Human Services Agency's Assistant Director (Open)

County of San Mateo; Redwood City (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

The County of San Mateo's Human Services Agency is seeking a qualified Assistant Director to lead strategic operations, oversee program delivery, and serve as liaison to the Board of Supervisors, other departments, and community partners. The incumbent may act as Agency Director in her absence and will champion equity across services.

Applicants should prepare a resume and a cover letter detailing leadership in public-sector change and data-driven decision making.

Job description

Human Services Agency's Assistant Director

The County of San Mateo is currently seeking highly qualified applicants for this position.

Attend an engaging LinkedIn Live informational session to explore this exciting opportunity. We'll provide an overview of the position, benefits, and discuss responsibilities. We'll also walk through the recruitment and selection process. We will provide details on Thursday, October 22, 2026, at 3 PM PST.

To apply for this exciting career opportunity, the following materials must be submitted online at https://jobs.smcgov.org. Electronic confirmation acknowledging receipt of your application materials will be forwarded to you upon receipt. Resumes submitted via email will not be accepted.

• Resume
• A Cover Letter that includes the following:
  • Describe the most significant organizational change you have led in a human services or comparable public-sector setting. What was the case for change, how did you build support among staff and stakeholders, and how did you sustain the change after the initial rollout?
  • HSA serves more than 198,000 children and adults across a wide range of state and federally mandated programs. Describe how you have used data, benchmarks, or evidence-based research to make a decision affecting service delivery at a department-wide level. What did the data show, what decision did you make, and how did you measure the outcome?
  • This position acts as the Agency Director in her absence and serves as liaison to the Board of Supervisors, other County departments, state and federal agencies, and community organizations. Describe a situation in which you represented an organization or a chief executive on a high-stakes matter with an external body, a governing board, a funding agency, a legislature, or a community stakeholder group. How did you prepare, how did you handle disagreement or opposition, and what was the result?

Depending on the number of applicants, an application appraisal of education and experience may be used in place of other examinations or further evaluation of work experience may be conducted to group applicants by level of qualification. All applicants who meet the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the examination.

Tentative Recruitment Timeline

• LinkedIn Live Informational Session: Thursday, October 22, 2026, at 3 p.m. PST
• Final Filing Date: Monday, October 26, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. PST
• Application Screening: Friday, October 30, 2026
• Panel Interviews: Wednesday, November 4, 2026
• Finalist Interviews: TBD

San Mateo County is centrally located between San Francisco, San Jose, and the East Bay. With over 770,000 residents, San Mateo is one of the largest and most diverse counties in California and serves a multitude of culturally, ethnically and linguistically diverse communities.

The County of San Mateo is committed to advancing equity in order to ensure that all employees are welcomed in a safe and inclusive environment. The County seeks to hire, support, and retain employees who reflect our diverse community. We encourage applicants with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply. Eighty percent of employees surveyed stated that they would recommend the County as a great place to work.

The County of San Mateo is an equal opportunity employer. We seek to hire, support, and retain employees who reflect our diverse community.

For questions about this position or the selection process, please contact Arlene Cahill at [e-mail].

We invite you to explore our Benefits-at-a-Glance page for a snapshot of the comprehensive and competitive benefits available to eligible employees of the County of San Mateo. From health and wellness to financial security, our benefits are designed to support you at every stage of your career. (Please note that benefits are subject to change.)

In addition to core benefits, the County is proud to offer a variety of wellness and professional development programs to help you grow both personally and professionally. Most of these enriching opportunities are available during work hours and come at no cost to you.

As a County employee, you will also be covered by the federal Social Security system, earning valuable retirement benefits based on your salary and years of service.