Human Services Director at County of Huerfano (CO) – Walsenburg, Colorado

JOB SUMMARY:
This position provides leadership, strategic direction, and supervision to the Human Services
Department. The incumbent performs professional, managerial and leadership duties relating to
planning, directing, organizing, implementing, and coordinating all programs, materials, sites, and
activities of the Human Services Department including Child Welfare, Adult Services, Child Support
Enforcement, Assistance Payments, Veteran’s Services, and the Family Resource Center.
Incumbent is committed to excellence in public service through leadership by example, team work,
creative problem solving, fairness in service delivery, and sound financial management. Incumbent
works to align the Department’s culture with the County’s organizational values.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
Serves as a member of the County’s Department Head team; identifies and develops courses of action to
respond to a wide variety of organizational needs; develops short and long range plans; provides staff
with the appropriate tools and guidance in order to reach those goals.

Provides professional advice on issues to the County Administrator and Board of County
Commissioners. Reviews proposed ordinances, regulations, and plans for accuracy and feasibility.
Makes presentations to the BOCC, boards, commissions, and the public.

Researches, investigates and directs the resolution of complex problems, and conducts research on
policy topics. Analyzes problems, identifies alternative solutions, projects consequences of proposed
actions, and implements recommendations in support of goals.

Ensure compliance with and maintain awareness of federal, state, and local laws, rules and regulations
pertaining to the programs and services of the Department of Human Services. Coordinates and consults
the County Attorney on legal issues and litigation involving the Department.

Provides leadership, direction and is responsible for partnering with assigned staff in planning,
developing, and implementing the overall vision, mission, programs, processes and projects of the
department. Creates strategic plans, assembles staff resources, and coordinates and balances activities of
the department with other County departments, consultants, developers, contractors, governmental
agencies, community organizations, and the public.

Manages and supervises operations to achieve goals within available resources; evaluates work
completed by the department to determine effectiveness in meeting goals and objectives of the
department; oversees division workloads and staff assignments; ensures that assigned staff works as a
team to avoid duplication of service and to ensure that customer expectations are recognized and met.

Hires, assigns, schedules, evaluates and directs work of subordinates, delegates tasks to assigned staff
members. Recommends personnel actions including hiring, promotion, evaluation, corrective and/or
disciplinary action, and separation.

Responsible for complex fiscal management, including Federal, State, and County funding streams and
budgets. Advocates for financial resources through various allocation committees and grant
opportunities. Prepares, presents, and monitors the Human Services annual budget, ensuring fiscal
responsibility and efficient use of resources. Controls costs, manages budgets, and ensures optimal use
of personnel, capital improvements, and equipment to meet department objectives.

Supports the County response to disasters and other emergencies by coordinating assistance to survivors
and community members. Operates the County Disaster Assistance Center when activated, and assists
with sheltering programs as requested.

Works with the community and other partners, designs programs that anticipate/respond to needs and
expectations with the goal of delivering the maximum impact from the expenditure of money
appropriated for these purposes.

Attend community meetings and gatherings to conduct training and provide emergency preparedness
and response information to residents and businesses as broadly as possible. Respond to inquiries,
engage with residents and civic groups, and represent the organization at governmental and professional
meetings. Build and maintains relationships with external agencies, other local governments, private
stakeholders, community groups, etc to communicate planning goals, policies, and programs.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS:
Performs additional tasks as assigned, including filling in for other staff as necessary and/or
required.
May be required to work alternate schedules and/or in other work locations.
Possess oral and written skills to communicate effectively, including but not limited to
communicating actively, clearly, and regularly with supervisors and/or co-workers on all work-
related topics.
Understands, observes, enforces, and complies with all County and Departmental policies,
procedures, and protocols when performing job duties both on and off County premises.
Establishes and maintains professional working relationships with all County employees,
customers, vendors, and community members.
May be required to effectively manage multiple projects, deal with stressful situations, and adapt
to sudden and unexpected changes in work assignments.
Must reside within Huerfano County within 90 days of hire

OTHER REQUIREMENTS
Colorado Bureau of Investigation Proper System Usage Training within 30 days of hire.
The following Incident Command System Training is required within one year of hire: ICS 100,
200, 700, and 800
Background check by employer during the hiring process

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Knowledge and level of competency commonly associated with completion of bachelor’s degree
in a course of study related to the occupational field, including but not limited to: public or
business administration, human services, social work, or sociology. Master’s degree preferred.
At least 5 years of experience sufficient to thoroughly understand the diverse objectives and
functions of the department’s component units in order to direct and coordinate work within the
department.
At least 5 years of demonstrated managerial and administrative leadership experience.
Years of related experience may be substituted for required education, however education cannot
be substituted for the necessary work experience. Candidates must meet the minimum required
years of work experience.
Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid Colorado Driver’s License.

Ability to:
Using tact, discretion, initiative and independent judgment within established guidelines.
Analyzing and resolving office administrative situations and problems.
Researching, compiling, and summarizing a variety of informational and statistical data and
materials.
Organizing work, setting priorities, meeting critical deadlines, and following up assignments
with a minimum of direction.
Apply logical thinking to solve problems or accomplish tasks; to understand, interpret and
communicate complicated policies, procedures and protocols.
Use mathematics.
Communicate clearly and effectively, orally and in writing.
Plan, organize, assign, direct, review and evaluate the work of staff.
Select and motivate staff and provide for their training and professional development.
Prepare clear and concise reports, correspondence and other written materials.
Respond to each client with empathy and respect.
Establish and maintain effective working relationships with a variety of individuals.
Make program determinations and policy decisions.
Read, analyze and interpret professional periodicals and journals, technical procedures and
government regulations.
Speak effectively before public groups and respond to questions.
Solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where
MATERIAL AND EQUIPMENT USED:
Computer(s), General Office Equipment-Calculator, Copy Machine, Shredder, Phone, Printer
Vehicle.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The physical demands described herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to
successful perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable
accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to have the ability to move
to and from various points within the office. Travel to other locations using various modes of private
and commercial transportation.
Ability to work with hands above shoulder height or arms extended at shoulder height. The employee is
required to use hand to finger, handle, grasp or feel objects, tools, or controls, and reach with hands and
arms. Requires repetitive movement’s standard in office-related activities such as typing, and sitting and
standing, talking in person and via telephone. This position is occasionally required to stoop, kneel or
crouch.
Ability to lift and/or carry up to 20 pounds on a regular basis.
Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, depth
deception and the ability to adjust focus. Requires full range of peripheral vision to monitor multiple
computer systems.
Requires full range of hearing to be able to communicate via the telephone, and in person, ability to hear
and conduct routine conversation. Requires sufficient hearing and speech ability to communicate
verbally in response to inquiries, complaints, and to speak to individuals or groups in an informational or
instructional situation.
Working time may require irregular hours and/or on-call status.

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND CONDITIONS
The work environment characteristics described herein are representative of those an employee may
encounter while performing the essential functions of the job.
Work is typically performed in a variety of environments including the office, client homes, community
agencies and schools, and may involve potential exposure to hazardous and/or violent environments
and/or clients. The incumbents working conditions are typically moderately quiet, but may be loud at
times.
Work is subject to frequent interruptions and inflexible deadlines. The duties listed above are intended
only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific
statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical
assignment to the position.

Huerfano County offers medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance and 401 (k) retirement plan, holidays, vacation, pto and sick leave