Social Services Program Coordinator - Resource Development

POSTING TYPE: Open Competitive
DEPARTMENT: Social Services
HOURS: Full Time
PREFERRED HIRING RANGE: $78,981 - $88,854/annually (Salary Grade 109)
FULL SALARY RANGE: $78,981 - $123,408/annually
LOCATION: Hybrid; telework and in-person at the Northern Service Center, West St. Paul
UNION: AFSCME 306
CLOSE DATE: 4:30 p.m. on 3/17/2025

Come and join over 2,000 skilled individuals whose talents and contributions make Dakota County a premier place to live and work. The work that county government does is unique, and Dakota County offers important careers - the kind of careers that make a difference in people's lives.

Dakota County welcomes and is inclusive of diverse people, backgrounds, and perspectives. Dakota County aims to reflect the community and clients it serves and to foster an equitable and respectful working environment where everyone is empowered to be their authentic selves.
This fast-paced, demanding and rewarding position joins a dynamic, evolving team focused on meeting the housing needs of people who confront homelessness or unstable housing in Dakota County, the third most populous county in Minnesota.

This position primarily focuses on program and policy development for internal housing initiatives and contracted providers. This role will research and inform on best practices in housing services, oversee various projects, and adapt to evolving needs, opportunities, and strategies. The Program Coordinator serves as a liaison, fostering and strengthening partnerships within Community Services, the regional Continuum of Care (CoC) system, and local service providers. Responsibilities include overseeing Housing and Community Resources set-aside units, managing relationships with developers and property managers, and coordinating vacancies, referrals, and utilization of approximately 100 affordable housing units. Additionally, the position supports program and policy development for the Supportive Housing Unit, Emergency Hotel Shelter, and Housing Assistance Programs. The Coordinator will oversee waitlist and referral processes, foster partnerships, identify gaps and needs in Housing and Community Resources (HCR), and develop necessary resources.

* Bachelor's degree in Human Services, Psychology, Social Work, Public Administration, Business Administration or related field
AND
* Three years experience in human services program development, contract management, project planning or direct service with clients experiencing housing and/or homeless issues.
AND
. Valid Driver's license

*Pursuant to Dakota County Policy, this position is designated as Safety Sensitive. "Safety-sensitive position" means a position, including any supervisory or management position, in which impairment caused by drug, alcohol, or cannabis use would threaten the health and safety of any person as defined in Minnesota Statutes Section 181.950, subdivision 13.

These examples do not include all possible tasks in this work and do not limit the assignment of related tasks in any position of this classification. Regular attendance according to the position's management approved work schedule is required for all positions.

1. Facilitate and coordinate efforts of the Division, Community agencies, other government entities, and advocates to address housing and homeless issues.
2. Facilitate the development of housing programs to meet the needs of Community Services clients.
3. Participate in community collaboratives as a representative of Social Services and liaison to community organizations to advance the goal of equitable service delivery.
4. Assess service and resource needs of service recipients, identify current services available, and identify gaps in services. Conduct studies to determine operational and financial feasibility of developing resources to bridge identified service gaps.
5. Research and evaluate public and private funding opportunities, write grant applications, develop start-up projects and plan funding for programs needing continuation.
6. Monitor changes in laws and regulations to determine impact on county clients and programs and make recommendation for appropriate response to changes.
7. Prepare decision memos and Requests for Board Action, negotiate contract terms, including budget and payment rates; prepare contract documents, monitor and evaluate contracted programs.
8. Implement and monitor programs and contracts funded by grants or county funds.
9. Collect, analyze, and evaluate data and trends, determine emerging resource needs, research outcomes, prepare reports and present policy options.
10. Participate with and organize other units of government and organizations to work on joint projects, coordinate with other units within the County to work on joint projects, represent agency on assigned tasks.
11. Provide technical assistance; facilitate meetings; represent the department and/or division at county, community and state meetings.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS: Duties 1-11 are essential functions.

• Knowledge of methods for conducting trainings and/or facilitating meetings in an engaging and productive manner.
• Knowledge of Housing First principles and trauma-informed approaches
• Knowledge of housing and homelessness funding resources, strategies, best practices, and regulations.
• Knowledge of state and federal programs, Continuums of Care, and other homeless service systems to address housing needs and end homelessness.
• Knowledge of federal, state, and local laws and rules and polices pertaining to human service programs.
• Comprehensive knowledge of computer software and information systems used for the responsibilities of this position, including Microsoft Word, Excel, Access and PowerPoint, and human service data systems such as MAXIS or SSIS.
• Knowledge of and ability to interpret County, State, and Federal rules and regulations.
• Program planning and development skills.
• Negotiation, budget, cost/benefit, and grant writing skills.
• Knowledge of and experience with data collection and analysis.
• Ability to work independently and as a team member.
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Ability to distill complex information about programs, trends or service data into easily understood, accurate and succinct summaries.
• Ability to lead projects and teams, determining timelines, assigning responsibilities, and monitoring progress.
• Ability to work and communicate effectively with a wide variety of people and organizations.