California DDS / Ombudsperson Program Manager, Division of Community Assistance and Resolutions
Department of Developmental Services – Headquarters
C. E. A.
$11,102.00 – $13,226.00 per Month
Final Filing Date: Until Filled
Job Description and Duties
Under program direction of the Director, and administrative direction of the Deputy Director, Division of Community Assistance and Resolutions, Department of Developmental Services (DDS), the Ombudsperson serves as an autonomous and independent single point of contact for regional center (RC) consumers, their families, and other stakeholders to hear and facilitate the informal resolution of concerns and complaints in the California Community Developmental Disabilities Services system. The position will identify and inform the DDS Executive Team on issues, trends, and opportunities for systemic change and strategies to improve the DDS and RC programs and services.
The physical office location shall be determined following selection of the candidate. The DDS office locations are in the following counties: Orange, Sacramento, Tulare, Sonoma, and Riverside.
Pending CalHR approval
This position is eligible to participate in DDS’ hybrid telework schedule. Participation in telework is subject to DDS’ guidelines.
You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.
Minimum Requirements
Additional Documents
Position Details
Department Information
The Office of the Ombudsperson is the Department’s primary way of hearing directly from individuals participating in Lanterman Act programs, and their families, about their experiences. In your own words, please:
- Explain the importance of the Department having Ombudsperson function for the developmental disabilities services system.
- Comprehensively define a successful Ombudsperson, and identify the challenges that must be managed to achieve success.
- Identify the personality traits and professional work habits that you believe would make you successful in this role, and provide two examples of your demonstrated track record of exercising some of those traits and habits.
Application Instructions
Dates printed on Mobile Bar Codes, such as the Quick Response (QR) Codes available at the USPS, are not considered Postmark dates for the purpose of determining timely filing of an application.
Final Filing Date: Until Filled
Who May Apply
How To Apply
Complete Application Packages (including your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) and applicable or required documents) must be submitted to apply for this Job Posting. Application Packages may be submitted electronically through your CalCareer Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. When submitting your application in hard copy, a completed copy of the Application Package listing must be included. If you choose to not apply electronically, a hard copy application package may be submitted through an alternative method listed below:
Address for Mailing Application Packages
You may submit your application and any applicable or required documents to:
Address for Drop-Off Application Packages
You may drop off your application and any applicable or required documents at:
Required Application Package Documents
The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:
- Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
- Statement of Qualifications – SEE SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS SECTION
Applicants requiring reasonable accommodations for the hiring interview process must request the necessary accommodations if scheduled for a hiring interview. The request should be made at the time of contact to schedule the interview. Questions regarding reasonable accommodations may be directed to the EEO contact listed on this job posting.
General Qualifications
State civil service employees must possess essential general qualifications including integrity, initiative, dependability, good judgment, and ability to work cooperatively with others.
Knowledge and Abilities
Applicants must demonstrate the ability to perform high administrative and policy – influencing functions effectively. Such overall ability requires possession of most of the following more specific knowledge and abilities:
Knowledge of: The Lanterman Act, developmental disabilities, the RC service system, and processes and protocols in California state government. Principles, practices, and trends of public and business administration including management, supportive staff services, and employee supervision.
Ability to: Supervise and train subordinate staff. Develop and maintain cooperative and harmonious relationships with department and RC staff, the public, and others; work with professional personnel in the field relating to coordinating and developing services for persons with developmental needs.
These knowledge and abilities are expected to be obtained from the following kinds of experience with substantial participation in the formulation, operation and/or evaluation of program policies (experience may have been paid or volunteer; in State service, other government settings, or in a private organization):
CEA Level A – Responsible for broad administrative and program activities, including the execution and/or evaluation of program policies.
CEA Level B – Responsible for extensive managerial and program administration or broad program manager experience with substantial participation in the formulation, operation, and/or evaluation of program policies.
CEA Level C – Responsible for extensive highly professional influence and contributes to program, policy, and the methods to provide professional services needed to set policies, to meet the mission of the State department and often exercising technical and or professional skills that are required at this level.
Desirable Qualifications
Applicants should have knowledge of The Lanterman Act, programs, policies, and activities of the developmental disabilities services system; principles, practices, and trends of policy formulation; governmental functions and organization at the state level; DDS’ goals and objectives; and the interdependence between the impartial role of the Ombudsperson, the individuals served, the RCs and DDS at large; and mediation and conflict resolution principles and strategies.
Applicants should be able to plan, organize, and oversee a new Office; listen and hear actively; communicate successfully with a diverse range of people; remain nonjudgmental and apply the ethical principles of confidentiality, impartiality, independence, and informality; confidently speak up and address concerns at executive levels within DDS, RCs, and the Legislature; assess situations accurately and take effective action using conflict resolution skills; develop and maintain collaborative working relationships with other state agencies, stakeholders, the Legislature and the public; and align the Ombudsperson function with DDS’ overall vision, mission, goals, and values of the organization.
Examination Information
The examination will consist of an application and Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) evaluation by a departmental evaluation committee. Interviews may be conducted if the evaluation committee or appointing power finds it necessary.
If you meet the requirements stated in this announcement, you may take this competitive examination. Possession of the Examination Qualifications requirements does not assure a place on the eligible list. Your performance in the examination will be compared with the performance of others who take this examination, and all successful candidates will be ranked according to their scores.
A minimum rating of 70% must be attained in the Examination to obtain list eligibility for this position. All candidates will receive written notification of their examination results.
The results of this examination will only be used to fill this position. Applications will be retained for twelve months.
Hiring interviews for the Job may be conducted with the most qualified candidates.
The examining Department reserves the right to revise the examination plan to better meet the needs of the service, if the circumstances under which this examination was planned change. Such revision will be in accordance with civil service law and rules and all competitors will be notified.
Special Testing Arrangements
Benefits
As a state employee working for the Department of Developmental Services, you and your family will have access to excellent medical, dental and vision insurance benefits in addition to retirement benefits.
Benefit eligibility may be based on job classification, bargaining unit, time base and length of appointment. Additional benefits may also be outlined for specific bargaining units in employee collective bargaining contracts. For more information, please visit the links below:
California State Employee Benefits Summary
CalPERS Health Benefit Summary 2023
Equal Opportunity Employer
The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.
It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free work place. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing Civil Service, and the special trust placed in public servants.
To apply for this job please visit www.calcareers.ca.gov.