Principal Department Analyst

Salary : $87,110.40 - $105,872.00 Annually
Location : Ukiah, CA
Job Type: Full-time Permanent
Job Number: 26.304
Department: BHRS - Mental Health Services
Opening Date: 10/13/2026
Closing Date: 10/28/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

The Position
The current vacancy is in Ukiah with BHRS - Mental Health Services. The ideal candidate is organized, detail-oriented, analytical, and able to manage multiple priorities and deadlines. The candidate will have strong written and verbal communication skills, the ability to interpret and apply policies and requirements, and the ability to establish effective working relationships with staff, contractors, and other stakeholders. Experience with grants administration, contract management, compliance monitoring, reporting, or administrative processes is desirable.
The list developed from this recruitment will be used for a limited period to fill open and promotional, regular full-time, and part-time positions in a variety of departments, service areas, and locations throughout the County, should they occur. Pursuant to current bargaining unit agreements, employees regularly assigned to the coastal region or in Covelo are eligible to receive a 5% assignment premium
Under general direction, performs varied and professional analytical, financial, and advisory duties in providing highly responsible staff support within County departments; participates in the development and administration of budgets; and develops, presents, and implements plans, programs, and recommendations.

Supervisor Academy is mandatory for all supervisors and consists of nine courses that must be completed within two years. Participation is required and completed during work hours.

Job Requirements and Minimum Qualifications
Duties may include but are not limited to the following:

• Perform administrative and management duties including budget, organizational, systems, policy, procedural, legislative analysis, grants, and special projects, and/or related areas.
• Research and analyze data and prepare narrative and statistical reports, recommendations, and projections.
• Provide assistance in evaluating and resolving sensitive, difficult, and complex operational and administrative problems; identifies problem areas and issues, and proposes solutions; plans, organizes, coordinates, directs, and/or conducts administrative and/or managerial studies related to the activities or operations in departmental, policy, and/or program areas; determines appropriate analytical techniques and information-gathering processes and ensures acquisition of required information and data; analyzes and evaluates alternatives.

• Perform the most difficult and complex work unique to department or area of assignment related to administrative and operational or programmatic activities including fiscal operations, budget preparation and control, equipment usage, staffing patterns, work flow, space utilization, office automation, facilities, contract, and personnel management; design data collection systems; collect and analyze data from a variety of sources including departmental and external records, reports, documents, informational surveys, and contracts; develop and present written and verbal reports and recommendations for appropriate action based on an analysis of gathered data.
• Develop the most complex budgets, reports or recommendations based on analysis of data collected including impact on service levels and operations and/or information required by funding source; develop fiscal procedures; control specific departmental purchases and expenditures; review financial data on an ongoing basis to assure conformance with established guidelines; conduct cost/benefit studies and recommend changes to procedures or operations.
• Carry out supervisory responsibility in accordance with policies, procedures and applicable laws including interviewing, hiring and training, planning, assigning and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.
• Handle the highly specialized assignments such as acting as the department's personnel officer, staff development officer, or budget officer, performing complex duties including analysis, monitoring, and compliance.

• Plan, coordinate, implement, promote, and oversee significant projects and initiatives; oversee and participate in the development and implementation of project goals, objectives, policies, procedures, and priorities; oversee and participate in the development and implementation of strategies and work plans for the achievement of these goals.
• Analyze and ensure that assigned project activities and services comply with relevant federal, state, and local laws, policies, and regulations; research laws and other regulatory requirements governing governmental operations.
• Recommend and establish contract and MOU forms and procedures; develop, review and make recommendations concerning bid proposals and agreements; interpret contract terms and monitor adherence to contracts; recommend solutions to contractual problems.

• Serve as liaison with clients and representatives of private businesses, State and/or Federal agencies and other County departments to coordinate special projects, provide specified administrative services, represent the department in the development of, or change in programs and regulations, gather information and insight for use in assigned studies or management decisions.
• Perform other related duties as assigned

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED
Education and Experience:

Any combination of higher education, training, and experience which would provide the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and abilities listed.
Normally a Bachelor's degree or equivalent from a recognized college or university, in public administration, finance/accounting, or other related field, and four (4) years of high-level analytical experience involving administrative and/or fiscal/budget activities, with at least two (2) years of lead or supervisory experience.
Licenses and Certifications:

Valid Driver's License is preferred but not required. Some positions in this classification may require possession of a valid California driver's license or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Knowledge of:

• Government operations, organization and functions of County departments including structure and organization.
• Applicable Federal, State, and local laws, rules, regulations, codes and ordinances.
• Modern principles, practices, and trends in Public Administration as pertinent to area of assignment.
• Principles and practices of grant administration.
• Administrative and evaluative survey principles and techniques, methods and techniques of research, statistical analysis, and report presentation.
• Principles and practices of employee supervision, including work planning, assignment review and evaluation, and the training of staff in work procedures.
• Principle and practices of effective business communication.
• Structure and content of the English language, including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Modern equipment and communication tools used for business functions and program, project, and task coordination.
• Computers and software programs (e.g., Microsoft software packages) to conduct, compile, and/or generate documentation.
• General office procedures, policies, and practices, as well as basic knowledge of computers, related equipment and general office equipment.

Skill in:

• Researching, compiling, interpreting and summarizing a variety of informational and statistical data and materials.
• Analyzing complex problems, evaluating alternatives, and making creative recommendations.
• Interpreting applicable legislation and litigation.
• Advanced interpersonal skills to provide effective leadership to subordinate personnel and to develop cooperative working relationships with employees, senior management, elected officials, and outside agencies.
• Applying logical thinking to solve problems or accomplish tasks.
• Selecting and motivating staff, planning, organizing, assigning, directing, reviewing, evaluating the work of staff and providing for their training and professional development.
• Exercising tact, discretion, and sound independent judgment within established policy guidelines and legal constraints.
• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with a variety of citizens, public and private organizations, boards, commissions, and County staff.
• Planning, organizing, assigning, directing, reviewing, and evaluating staff.
• Organizing work, setting priorities, meeting critical deadlines, and following up assignments with a minimum of direction.
• Preparing clear and concise reports, correspondence, and other written materials.
• Understanding, interpreting, and communicating complicated policies, procedures and protocols.
• Communicating clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing, with internal staff, citizens, and other departmental staff in order to give and receive information in a courteous manner.
• Operating and routine maintenance of general office machines such as copiers, facsimile machines, telephone systems, etc.

Mental and Physical Abilities:

• Identify, define, and analyze administrative, operational and programmatic problems and develop recommendations.
• Provide professional and effective consultation, assistance, and direction.
• Effectively assemble, organize, and present in written and/or oral form, reports containing alternative solutions and recommendations regarding specific resources, plans and policies.
• Understand and demonstrate business and political acumen.
• Formulate policies and plan, coordinate, and initiate actions necessary to implement decisions.
• Work under pressure, establish priorities and meet deadlines.
• Deal tactfully, convincingly, and effectively with departmental personnel, government officials, representatives of special interest groups and the general public.
• Organize and coordinate the activities of staff, delegate, supervise and follow-up on assigned work.
• Exercise initiative, ingenuity and sound independent judgment when making decisions within general policy guidelines.
• Demonstrate tact, patience, and empathize with the problems of citizens and staff. Responding to stressful and sensitive situations in a calm, professional and confidential manner.
• Prepare and present concise and well organized written and oral reports of a technical nature; communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Speak effectively before groups and organizations and have the poise and tact to handle sensitive and confidential matters with public entities and the media
• Understand and carry out written and oral instructions, giving close attention to detail and accuracy.
• Apply mathematical concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.
• While performing the essential functions of this job, the incumbent is regularly required to: walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects; reach with hands and arms; speak and hear; and push, pull, move, or lift above and below the neck objects weighing up to 20 pounds.

Selection Procedure & Other Important Information
Important Application Information:

• It is your responsibility to demonstrate through your application materials how you meet the minimum qualifications of the position/s for which you apply.
• You must complete all sections of the application. A résumé or other information you feel will help us evaluate your qualifications may be attached to your completed application, but will not be accepted in lieu of completing any part of the application. Blank applications that contain only a résumé or those that reference "see résumé" will be rejected as incomplete.
• Check your application before submitting to ensure it is complete and correct; no new or additional information will be accepted after the closing date.

• If you are using education to meet the minimum qualifications for this classification, please submit unofficial transcripts with your application. Applicants who completed their education outside of the United States (with foreign degrees/transcripts) must provide an education evaluation. The education evaluation must state the number of units to which foreign coursework is equal. Foreign education evaluation services can be found at This education evaluation is the responsibility of the applicant and must be submitted with the application.

• Inquiry will be made of your former and current employers; please provide the names and telephone numbers of supervisors on your application.
• You must provide the names and contact information of at least three (3) references (not relatives) that have knowledge of your job skills, experience, ability and/or character.
• Application materials are the property of Mendocino County and will not be returned.
• It is your responsibility to keep your NEOGOV profile updated, including any changes to your telephone number or address. Failure to do so may result in missed notification of exams or interviews.
• The exam process listed on this flyer is tentative. Mendocino County reserves the right to make necessary modifications to the examination plan. Such revisions will be in accordance with approved personnel standards. Should a change be made, applicants will be notified.
• The provisions of this job bulletin do not constitute an expressed or implied contract.

Examination Process: All complete applications will be reviewed; incomplete applications will not be considered. Based on the number of qualified candidates, applicants meeting the job requirements and qualifications will be invited to participate in an oral examination (weight 100) or an application appraisal exam, consisting of an eva