognized as a Diamond Level Family Friendly Workplace by San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce. We support our employees through: childcare assistance, flexible scheduling practices, paid and unpaid leave, comprehensive health benefits, flexible spending accounts, and employee assistance programs.

Pension Benefit and Employee Contribution Rates:
The County's pension is a defined benefit plan that provides a guaranteed monthly pension payment for life based on your time in service, wages, and other factors. The County is the primary contributor to the pension fund, but the health of the pension fund also depends on mandatory employee contributions. Employees are required to pay a percentage of their base pay towards the pension fund, ranging from 5% to 19%. This amount is deducted from your paycheck pre-tax every pay period. To find out how much will be deducted from your paycheck should you be hired for this position, please contact Pension Trust at (805) 781-5465.

Healthcare Benefits and Cafeteria Contributions:
The County offers comprehensive medical coverage to you and your family, along with two dental plan options and vision coverage. All permanent employees receive a monthly employer contribution (or 'cafeteria' contribution) to help them pay for their portion of the medical, dental, and vision insurance premiums. The amount of the cafeteria contribution varies by Bargaining Unit (BU) and the extent to which employees enroll their dependents. If the cafeteria amount is greater than your selected premiums, the remainder of the cafeteria is paid out to you in your paycheck as taxable income. If the cafeteria amount is less than your monthly premiums, you pay the remainder of the premiums with pre-tax wages.

To estimate your out-of-pocket costs (or cashback from extra cafeteria),

Learning and Development
The County prioritizes your learning, personal and professional development, and career growth. Employees have access to over 1500 on-demand courses, instructor led courses, and job-specific trainings.

Employees can take courses to upskill to make themselves more competitive for promotional opportunities and further their career growth. Examples of courses include:

- Emotional Intelligence
- Supervisor/Manager academies
- Microsoft Suite courses
- Defensive Driving
- Financial management
- Retirement preparedness
- Teambuilding
- Written Communication
- Conflict Management
- Clifton StrengthsFinder and DISC
- Job specific conferences/trainings

Student Loan Forgiveness
Did you know that if you are employed by a government agency you may be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program
County employees also have access to GotZoom, a program that offers tools and support to navigate your federal student loans.

Homebuyer assistance program
Employees have access to the "Assist-to-Own" program sponsored by to get a loan for the down payment.
01

How many years of progressively responsible professional experience do you have planning, coordinating, administering, or managing health, housing, or human services programs?

• Less than 3 years
• 3 to 5 years
• 6 to 9 years
• 10 or more years

02

Describe your experience in the planning, coordination, administration, or management of health, housing, or human services programs.
03

When you are faced with competing priorities from multiple high-level stakeholders, what is your strategy for deciding what gets done first?
04

Do you have any professional management or administrative experience in social services programs?

• Yes
• No

05

If you selected yes to question 4, please specify the program(s) and your experience in the program(s). If you selected no, please answer "N/A".
06

Which of the following team sizes have you directly supervised? (Select all that apply)

• No managerial or supervisory experience
• under 10 employees
• 10-25 employees
• 26-50 employees
• More than 50 employees

07

Describe your experience managing direct reports.
Required Question