Special Assistant to the Deputy Director

Job Description and Duties

The Health Program Specialist II (HPS II), acting as the Special Assistant to the Deputy Director, participates in technically complex and politically sensitive special projects and activities assigned by the Deputy Director. Responsible for providing support and comprehensive CLS coordination necessary to meet the goals and objectives established by CLS. The HPS II provides guidance and expertise in highly complex, critical, and sensitive subject areas with multi-departmental or statewide impact, requiring high level of skills and knowledge and responsibility for work as it relates to department’s primary mission. Assists with overall technical and business practices, workflow of the department’s programs. Provides assistance regarding sensitive division issues and relieving the Deputy Director of routine administrative tasks and responsibilities.

If new to California state service, you will need to have taken and passed the examination for this classification in order to be hired for this position. If you are a current state employee, but do not have transfer eligibility or list eligibility, you will need to have taken and passed the examination for this classification in order to be hired for this position. Please go to CalHR’s website to review the exam bulletin:

Health Program Specialist II:

In July 2025, the State of California implemented the Personal Leave Program (PLP) 2025. This program temporarily reduces employees’ monthly base pay in exchange for paid leave credits. This position is subject to PLP 2025 and will have a monthly base pay reduction of 3% in exchange for 5 hours of leave credits through June 2027. The salary ranges shown on this job posting do not reflect the salary reduction.

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You will find additional information about the job in the .

Working Conditions

Telework Information

This position may be eligible for telework. The amount of telework permitted is at the discretion of the Department and is subject to change, consistent with CDPH’s Telework Program. All employees who telework are required to be California residents in accordance with Government Code 14200. Candidates who reside outside of the state of California may be interviewed; however, the selected candidate must have a primary residency in the state of California prior to appointment (and continue to maintain California residency) as a condition of employment. Failure to meet this requirement may result in the job offer being rescinded.

Travel may be required for this position. Reimbursement for travel takes into consideration an employee’s designated headquarters, as reflected in the duty statement, and is subject to regulations and bargaining unit contract provisions. All commute expenses to the designated headquarters office will be the responsibility of the selected candidate.

The headquarters office location for this position is identified in the attached duty statement.

Special Requirements

For experience/education to qualify during the application screening process, and to ensure that minimum qualifications can be determined, applicants should include all employment history on the Employment Application (STD 678) and/or Resume, including detailed job descriptions, hours worked per week , and start/end dates (MM/DD/YYYY) . Application packages without this information will experience delayed processing times and your eligibility for this position may be impacted.

A completed State application (STD. 678) and any other relevant documents (e.g. unofficial transcript, copy of degree, resume, etc.) should be submitted electronically via your CalCareers Account. Please reference Job Control # (499758) and indicate the basis of your eligibility in the Examination(s) or Job Title(s) section. SROA and surplus candidates should submit a copy of their letter with their application. Please remove any confidential information (i.e. social security number, date of birth) from your documents prior to submission.

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 CalCareers Account at Submitting an electronic application through your CalCareers account is strongly recommended since electronic applications will be received/processed faster than other methods of filing. Please submit only one application.

If you are unable to submit your application electronically through your CalCareers account, please email [email protected] for assistance and a CDPH Human Resources Division staff member will contact you to assist with the online application process or, a hard copy application package may be submitted through an alternative method as explained in the How to Apply section below. When submitting your application in hard copy, a completed copy of the Application Package listing must be included.

Desirable Qualifications

In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate:

• Excellent communication both written and oral, and interpersonal skills.
• Self-motivated and strong work ethic.
• Ability to build and foster collaborative relationships.
• Ability to interact effectively and achieve results with internal staff and external partners including academia, and local and state health departments.
• Demonstrates the ability to plan, organize and manage complex public health programs or projects.
• Experience developing timelines, tracking progress and ensuring deliverables align with goals and regulations.
• Experience in project management, stakeholder engagement, and data-driven decision-making.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced policy environment.
• Experience analyzing, interpreting and drafting procedure documents for compliance and consistency.
• Experience organizing events, facilitating presentations/meetings or collaborating with committees on behalf of leadership.

Benefits

Benefit information can be found on the CalHR website and the CalPERS website.

Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) Instructions

SOQ Requirement: One page only- size12 Arial Font

Describe in detail your experience managing or supervising complex major health programs or projects including any program planning and implementation, program data analysis and evaluation, recommendations to management, budgeting and resource management, policy, regulations, or standards development, and any areas of major/independent responsibility. Please include the start and end dates (month and year) of each position.

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 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.
• Resume is required and must be included.
• Statement of Qualifications -

  Please see Statement of Qualifications instructions below at end of posting . Any applications received that do not provide a written response to the SOQ will not be scored/reviewe d .