Social Services Specialist

Salary : $86,477.04 - $102,077.46 Annually

Location : Berkeley, CA

Job Type : Career

Job Number : 2025-02-2199

Department : City-Wide

Opening Date : 02 / 03 / 2025

Closing Date : 2 / 10 / 2025 5 : 00 PM Pacific

BENEFITS OF WORKING FOR BERKELEY

is a small city with a big reputation. At just ten square miles of land and seven square miles of water, Berkeley is famous around the globe as a center for academic achievement, scientific exploration, free speech, and the arts, and home to over 50 parks, a top-ranked university, and the largest public marina in the San Francisco Bay.

As an employer, the City of Berkeley offers all the benefits of a career in the public sector while fostering diversity, creativity, and innovation. Join a team of high-caliber, experienced staff with a shared mission of serving the Berkeley community and promoting an accessible, safe, healthy, environmentally-sound and culturally-rich city.

JOB OPPORTUNITY

The City of Berkeley invites you to apply for a position as Social Services Specialist! In this role, you will perform community outreach and develop person-centered service plans to assist clients in accessing and using community resources, with case and clinical oversight provided by licensed department staff.

Service areas may include transportation, food access, medical care, health insurance, benefits, legal assistance, affordable housing listings, utilities and energy assistance resources, and accessibility and safety issues. You'll meet with clients in their homes or in pre-designated community locations like senior centers or shelters. Many clients have complex health issues, experience homelessness, and have other functional impairments that create barriers to completing tasks. While each Social Services Specialist has their own client caseload, the team works collaboratively to ensure that adequate and appropriate support is provided to clients and to manage safety issues in the field.

Work is performed primarily on-site with clients; incumbents will be required to report to work in person the majority of the time. Current available positions are in the Public Health, Mental Health, and Aging Services Divisions of the Health, Housing & Community Services Department. This classification is also used in Neighborhood Services and at Berkeley Public Library.

See the full job class specification here :

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

A typical way of gaining the knowledge, skills, and abilities for this classification is :

Equivalent to possession of four (4) years of college with major coursework in social work, psychology, community health or a closely related field from an accredited college or university and two years of experience in community organization, social services, health or a related field, with demonstrated experience in providing individualized client service coordination. Progressively responsible related experience may be substituted for the college coursework on a year for year basis.

Must be able to travel to various locations within and outside of Berkeley to meet program needs and to fulfill the job responsibilities. When driving on City business, incumbents must have a valid California driver's license as well as a satisfactory driving record. Must successfully complete required program trainings and certifications, which may include a background check.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Applications must be received by February 10, 2025 at 5 : 00 PM Pacific and must include a completed application. Please note that resumes are not a substitute for a completed application.

Applications are available in alternative formats (audio-format, braille, large print, electronic text, etc.) upon request to Please allow 10 days for production of the material in an alternative format.

EXAM PROCESS

The exam process will include, but may not be limited to :

• Application review for minimum qualifications
• Written exercise (in-person, week of March 10, 2025)

Tests may consist of any combination of written, oral or other exercises or assessment procedures that test content and may include, but are not necessarily limited to, typing, math, reading, writing and analytical skills; problem solving ability; computer and software proficiency, or any other job-related knowledge, skill, ability or qualification. The examination process and dates are subject to change. The City may, without notice, change or eliminate any assessment component as needs dictate. Applicants passing all examination phases will have their names placed on an employment eligible list that the hiring department will use to conduct final selection interviews, tentatively scheduled for early April 2025.

Reasonable Accommodations : The City is committed to making reasonable accommodations in the examination process and in the work environment. Individuals requesting reasonable accommodations in the examination process must submit a request in writing to at the time of application.

PRE-EMPLOYMENT PROCESS

Candidates under final consideration for employment with the City will undergo an employment background / reference check that may include, but is not limited to : employment history, confirmation of educational credentials and degrees, licenses including driver's license, registrations, certificates, other credentials, credit check, criminal history check, and Live Scan fingerprinting.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY (EEO) EMPLOYER

The City of Berkeley is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer. All employment actions shall be administered regardless of race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, age, physical or mental disability or medical condition, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, marital status, pregnancy, political affiliation, veterans' status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law.

DISASTER SERVICE WORKER

All City employees are required to provide services as Disaster Service Workers in the event of an emergency / disaster.

Benefited employees receive a myriad of financial and other , including CalPERS pension and other retirement plans, medical and dental coverage, tuition reimbursement, paid time off and more.

Benefit-eligible employees include those with a regular work schedule of at least 20 hours per week. Employees working less than 30 hours per week may receive pro-rated benefits.

Retirement

CalPERS

City employees are included in the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS). The retirement formula is either 2% at age 62 (PEPRA members) or 2.7% at age 55 (Classic members).

Deferred Compensation

The City offers voluntary 457 deferred compensation plans with CalPERS or Empower. Employees may contribute up to the IRS maximum on a pre-tax basis.

Medical Plans

Employees can choose coverage under Kaiser HMO or Sutter Health Plus HMO. The City contributes up to the full family premium for the Kaiser plan, or up to 99% of the full family premium for the Sutter Health Plus plan. Employees who have medical coverage under another group plan may choose to waive City-provided medical coverage and receive a monthly stipend.

Dental Plan

The City provides group dental benefits through Delta Dental of California. The City contributes up to the family coverage for the plan, which covers 90% of the dental charges up to $2,000 annually per person. Orthodontic benefits are offered at a $2,000 lifetime maximum per person. Employees who have dental coverage under another group plan may choose to waive City-provided dental coverage and receive a monthly stipend.

Life Insurance

The City provides employees with a Life Insurance and Accidental Death & Dismemberment policy in the amount of $25,000 (Maintenance and Clerical Chapters) or $50,000 (Community Services and Part-Time Recreation Activity Leaders). Employees have the option to purchase additional term life insurance up to a maximum of $300,000.

Sick Leave

Employees earn one day of paid sick leave per month.

Vacation

New employees accrue 2 to 4 weeks of vacation annually, depending on classification (see )

Holidays

14 paid holidays and 3 floating holidays annually

Uniform Allowance

Employees in select classifications receive up to $1,400 annually (see )

SEIU)

Please indicate your highest level of education completed.

If you have completed an Associate's, Bachelor's, and / or Master's degree, please list your major(s) / discipline(s).

Indicate your years of experience in community organization, social services, health or a related field. Your answer will be subject to verification; please ensure that your qualifying experience is clearly outlined in the Work section of your application.

Please briefly describe your experience providing individualized client service coordination.

I acknowledge that I have reviewed my application and my answers to all above supplemental questions for accuracy.

Required Question

Salary : $86,477 - $102,077