Management Analyst - Human Services Agency (Open and Promotional)

The Human Services Agency (HSA) of San Mateo County is seeking a qualified Management Analyst to serve as the Out of Home Placement Lead Analyst within the Children and Family Services Branch. This position provides high-level analytical, administrative, and project leadership support to programs including but not limited to the Short-Term Residential Therapeutic Program (STRTP), Temporary Children’s Shelter Facility, Foster Family Agency, and other out-of-home placement or child welfare services.

The Management Analyst will play a key role in supporting the planning, implementation, and ongoing evaluation of program, fiscal, and regulatory initiatives impacting out-of-home placement services. This includes providing leadership support related to foster care rate reform, and state and federal initiatives affecting service delivery and funding structures. The position will monitor, analyze, and interpret legislation, regulations, and policy guidance; assess operational and fiscal impacts; and support the development of recommendations, policies, and procedures to ensure compliance and program effectiveness.

This position will also support quality assurance, accreditation, audit coordination, and reporting activities. Responsibilities may include coordinating accreditation and audit-related efforts, supporting claiming and time study reconciliation processes, assisting with Medi-Cal billing compliance, and leading or participating in required annual and mid-year reporting activities. The Management Analyst will track, analyze, and report data to support continuous quality improvement, compliance monitoring, and informed decision-making.

In collaboration with program leadership, the Management Analyst will serve as a liaison between operations, administration, and external partners to promote alignment, communication, and shared accountability across systems. The role includes supporting recruitment-related efforts. The position requires a high degree of initiative, adaptability, and the ability to manage complex projects in a dynamic regulatory environment.

Ideal Candidate

• Demonstrated experience supporting or leading clinical, residential, or child welfare–related programs, particularly within complex, regulated public-sector or nonprofit environments.
• Experience supporting system reform or program changes impacting service delivery and funding.
• Experience participating in or coordinating program audits, accreditation activities, and compliance reviews, with the ability to translate findings into operational improvements.
• Proven ability to bridge program operations and administrative functions, supporting program goals through effective coordination, analysis, and communication.
• Applied knowledge of child welfare, out-of-home placement, or behavioral health systems, including familiarity with evolving state and federal policy initiatives.
• Demonstrated success as a self-starter, with experience implementing new programs, policies, procedures, or system changes in dynamic environments.
• Strong project management and collaboration skills, including experience working with supervisors, managers, and cross-functional partners to develop, update, and implement policies and procedures.
• Advanced administrative and analytical skills, with the ability to design and improve workflows, leverage technology, and develop practical tools such as trackers, templates, dashboards, and user-friendly documentation.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret and apply federal, state, and local regulations and translate regulatory requirements into operational guidance.
• Exceptional written and oral communication skills, including the ability to synthesize complex information and communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders.
• High degree of initiative, adaptability, diplomacy, and resourcefulness, with the ability to manage competing priorities and respond effectively to change.

Duties

• Partner with clinical and residential supervisors to maintain continuous quality improvement, accreditation, and regulations.
• Assists in developing goals, objectives, policies, procedures, work standards, and administrative control systems for the department to which assigned.
• Develops and standardizes procedures and methods to improve and continuously monitor the efficiency and effectiveness of operations and service delivery methods and procedures in order to maximize funding and minimize costs; assesses and monitors workload and administrative and support systems; identifies opportunities for improvement and develops related recommendations.
• Plans, oversees, and administers department-specific programs and projects.
• Conducts a variety of analytical and operational studies regarding departmental and programmatic activities, including complex operational, regulatory, or administrative issues; evaluates alternatives, and makes recommendations.
• Prepares comprehensive technical records and reports, identifies alternatives, and makes and justifies recommendations.
• Conducts special research projects and financial analysis for countywide programs and usage; produces findings and recommendations and prepares related reports.
• Represents assigned department in interdepartmental, community and/or professional meetings; confers with and coordinates with other County staff on a wide variety of administrative analyses and planning issues.
• Serves as a liaison to public and private organizations, community groups, and other organizations; provides information and assistance to the public regarding the assigned programs and services; receives and responds to complaints, requests and questions relating to assigned area of responsibility.
• Ensures compliance with Federal, State, County, and funding agency regulatory and reporting requirements and applicable laws, regulations, and professional practices.
• Prepares and submits Board of Supervisor agenda reports and various other commission, committee, and staff reports, resolutions, ordinances, and correspondence regarding assigned activities.
• Attends meetings, conferences, workshops, and training sessions and reviews publications and related materials to become and remain current on principles, practices, and new developments in assigned work areas.
• Communicates orally, in writing, or through graphic representations and statistical summaries with colleagues, managers, employees, the public, organized employee groups and representatives of various organizations.
• May participate in the selecting, training, motivating, and evaluating assigned staff; directs the work activities of assigned staff; prioritizes and coordinates work assignments; provides or coordinates staff training; reviews work for accuracy; works with employees to correct deficiencies.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Education and Experience

Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying.

Knowledge

Basic principles and practices of the County operations and its administration and organization; sources and availability of information; methods of report presentation as it relates to assigned work unit; principles of financial administration, including public budgeting and reporting and principles and practices of organizational analysis and human resource planning.

Skills/Ability

Learn the Federal, State and local regulations and guidelines related to assigned duties; analyze a wide variety of moderate to complex administrative/operational problems and make effective operational and/or procedural recommendations; prepare effective and complete staff reports and make presentations and perform the full range of the assigned duties under minimal supervision.

Open and Promotional.

Anyone may apply. Current County of San Mateo and County of San Mateo Superior Court of California employees with at least six months (1040 hours) of continuous service in a classified regular, probationary, or extra help/limited term position prior to the final filing date will receive five points added to the final passing score on this examination. Responses to the supplemental questions must be submitted in addition to our regular employment application form. A resume will not be accepted as a substitute for the required employment application and supplemental questionnaire.

The examination process will consist of an application screening based on the candidates' application and responses to the supplemental questions. Candidates who pass the application screening will be invited to a panel interview (weight: 100%). 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. All examinations will be given in San Mateo County, California and applicants must participate at their own expense.

Applications for this position will only be accepted online. If you are currently on the County's website, you may click the Apply button above or below. If you are not on the County's website, please go to to apply. Online applications must be received by the Human Resources Department before midnight on the final filing date.

TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT SCHEDULE

Tentative Final Filing Date: Monday, January 5, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. PST

Tentative Application Screening Date: Tuesday, January 6, 2026

Tentative Combined Civil Service Panel Interview: Wednesday, January 21, 2026

About the County

San Mateo County is centrally located between San Francisco, San Jose, and the East Bay. With over 750,000 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, as an employer, is committed to advancing equity 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. Analyst: Arlene Cahill (Management Analyst - D181)

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