Salary : $71,588.22 – $86,991.16 Annually
Location : Santa Rosa, CA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 23/08-0810-OPRD
Department: Permit Sonoma (PRD)
Division: PRMD – Dv Svcs Administration (2501)
Opening Date: 08/10/2023
Closing Date: 8/24/2023 11:59 PM Pacific
Position Information
Permit Sonoma is seeking talented people from diverse backgrounds and experiences, who are inspired by our mission of making Sonoma County more resilient in the face of wildfire.
Starting salary up to $41.68/hour ($86,991/year) and a competitive total compensation package!*
Permit Sonoma is looking to add a new team member who thrives working with people and lifting up the voices of the community to serve as our next Community Outreach & Engagement Specialist. If you care about public service, are a strong collaborator, skilled communicator, and enjoy making sure the public is equitably included in local government decision making, we encourage you to apply!
What We Offer
Working at the County of Sonoma offers expansive opportunities for growth and development, the ability to be a part of a challenging and rewarding work environment, and the satisfaction of knowing you’re working to better our communities. You can also look forward to flexible work arrangements and excellent benefits* including:
- Hybrid Telework – Depending on the assignment, a schedule that includes hybrid or telework and meets the needs of our staff, department operations, and the communities we serve may be available
- Salary Advancement – A salary increase after 1,040 hours (6 months when working full-time) for good work performance; eligibility for a salary increase for good performance every year thereafter, until reaching the top of the salary range
- Bilingual Premium Pay* – An additional $1.50/1.25/hour on top of the hourly pay rate for basic/fluent bilingual positions
- Paid Time Off – Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals, 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year
- County Paid Health Premium Contributions – 100% premium contribution for the majority of employee-only and employee + family health plan options
- Staff Development/Wellness Pay – Annual benefit allowances of up to $2,000 and ongoing education/training opportunities
- Post-Retirement Health Reimbursement Arrangement – County contributions to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits
- Retirement – A pension fully integrated with Social Security
- Paid Parental Leave – May be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) after 12 months of County employment
Join Permit Sonoma
The Community Outreach & Engagement Specialist will work in the External Affairs and Policy Division of Permit Sonoma to support Fire Prevention and Natural Resources projects such as implementing equity-centered public participation, marketing, and education programs. Additionally, you will:
- Draft correspondence, answering phone calls with constituents
- Provide administrative assistance in tasks such as booking community meetings, scheduling meetings with vendors and contractors, ensuring that large scale mail runs are sent
- Maintain project schedules and deadlines for the External Affairs Section, and assist with External Affairs planning
- Update the agency’s website
While the position’s base schedule works regular office hours, working evening or weekend hours to support community meetings or other events is not uncommon.
The ideal candidate will have:
- Project management skills, including the ability to plan, implement, track, and manage multiple deliverables with overlapping deadlines
- Personal, volunteer, or professional experience working with and for communities of color, low income, or underserved communities
- The ability to communicate with a wide range of stakeholders within the County and with the diverse communities that live in Sonoma County
- Bilingual Skills – The ability to speak and write in Spanish is desired, but not required
*Salary is negotiable within the established range. Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can be found in the Salary Resolution (SalRes) and our Employee Benefits Directory.
This recruitment is being conducted to fill a full-time time-limited Community Outreach & Engagement Specialist position, that is currently funded through 06/30/2027. This employment list may also be used to fill future full-time, part-time, or extra-help (temporary) vacancies as they occur during the active status of the list. Qualified County employees who wish to be considered for future vacancies should consider applying to this recruitment. The Civil Service title for this position is Administrative Aide.
APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS REQUIRE THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE BE COMPLETED.
Minimum Qualifications
Education: Any combination of course work and training that would provide an opportunity to acquire the knowledge and abilities listed. Normally, academic course work in public administration, business administration, management, accounting, political science, economics, statistics, English composition, psychology or closely related courses would provide such opportunity.
Experience: Work experience that would provide an opportunity to acquire the knowledge and abilities listed. Normally, some experience related to general administration, accounting, budgetary analysis, or human resources work including the compilation, tabulation, analysis, and presentation of statistical and narrative written reports would provide such opportunity.
License: Possession of a valid driver’s license at the appropriate level including special endorsements, as required by the State of California, may be required depending upon assignment to perform the essential job functions of the position.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Knowledge of: administrative techniques and principles of organization, accounting, budget and human resources administration; techniques and practices of research methodology, data collection, and preliminary analysis; report writing; application and use of basic statistics; interview techniques sufficient to obtain information related to employment and administrative matters; written and oral communications, including language mechanics, syntax and English composition; modern office methods and procedures; database, spreadsheet and word processing applications including basic methods of graphic presentations.
Ability to: collect, compile and analyze qualitative and quantitative data; understand and explain laws, regulations and policies governing program operations; communicate effectively orally and in writing; establish and maintain effective working relationships with management, employees, clients, and the public; understand program objectives in relation to departmental goals and procedures; organize and prioritize work assignments; use and understand common database, spreadsheet and word processing applications; learn specialized computer applications.
Certain positions may require the ability to speak, read and write fluent Spanish.
Positions allocated to this class may require specific knowledge and abilities.
Selection Procedure & Some Helpful Tips When Applying
- Your application information and your responses to the supplemental questions are evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the entire selection process.
- You should list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application. Be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.
- You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, list out each position separately.
- Failure to follow these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification.
Please visit to review more detailed information about the hiring process, including the application process, examination steps, and department selection process.
APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS REQUIRE THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE BE COMPLETED.
Responses to supplemental questions will or may be scored using position-specific criteria. Please provide specific and detailed responses of a reasonable length to allow for a thorough assessment of your qualifications. Responses that state “See Resume” or “See Application” may be considered insufficient and therefore may not be scored.
The selection procedure will consist of the following examination:
An Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination (weight 100%) will be conducted to evaluate each applicant’s application and supplemental questionnaire for satisfaction of minimum qualifications (pass/not pass); and for educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities which relate to this position. Each applicant will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
- Relevance of work history, related experience, and achieved level of education and/or training as described in the application and responses to the supplemental questions.
Candidates demonstrating possession of the minimum qualifications will be placed on an employment list in order of most qualified to least qualified based on the achieved score received in the Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination which evaluates the education, training, experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, and other qualifications that you demonstrate in your application and/or response to the supplemental questionnaire. Please be aware that resumes and cover letters are not typically evaluated in the Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination. Scores may be adjusted based on such factors as the number of candidates, anticipated vacancies, past practice, and natural breaks in the scores achieved by this group of candidates.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
A background investigation is required prior to employment. Candidates referred to departments for a selection interview are typically required to sign authorization and release forms enabling such an investigation. Failure to sign prescribed forms will result in the candidate not being considered further for that vacancy. Reference information will not be made available to applicants.
Additional requirements, such as successful completion of a physical exam, drug screen, etc., may apply, depending on the duties and responsibilities of the position. If you receive a conditional job offer for the position, the requirements upon which the offer is contingent will be outlined in the conditional job letter. You may also review the to determine the requirements for this position.
HOW TO APPLY
Applications are accepted online at Paper applications may be submitted by person, fax (707-565-3770), email, or through the mail. All applications and appropriate supplemental information as outlined in the job bulletin must be RECEIVED by the time and date specified on the first page of this job announcement. Applications received after the recruitment closes will not be accepted.
The County of Sonoma values diversity and is dedicated to creating a workplace environment that provides individuals with a sense of belonging. We are committed to having a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. The County is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer where all aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance, and business need.
HR Analyst: MN
HR Technician: KK
IMPORTANT NOTE: Benefits described herein do not apply to Extra Help positions.
COUNTY OF SONOMA BENEFITS: UNREPRESENTED*
These are some of the excellent benefits the County offers:
Paid Time Off: Competitive vacation accrual and sick leave accruals; additional management leave annually; 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year; and may be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) of Paid Parental Leave after 12 months of County employment.
Health Plan: Choice of five health plans (a PPO, EPO, HMO, and two deductible HMOs) with a County paid premium contribution.
Retirement: Fully integrated with Social Security. For more information regarding eligibility, retirement contributions, and reciprocity with prior public service, please visit
IRS 457 Plan: Pre-tax employee contribution up to the IRS annual maximum.
Retiree Medical: County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits.
Plus excellent dental, vision, disability, life insurance, professional development, and more.
For answers to specific questions regarding the employment process and more details about benefits or retirement, please contact Human Resources at (707) 565-2331. Additional details about benefit and compensation packages can be found in the MOUs located at For specific information about health and welfare benefits including plan options, coverage, and premium amounts go to or, contact the Human Resources’ Risk Management-Benefits Office at or (707) 565-2900.
*IMPORTANT NOTES: Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice.
01
How did you first learn about this opportunity?
- Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG)
- California State Association of Counties (CSAC)
- Careers in Government
- College or University
- Craigslist
- DiversityJobs
- Employee of Sonoma County
- Glassdoor
- Google Jobs
- GovernmentJobs.com
- Handshake
- Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Sonoma County
- Indeed
- Job Fair
- La Voz
- Latino Service Providers
- Los Cien
- Minority Organization or Group
- Municipal Management Association of Northern California
- National Association of Counties (NACo)
- POST
- Press Democrat
- sonoma-county.org/www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org
- Sonoma County Human Resources Office
- Sonoma County Job Line
- Start Here!
- Veterans Services Office
- Women’s Organization or Group
- Workplace Diversity
- ZipRecruiter
- Other Internet Site
- Other Publication
02
BILINGUAL ENGLISH/SPANISH SKILLS: If you would like to be considered for a position that requires bilingual abilities, please indicate the level of your proficiency below. Candidates must pass a bilingual proficiency examination to be eligible for positions with bilingual designation.
- Yes, I have basic (conversational) English/Spanish bilingual abilities.
- Yes, I have fluent (reading, writing, and conversational) English/Spanish bilingual abilities.
- No, I do not have English/Spanish bilingual abilities and/or do not wish to be considered for a bilingual position.
03
Please indicate if you would also be interested in part-time or extra-help positions (temporary, intermittent, or seasonal employment) should they become available. Extra-help employees are not eligible for most benefits available to permanent employees. Candidates hired for extra-help positions remain eligible for full or part-time vacancies as they occur during the active status of this list. Check all that apply.
- Yes, I would also like to be considered for future part-time positions.
- Yes, I would also like to be considered for future extra-help positions.
- No, I do not wish to be considered for extra-help or part-time positions.
04
Responses to supplemental questions are used to evaluate your qualifications. Please provide sufficient information to allow for a thorough evaluation of your qualifications.
Please describe your qualifying education, training, and work experience related to: general administration, accounting,budgetary analysis, or human resources work including the compilation, tabulation, analysis, and presentation ofstatistical and/or narrative written reports.
- List your relevant certifications, coursework, and/or degree(s) highlighting public or business administration,management, accounting, political science, economics, statistics, English composition, psychology, or closelyrelated courses
- For each relevant position you list include job title(s), employer’s name, dates of employment (mm/yy – mm/yy), anda description of your primary responsibilities
05
Please describe your experience with community outreach and engaging diverse audiences through online and in-person channels and/or community-based approaches. Please detail one outreach initiative and share the purpose of the program, target audience, engagement methods, and your specific role and responsibilities.
06
Please describe your experience planning for and supporting department meetings and public events. Include type of meetings and your role and responsibilities, highlighting experience related to supporting public board, commission, and council meetings.
Required Question