Director of Programs and Operations

Position Summary
Lake County Department of Human Services (DHS) is seeking a Director of Programs and Operations. The Director of Programs and Operations provides highly complex professional assistance to, and works in tandem with, the Human Services Director.

The Director promotes the vision, mission, practices, and policies of the Department and will lead projects and procedures that use successful information sharing, skill building and collaboration within the Department and Lake County Government. The Deputy will work with the Human Services Director on implementing policy decisions from the Lake County Board of County Commissioners and State of Colorado with a priority on improving the sustainability of individuals and families in Lake County. The Director of Programs and Operations will likely oversee and implement complex policy objectives, administrative tasks, organizational improvement and performance, compliance reporting, department communications.

This position pays a competitive salary, depending upon experience. This is a full-time position that is eligible for benefits.

This position is not eligible for remote work.

General Duties and Responsibilities
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Essential Functions

• Provides professional-level support to the Director in a variety of areas; provides special management functions as Director including management of external facing programs and services, including: Adult Services, Economic Services, Children and Family Services, and Emergency Support Functions.
• Plans, organizes and supervises employees in the day-to-day operations of the DHS division: supervises overall work performance and daily activities of the employees; provides training and review of work; interviews and makes hiring decisions; conducts performance appraisals and related management actions to assure the effectiveness of the DHS programs and compliance with state and federal regulations.
• Plans long-range goals and objectives for the DHS in coordination with the Deputy Director of Strategic Initiatives; coordinates efforts to unify the DHS division through internal and external communication and promotion; assists with the assessment, planning, development, implementation and evaluation of programs and services; assesses and monitors DHS needs and priorities, monitors and evaluates pending legislation and the impact of public policies, laws and regulations on DHS programs.
• Leads the advancement of integrated DHS by coordinating local and regional multi-agency program development, communication, initiatives; conducts meetings with area and regional agencies, introduces new service delivery models; encourages consensus agreement on a paradigm shift in service delivery for the community; develops and implements programs and or revisions to existing programs based on agreed upon approach
• Manages and evaluates financial resources, daily operation, and budget of administrative services. Develops and implements office systems, policies, and procedures to ensure efficiency and optimal communication within the department.
• Assures the effectiveness of DHS programs through robust program evaluations.
• Manages compliance with state and federal regulations; and responsible for ongoing quality improvement and efficiency pertaining to internal and external DHS services and initiatives.
• Supervises/Coordinates activities of the DHS staff including assigning and directing work and leaves, making hire/termination decisions, performance evaluations, and disciplinary actions.
• Maintains thorough understanding of complex programs, processes or specialized systems through participation in ongoing training and self-teaching.
• Assesses operational and informational memos distributed by the Colorado Department of Human Services and Healthcare Policy and Financing, then delegates information to appropriate Deputy Directors
• Monitors spending of departments and coordinates with the Human Services Director and Finance Department to develop yearly budgets for programs
• Acts as Director in their absence.
• Participates in Emergency Preparedness and Response activities related to DHS.
• Performs other duties as required.

Supervisory Responsibilities
Supervises DHS staff, including Deputy Directors of programs, in conjunction with the DHS Director.

Notice of Emergency/Disaster Responsibilities

All Lake County Employees may be required to work as a Disaster Service Worker when a local declaration of emergency or disaster is declared by the Board of County Commissioners. To be prepared for this role, all employees and emergency service function (ESF) leads will attend emergency management trainings and exercises as requested by the Director of Emergency Management. With advanced notification from OEM, employees will make reasonable efforts to attend training events in coordination with other employees and supervisors.

Other Duties
Please note that this job description does not intend to cover or contain a full comprehensive list of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Requirements

Minimum Education

• Master’s degree preferred in Human Services, Public Administration, Social Work and/or related field will be considered.
• Any combination of education, training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job will be considered.

Qualifications

• Must possess a valid Colorado Driver’s License and acceptable Motor Vehicle Record.
• Experience managing staff, delegating tasks and responsibilities, and providing coaching and feedback
• to staff to improve performance.
• Customer service experience in a service-related field with the ability to remain flexible and sensitive to a public clientele diverse in age, ethnicity, and maturity.
• Ability to work as part of a team and effectively communicate and work with co-workers, clients, other agencies, and the public.
• Ability to assess situations and make prudent and appropriate decisions; ability to apply conflict resolution and problems solving skills to minimize negative personal impact.
• Ability to efficiently plan, schedule, with strong organizational skills, with keen attention to detail and ability to complete quality work amidst multiple, competing priorities.
• Superior verbal and written communication skills and effective listening skills.

Special professional and/or job-related requirements

• 5+ years’ experience as a manager, supervisor, or lead
• Experience in Human Services in Child Welfare and Eligibility programs preferred
• State training for Benefits Eligibility and Child Welfare will be provided within the first year of employment

Knowledge of the following:

• Principles and practices of social work, social welfare, social research and community, social and health resources.
• Administrative principles and practices, including goal setting and implementation of state and federal laws and regulations governing non-profits.
• Record keeping, records management, and grant program rules and standards.
• Techniques and practices for efficient and cost-effective management of resources.

Travel: May require some in-state travel for training.

Physical Activity & Work Environment 

• Sitting - More than 50% of the time
• Walking - Less than 50% of the time
• Standing - Less than 50% of the time
• Using hands/fingers to feel or handle items - More than 50% of the time
• Reaching, pushing, or pulling with arms/hands - More than 50% of the time
• Climbing - Less than 50% of the time
• Balancing - Less than 50% of the time
• Kneeling, crawling, or crouching - Less than 50% of the time
• Talking or hearing - More than 50% of the time
• Tasting or smelling - Less than 50% of the time
• Lifting, moving, or exerting force of up to 10 lbs. - Less than 50% of the time
• Lifting, moving, or exerting force of up to 25 lbs. - Less than 50% of the time
• Lifting, moving, or exerting force of up to 50 lbs. - Less than 50% of the time
• Lifting, moving, or exerting force of up to 100 lbs. - Less than 50% of the time
• Seeing up close - More than 50% of the time
• Seeing long distances - Less than 50% of the time
• Seeing color - More than 50% of the time
• Use of peripheral vision - Less than 50% of the time
• Perceiving depth - Less than 50% of the time
• Adjusting and focusing vision - More than 50% of the time
• Working outdoors in inclement weather – extreme hot - Less than 50% of the time
• Working outdoors in inclement weather – extreme cold - Less than 50% of the time
• Working indoors in an office environment - More than 50% of the time
• Working in extreme hot conditions that are not weather related - Less than 50% of the time.
• Working with airborne particles or fumes - Less than 50% of the time
• Working with toxic or caustic chemicals or agents - Less than 50% of the time
• Working in a loud environment - Less than 50% of the time

EOE Statement
Lake County is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). Qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to age, race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status. Assistance or accommodation during the application process due to a disability is available upon request.

Lake County Benefits - Full-Time Employees

As a reflection of the value we place on the contributions of our employees, the County offers a competitive benefits package for full-time employees. Please review the 2025 Benefits Guide for full details. The Guide provides information on Lake County Government's benefit offerings, including:

• Employer-Sponsored Medical and Dental Insurance Plans
• 100% Employer Paid Vision Plan
• Flexible Spending Account
• Health Reimbursement Account
• Employer-Sponsored Short-Term Disability Insurance
• 100% Employer Paid Long-Term Disability Insurance
• 100% Employer Paid Term Life Insurance
• Supplemental Life Insurance Plans
• 401(a) and 457(b) Employer Matched Retirement Plans
• Paid Vacation, Sick Leave, Personal Days and Holidays
• Wellness Stipend of $425
• Employee Assistance Program
• Public Health Emergency Leave
• Discounts on concerts, major sporting events, electronics, travel, cars and more!

Lake County Benefits - Part-Time Employees

Lake County is also proud to offer paid sick time off and flexible work schedules for our part-time employees.

EOE Statement

Lake County is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). Qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to age, race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status. Assistance or accommodation during the application process due to a disability is available upon request.

Notice of Work Authorization Requirement

Applicants must be authorized to lawfully work for any employer in the United States. Lake County is unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa.

Notice of Emergency/Disaster Responsibilities

All Lake County Employees may be required to work as a Disaster Service Worker when a local declaration of emergency or disaster is declared by the Board of County Commissioners. To be prepared for this role, all employees and emergency service function (ESF) leads will attend emergency management trainings and exercises as requested by the Director of Emergency Management. With advanced notification from OEM, employees will make reasonable efforts to attend training events in coordination with other employees and supervisors.

Other Duties

Please note that this job description does not intend to cover or contain a full comprehensive list of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Expected Duration of the Application Process

Due to the nature of the application and selection process for Lake County full-time positions, applicants can reasonably expect the application process to take a significant amount of time to complete before a decision is made to hire or not to hire. Typically, it takes approximately two (2) to four (4) weeks from the date of application to complete the entire selection process. The length of time it takes to complete the process can vary depending on a variety of factors. Please note that this is an estimated duration of the selection process.