Program Manager II

Newcomers Initiative

Montgomery County is located adjacent to Washington, DC and with over one million residents, is the most populous County in the State of Maryland. The County is also the most diverse County in the State and ranks among the top ten most diverse Counties in the nation. Montgomery County contains many major U.S. government offices, scientific research and learning centers, and business campuses.

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is responsible for the delivery of the County’s public health and human services programs that support the needs of our community’s most vulnerable children, adults, and seniors. The Department provides services through more than 120 programs at more than 20 locations. With over 2,000 employees, DHHS is the largest department in Montgomery County.

DHHS believes that the health and wellness of the County can only be achieved by ensuring that every resident has equitable opportunities to reach their fullest potential. This means access to quality housing, transportation, education, employment, health care, human services, safe neighborhoods, and healthy foods. DHHS provides critical services for residents who face a variety of obstacles in achieving their fullest potential. DHHS plays an essential role in building a healthy and strong community.

If you are interested in working for the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, we invite qualified candidates to apply for the Newcomer Initiative's Program Manager II position.

ABOUT THE POSITION:

This position is located in the Department’s Office of Community Affairs (OCA).

OCA’s mission is to lead the development of equitable and inclusive health and human services strategies that are responsive to racial/ethnic and economically disinvested communities. Four premises comprise the core of OCA’s practices: Enhanced Access, Community Engagement, Innovative Program Models & Practices, and Social & Economic Asset Building.

This position reports to the Manager of the Newcomers Initiative.

The successful candidate will be required to pass an Advanced proficiency French/English or Spanish/English language examination assessing the following skills: oral communication, reading comprehension, interpreting AND translating text from the French or Spanish language to the English language and vice versa.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Assist in the management of the Montgomery County Newcomers Initiative, a joint effort between Montgomery County Government, Montgomery County Public Schools and community service providers to support foreign-born individuals and families who have recently arrived in the United States through the provision of culturally and linguistically competent interdisciplinary services and supports.
• Facilitate regular meetings with a network of providers to plan coordinated and appropriate care, protection, reunification, and post-release services for newcomers and advise the DHHS internal operations team. Co-facilitate crossover/joint work with Montgomery County Public Schools, existing DHHS programs, providers, other agencies, and stakeholders.
• Work with the Newcomers Manager to plan, develop, implement, and evaluate the Initiative’s program efforts to meet local needs related to newcomers in Montgomery County. Oversee and coordinate specific direct operations and monitor contracts of services delivered by community partners.
• Provide support to senior management in budget management and the development and implementation of protocols, quality assurance activities, and report development.
• Provide support to Newcomers Initiative staff and partners on assignments and achieving performance goals, including technical backstopping, and training.
• Coordinate and facilitate relationships among government and community partners to ensure the delivery of coordinated and integrated program efforts related to the reception, stabilization, and resettlement of newcomers arriving in Montgomery County. Develop standardized protocols for different program components and ensure that they are modified, as appropriate, to meet the needs of newcomer populations.
• Co-facilitate assigned crossover/joint work with Montgomery County Public Schools, existing DHHS programs, providers, other agencies, and stakeholders. Develop strategies to ensure that program partners work in tandem to coordinate the delivery of services, identify problem issues, and develop and implement corrective actions, as appropriate.
• Support research efforts and integrate best practices related to welcoming and engaging newly arrived immigrant and migrant children, adults, and families, especially as it relates to access to education, health and social services, workforce development, and other immigrant resettlement and integration programs.
• Support collaborative efforts with state, regional, and local partners to coordinate multijurisdictional approaches and efforts.
• Supervise and/or serve as lead worker for assigned staff, contractors, and volunteers within a fluid team model that responds to emergent newcomer needs.

The selected candidate must possess the ability to work evenings and weekends.

OHR reviews the minimum qualifications of all applicants, irrespective of whether the candidate has previously been found to have met the minimum requirements for the job or been temporarily promoted to the same position. This evaluation is based solely on the information contained in the application/resume submitted for this specific position/IRC.

Montgomery County Government is an equal opportunity employer, committed to workforce diversity. Accordingly, as it relates to employment opportunities, the County will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities, in accordance with the law. Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the Office of Human Resources via email to OHR@montgomerycountymd.gov. Individual determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made in accordance with all applicable laws.

Montgomery County Government also provides hiring preference to certain categories of veterans and veterans/persons with a disability. For more information and to claim employment preference, please refer to the Careers webpage on Hiring Preference.

All applicants will respond to a series of questions related to their education, relevant experience, knowledge, skills and abilities required to minimally perform the job. The applicant's responses in conjunction with their resume and all other information provided in the employment application process will be evaluated to determine the minimum qualifications and preferred criteria status. Based on the results, the highest qualified applicants will be placed on an Eligible List and may be considered for an interview. Employees meeting minimum qualifications who are the same grade will be placed on Eligible List as a "Lateral Transfer" candidate and may be considered for interview.

If selected for consideration for this position, you may be required to provide evidence that you possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities indicated on your resume.

Montgomery County Ethics Law: Except as provided by law or regulation, the County's "Public Employees" (which does not include employees of the Sheriff's office) are subject to the County's ethics law including the requirements to obtain advanced approval of any outside employment and the prohibitions on certain outside employment. The outside employment requirements of the ethics law can be found at 19A-12 of the County Code. Additional information about outside employment can be obtained from the Ethics Commission website.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Experience/Education: Requires a minimum of five (5) years or more of professional experience serving and/or supporting immigrant and/or migrant families and graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's Degree. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted.

Multilingual Requirement: Oral and written proficiency in English/French or English/Spanish required.

PREFERRED CRITERIA:

There are no Preferred Criteria. All applicants will be reviewed by OHR for minimum qualifications. Those applicants who meet minimum qualifications will be rated Qualified, placed on the Eligible List, and may be considered for an interview.

Preference for interviews will be given to applicants with experience in the following:

• Minimum three (3) years of experience conducting project/program management including program planning, implementation, and evaluation in related field, coordinating the work of multiple partners, and leading multidisciplinary cross-organizational teams
• Prior supervisory experience
• Direct experience with trauma-informed systems of care
• Experience supporting Latino American and other immigrant populations
• Knowledge of and professional work experience working with Latino and other migrant/immigrant communities at the local, state, or national level
• Knowledge of management practices and methods. Ability to problem-solve and flexibly responding to changing requirements
• Ability to adapt and apply the concepts and techniques of administrative analysis to the needs of the programs
• Ability to coordinate and integrate the activities of various organizational units, technical components, and partners
• Ability to plan, organize, and direct the work of others such as staff, consultants, and partners
• Ability to compile financial and operational data and to analyze charts, reports, statistical, and budgetary statements