Assistant Director, Employment & Benefit Services

We are seeking a strategic, people centered, and operationally exceptional leader to serve as the next Assistant Director, Employment and Benefit Services. This is an opportunity to shape how vital services are delivered across the county, building systems that provide families with compassionate, timely, and effective support.

Your Mission

Lead a portfolio of bureaus within DEBS that provide essential public assistance and employment programs. As the Assistant Director, you will partner with leadership, community organizations, and dedicated staff to advance SSA’s mission of supporting residents in achieving safety, stability, and economic mobility. You will guide multi-bureau operations, ensure compliance with complex regulations, and drive improvements in service delivery, all while fostering an environment of transparency, learning, and collaboration.

What Makes This Role Unique

• Scale & Service Impact: You’ll oversee operations that provide core safety net programs, including Employment Services, Intake Services, and Continuing Benefit Services, that directly support thousands of households in navigating employment, income supports, and pathways to self sufficiency.

• Operational Excellence: You will drive consistency, quality, and accountability across multi layered bureaus, helping ensure DEBS delivers services with integrity, clarity, and compassion.

• Community Connection: You’ll work closely with community partners, listening deeply to assess needs, identify service gaps, and ensure DEBS programs effectively support those who need them most.

• Strategic Leadership: From budget development to policy implementation, you will influence decisions that shape the overall direction and performance of the department.

What You Bring

• Deep understanding of eligibility programs, case management practices, and the operational realities of caseloads, workloads, and service delivery.

• A collaborative leadership style that builds trust, strengthens partnerships, and inspires teams to work toward shared goals.

• A proven ability to lead large, diverse teams with clarity, transparency, and integrity.

• Exceptional communication and public-speaking skills, with the confidence to engage stakeholders, community partners, and staff at all levels.

• A strong commitment to equitable, client-centered public service, paired with sound judgment in complex or sensitive situations.

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Location

70 West Hedding Street, San Jose, CA, USA37.352787-121.903712USCA95110