Description
This posting will be used to fill various Program Specialist positions at the specified location. The authorized level of the position is Program Specialist V. Applications are being accepted down to the Professional Trainee I in the event of recruiting difficulties.
Salary Range: All new external applicants will be placed on the initial step of the salary range. However, placement above the initial step of the salary range will be based on special characteristics and critical needs of the position, an applicant's exceptional qualifications, the availability of funds, and other relevant factors. Such appointments require prior approval. Hawaii State Department of Education employees will be placed on the salary range in accordance with Department regulations.
Professional Trainee I, SR-16: $4,011.00 - $4,880.00 per month
Professional Trainee II, SR-18: $4,339.00 - $5,282.00 per month
Program Specialist III, SR-20: $4,690.00 - $5,713.00 per month
Program Specialist IV, SR-22: $5,076.00 - $6,177.00 per month
Program Specialist V, SR-24: $5,713.00 - $6,949.00 per month
Examples of Duties

1. Supervises a professional staff and participates in program planning and development activities.
2. Implements policies and procedures to assure efficient and effective staff work.
3. Makes assignments of projects and special studies to staff.
4. Evaluates subordinate's work productivity in relation to the agency's standards of performance.
5. Provides consultation, direction and advice to subordinates on program planning and development methods, non-routine or complex assignments or to clarify established guidelines.
6. Conducts studies and analyses of major, unprecedented or controversial issues regarding the agency services and operations.
7. Formulates and recommends major new policies, program goals or objectives.
8. Determines goals and objectives and establishes priorities for the program in accordance with federal and State requirements.
9. Develops new program plans to meet constantly changing federal requirements and legislative mandates.
10. Evaluates consumer needs and concerns and makes recommendations for development of new programs and/or functions for the agency.
11. Researches advancements in the field and develops new methodologies and interprets new concepts to enhance agency programs and services.

Minimum Qualifications
Basic Education Requirement: Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a Bachelor's degree.
Excess work experience as described under the Specialized Experience below or any other responsible administrative, professional or analytical work experience which provided knowledge, skills and abilities comparable to those acquired in four years of successful study while completing a college or university curriculum leading to a baccalaureate degree may be substituted on a year-for-year basis. To be acceptable, the experience must have been of such scope, level and quality as to assure the possession of comparable knowledge, skills and abilities.
The education or experience background must also demonstrate the ability to write clear and comprehensive reports and other documents; read and interpret complex written material; and solve complex problems logically and systematically.
Experience Requirements: Except for the substitutions provided for in this specification, applicants must have had progressively responsible experience of the kind and quality described in the statements below and in the amounts shown in the following table or any equivalent combination of training and experience:
Class TitleSpclzd
Exp
(Yrs)Supvy Exp
(Yrs)Total
Exp
(Yrs)Professional Trainee I000Professional Trainee II1/201/2 Program Specialist III1-1/201-1/2 Program Specialist IV2-1/202-1/2 Program Specialist V3-1/2*3-1/2
*Supervisory Aptitude: For Program Specialist V, applicants must possess supervisory aptitude.
Specialized Experience: None for the Professional Trainee I; six (6) months for Professional Trainee II; one and one-half (1½) years for Program Specialist III; two and one-half (2½) years for Program Specialist IV; and for Program Specialist V, three and one-half (3½) years of progressively responsible professional experience in one or a combination of the following:

1. Progressively responsible professional experience which demonstrated the ability to conduct studies and analyses of programs or projects through active participation in the planning, coordination, development and/or evaluation of programs and/or program activities. The experience must have involved performing professional work concerned with program interrelationships, effectiveness or intra-program integration. It must further have demonstrated a high degree of analytical skill involving the ability to identify information needs, collect and analyze data, and identify problems and alternative solutions and their advantages and disadvantages and develop logical recommendations for a course of action and the ability to read, comprehend and interpret complex material such as State statutes and/or federal regulations and draft comprehensive reports of findings and conclusions.
2. Progressively responsible professional work experience in the field of nutrition and food services management which involved training and directing personnel, managing the purchase of food and supplies, enforcing sanitary regulations, preparing records and reports, and planning menus for a large-scale food service operation.

For the classes Program Specialists V, applicants must possess experience independently performing the full range of program planning, development and evaluation activities for an agency's program or program activities.
Nutrition and Food Services Management Experience (Professional Trainee II, Program Specialist III, IV, V): In addition, of the Specialized Experience Requirement, applicants must possess a minimum of six (6) months for the Professional Trainee II level, and for the Program Specialist III, IV, V levels, a minimum of one (1) year of work experience in the field of nutrition and food services management as described in Specialized Experience Type 2 above. Such experience may have been gained concurrently or separately in meeting the Specialized Experience requirement.
Supervisory Aptitude: For Program Specialist V, applicants must possess supervisory aptitude which is the demonstration of aptitude or potential for the performance of supervisory duties through successful completion of regular or special assignments which involve some supervisory responsibilities or aspects; by serving as a group or team leader or in similar work in which opportunities for demonstrating supervisory capabilities exist; by the completion of training courses in supervision accompanied by application of supervisory skills in work assignments; or by favorable appraisals by a supervisor indicating the possession of supervisory potential.
Substitutions Allowed: Possession of a Master's Degree from an accredited four (4)-year college or university in food and nutrition, business administration, public administration, or certification as a Registered Dietician (RD) from the Commission on Dietetics Registration (CDR) may be substituted for one (1) year of the Specialized Experience (Type 1 or 2).
Driver's License Requirement: Applicant must have a current, valid driver's license.
Quality of Experience: Possession of the required number of years of experience will not in itself be accepted as proof of qualification for a position. The applicant's overall experience must have been of such scope and level of responsibility as to conclusively demonstrate that applicant has the ability to perform the duties of the position for which applicant is being considered.
Supplemental Information
Salary: The advertised salary is based on full-time employment and includes shortage and school year differentials, if applicable.
Requirements: Applicants must meet all the requirements for the position they are seeking as of the date of the application, unless otherwise specified. Unless specifically indicated, the required education and experience may not be gained concurrently. Calculation of experience is based on full-time, 40-hour workweeks. Part-time experience is pro-rated. Example: Twelve months of experience at 20 hours/week is equivalent to six months of experience, not one year. Also, hours worked in excess of 40 hours/week will not be credited. Example: Twelve months of experience at 60 hours/week is equivalent to one year of experience, not one and a half years.
Temporary Assignment: Claims of Temporary Assignment (TA) experience to meet the minimum qualification requirements must be verified and attached to the application using one of the options below:

1. A copy of the applicant's TA History Report or equivalent system-generated report;
2. A signed letter from the applicant's supervisor that includes the applicant's name, his/her TA job title, the TA start and end dates (from mm/yy to mm/yy), his/her specific TA duties performed, and either the TA hours worked per week or total TA hours worked; or,
3. Copies of the applicant's signed SF-10 Forms.

Documents: Attach all relevant supporting documents to your application. Documents that were attached to applications submitted before November 16, 2023 do not automatically attach or transfer to applications submitted on and after December 16, 2023. All submitted documents become the property of the Hawaii State Department of Education.
Information about Temporary Positions: Temporary positions may be extended year to year, dependent upon funding and departmental needs. Making yourself available for temporary positions increases your employment possibilities and may lead to permanent opportunities. A person hired for a temporary position may also become a temporary employee upon satisfactory completion of the initial probation period of at least six months. Once a temporary employee, you would be eligible to apply for promotion and transfer opportunities to permanent as well as other temporary positions. You may also enjoy other rights and benefits as afforded to an employee in a permanent position, with the exception of return rights and placement rights associated with a reduction-in-force.
12-month civil service and SSP employees enjoy a range of competitive benefits:

• Holidays: You may be eligible for 13 paid holidays each year; 14 holidays during an election year.
• Vacation: Employees of Bargaining Units 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 10 and 13 earn 21 days per year.
• Sick Leave: Employees of Bargaining Units 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 10 and 13 earn 21 days per year. Accumulated (unused) credits may be used toward computing retirement benefits.
• Health Insurance: If eligible, the State pays a part of the premiums for each employee's enrollment in a State sponsored Medical, Drug, Vision, and Adult Dental Plan.
• Group Life Insurance: The State provides a free life insurance policy for employees and retirees.
• Premium Conversion Plan: Participating employees may increase their take-home pay by having the State deduct the cost of health care premiums before payroll taxes are withheld.
• Flexible Spending Accounts: Eligible employees can reduce their federal and state income taxes and social security taxes through a tax-savings benefit program called Island Flex. This program allows employees to set aside money from their paychecks to pay for out-of-pocket health care expenses and eligible dependent care expenses on a BEFORE-TAX basis.
• Retirement Plan: The State contributes to a retirement plan for eligible employees. Generally, employees with at least 10 years of credited service and who have reached 62 years of age or have 30 years of credited service and are 55 years old may retire and receive benefits.
• Tax Shelter Annuity (TSA): If eligible, Department employees are able to participate in a tax shelter annuity program. The TSA plan allows eligible employees to contribute pre-tax dollars to an employee-selected investment service provider authorized to provide TSA products.
• Deferred Compensation: The State offers employees a tax deferred (sheltered) retirement investment program. This program is an opportunity to build a retirement nest egg through voluntary payroll deductions. Several investment options are available.
• Temporary Disability Insurance: Qualified employees may be eligible to receive benefits for a disability caused by a non-work related injury or illness under this program.
• Social Security: As an employer, the State also contributes to an employee's social security account.
• Workers' Compensation: If an employee is injured while on the job, benefits covering medical expenses and partial wage support may be available through workers' compensation.
• Union & Collective Bargaining: Employees have the right to join the union for collective bargaining with the State and employee representation. Some employee unions provide discounts, insurance and other opportunities. Employees may also decide not to join a union, however, employees are required to pay union service fees unless the employee's job is excluded from collective bargaining.

The above is intended as a general summary of the benefits offered and is subject to change. This does not constitute a contract or binding agreement. Benefits vary by type of employment appointment and collective bargaining agreements.