Quality Assurance Specialist (Departmental Promotional Only)

Full Job Description

The County of San Mateo's Human Services Agency (HSA) is seeking qualified applicants for the position of Quality Assurance Specialist (Employment Services Specialist).

The vacancy is under the Program Integrity and Community Services (PICS) Branch and will report directly to the Quality Assurance Supervisor.

The QA team ensures accurate documentation by providing each branch with support through quality case/records reviews, program reviews, and performance monitoring, including program specific activities to assess, analyze, and make recommendations for sustained and improved performance.

The Quality Assurance Specialist plays a key role in strengthening service quality and regulatory compliance across HSA programs.

This includes monitoring quality review process to ensure compliance with federal, state and county regulations; identifying QA error trends; providing coaching, training, and technical guidance to program staff; demonstrates strong organizational awareness and the ability to navigate complex stakeholder environments; communicates effectively with diverse stakeholders; fostering a culture of continuous improvement within the agency by promoting accountability, collaboration, and innovation.

Examples of duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Conduct case reviews for the Employment Services branch of HSA.
• Assist in collecting and disseminating quality assurance and work participation rate data – identify error trends and assist in developing training curriculum.
• Provide assistance in interpretation of data, analyze and identify trends and assist in developing recommendations
• Interpret and apply public assistance laws, rules, and regulations
• Based on established federal, state and County guidelines; verify clients have been issued program services correctly.
• Arrange and conduct training for program staff
• Create graphs, charts, and summary reports to communicate the findings to various stakeholders
• Make presentations and facilitate discussions regarding review findings
• Resolve casework problems and make recommendations for solutions
• Assist in development of program recommendations for improvement
• Assist with state quality control reviews and audits
• Establish and maintain effective communication and working relationships across departments/units
• Utilize data processing systems
• Prepare, maintain, and interpret reports and records
• Participate in workgroups, meetings and training as assigned
• Participate in all staff meetings and trainings
• Principles and procedures of public assistance programs
• Complete random case reviews as assigned by Supervisor
• Other duties as assigned

The ideal candidate will have professional experience in case management and quality assurance including assessment, counseling, and client case management; case reviews and data reporting; demonstrate political astuteness working with Agency Managers and Directors; experience interpreting laws, rules, regulations, standards, policies, and procedures; and be highly proficient in using standard computer software programs for word processing, data reports, spreadsheets, or databases.

In addition, the candidate must possess excellent interpersonal and writing skills and have a general understanding of the principles, practices and techniques of career and vocational assessment and counseling, problem solving, and interviewing.

Qualifications

Department Status: An applicant must be a current Human Services Agency employee with at least six months (1040 hours) of continuous service in a classified regular, probationary, or extra-help/limited term position prior to the recruitment closing date.

Knowledge of:

• Principles, practices and techniques of career and vocational assessment and counseling, including interviewing and problem solving techniques.
• Community resources and referral services.
• Employment practices and strategies and local labor market trends.
• Educational and employment training schools, programs and services.
• Applicable federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations and County and program policies and guidelines.
• Computer applications related to the work.
• Office administrative practices and procedures, including records management and the operation of standard office equipment.

Skill/Ability to:

• Assess and counsel job seeking clients effectively and assist them in employment problem solving and decision making.
• Develop individualized, practical and effective employment training plans.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, employers, schools, County staff and others.
• Plan and conduct individual and group vocational exercises and workshops.
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Understand, explain and apply laws, rules, regulations, policies and procedures.
• Exercise sound independent judgment within established policies and guidelines.
• Maintain accurate records and files and prepare clear and concise reports, correspondence and other written materials.

Education and Experience:
Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to qualify is:

Additional Information

Departmental Promotional Only.

Only current County of San Mateo employees of the Human Services Agency 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 may apply.

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 (weight: pass/fail) 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.IMPORTANT: Applications for this position will only be accepted online.

If you are currently on the County's website, you may click the "Apply" button. If you are not on the County's website, please go to https://jobs.smcgov.org to apply.

Online applications must be received by the Human Resources Department before midnight on the final filing date.

TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT SCHEDULE
Final Filing Date: Wednesday, April 1, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. PST
Application Screening: Tuesday, April 7, 2026
Panel Interviews: Monday, April 20, 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.

Analyst: Arlene Cahill (Employment Services Specialist II - G238)