Social Service Appeals Officer

Social Service Appeals Officer

Salary

$103,274.96 - $125,531.35 Annually

Location

Contra Costa County, CA

Job Type

Permanent Full-Time

Job Number

X4SG-2026A

Department

Employment & Human Services

Opening Date

06/18/2026

Closing Date

7/16/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

FLSA

Exempt

Bargaining Unit

ZB

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

The Position

Bargaining Unit: Local 21 - Non-Supervisory Management

Why join the Contra Costa Employment and Human Services Department?

Contra Costa County is excited to announce a recruitment for the position of Social Service Appeals Officer. This position will be in the Administrative Services Bureau of the Employment and Human Services Department (EHSD). We currently have one (1) vacancy

Contra Costa County's Employment and Human Services Department works diligently to provide the community with resources that support, protect, and empower individuals and families to achieve self-sufficiency. The department is committed to hiring candidates that share our core values of delivering an exceptional customer service experience, encouraging open communication, embracing change, practicing ethical behavior, and embracing diversity..

The Appeals Officer reviews and investigates complex appeals and complaints involving categorical aid and service programs; represents EHSD on appeal and complaint matters, conducts evidentiary and grievance hearings and writes formal decisions; and conducts investigations of civil rights complaints.

We are looking for someone who is:

• An excellent and effective communicator. You will need to write and present information in a clear and articulate manner for state personnel and aid applicants or recipients
• Organized. You will need to prioritize, manage and complete multiple tasks with varying deadlines in a timely manner
• Ethical. You should apply the principles of confidentiality to your work, and treat customers from diverse racial, ethnic, and socio-economic backgrounds with dignity and respect
• Collaborative. You will be working with appeals officers, appellants and their legal representatives, state officials, County department staff, and others contacted and encountered in the course of work
• Self-motivated. You should be able to work independently, be adaptable as things change, and demonstrate initiative
• Analytical. You will need to piece together multiple facts and timelines to make determinations
• A team player. You will be working in a team environment

What you will typically be responsible for:

• Reviewing case records and interviewing appropriate parties to obtain facts and clarification of points relating to issues being appealed for categorical aid and service programs
• Researching and reviewing local, state, and federal regulations related to granting categorical aid and service programs to ensure customers receive due process
• Preparing various documents, collecting, analyzing, and summarizing data
• Representing and testifying on behalf of the County in administrative hearings
• Serving as a hearing officer in evidentiary hearings, administering oaths, receiving written and verbal testimony, examining witnesses, and preparing written decisions
• Investigating complaints of discrimination in accordance with Civil Rights regulations
• Providing guidance and instruction to district staff on corrective actions to be taken on appeal and complaint matters
• Effectively engaging with state personnel, including Administrative Law Judges, Appeals representatives from other counties, advocates, authorized representatives, customers, and County Employment and Human Services staff

A few reasons you might love this job:

• You will work and network with dedicated professionals who share the same passion for public service, helping those in need to get the public assistance benefits for which they qualify
• You will thrive in an environment that is fast-paced, multi-faceted, and demands complex thought and adaptability
• You will enjoy working both independently and collaboratively with supportive colleagues
• You will work in a team environment that values the highest standards of professionalism, ethics, and confidentiality
• You will enjoy the challenge of problem-solving

A few challenges you might face in this job:

• You will have to review and determine whether federal and state administrative policies are applied correctly at the County level and ensure that applicants and recipients of benefits receive due process
• You will deal with a wide array of federal, state and County regulatory guidelines
• You will manage multiple priorities with competing deadlines and adapt to and navigate through unforeseen changing circumstances
• You will need to exercise initiative and self-management
• You will work within a small unit and must be willing to assist when needed

Competencies Required:

• Analyzing & Interpreting Data: Drawing meaning and conclusions from quantitative or qualitative data
• Critical Thinking: Analytically and logically evaluating information, propositions, and claims
• Fact Finding: Obtaining facts and data pertaining to an issue or question
• Legal & Regulatory Navigation: Understanding, interpreting, and ensuring compliance with laws and regulations
• Adaptability: Responding positively to change and modifying behavior as the situation requires
• Attention to Detail: Focusing on the details of work content, work steps, and final work products
• Establishing Credibility: Doing what you commit to doing and respecting the confidentiality of information and concerns shared by others
• Professional Integrity & Ethics: Displaying honesty, adherence to principles, and personal accountability
• Self-Management: Showing personal organization, self-discipline, and dependability
• Oral Communication: Engaging effectively in dialogue
• Writing: Communicating effectively in writing
• Professional Impact: Presenting yourself as a positive representative of the organization
• Teamwork: Collaborating with others to achieve shared goals

To read the complete job description, please visit the website, www.cccounty.us/hr

The eligible list established from this recruitment may be used to fill future openings for up to six (6) months.

Minimum Qualifications

License Required: Possession of a valid California Motor Vehicle Operator's License. Out-of-State valid Motor Vehicle Operators License will be accepted during the application process.

Education: Possession of a bachelor's degree, from an accredited college or university, with a major in business or public administration, social or behavioral sciences, or a closely related field.

Experience: Either 1) Three (3) years of full-time experience in a public social service agency in a classification equivalent to Contra Costa County Eligibility Work Supervisor, Social Service Program Analyst or Social Work Supervisor with responsibilities for providing supervision, training, or program analysis to eligibility workers or social workers in categorical aid, public social service programs or 2) Three (3) years of full-time or its equivalent experience representing a public social service agency on categorical aid and/or service program appeals; or Three (3) years of experience in an In Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program in a classification equivalent to Contra Costa County Social Worker and possession of a IHSS Academy certificate issued by the State of California Department of Social Services.

Substitution for Education: Additional qualifying experience of the type noted above may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis, up to a maximum of two years.

Substitution for Academic Major: One (1) year of additional qualifying experience, as noted above, may be substituted for the required academic major.

Desirable Qualifications:

• Experience with direct and cross-examination procedures
• Experience working in multiple benefit programs at the County level
• Experience navigating procedures relating to the appeal and hearing processes
• Training on diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Bilingual

Selection Process

1. Application Filing: All applicants must apply on-line at www.cccounty.us/hr and submit the information as indicated on the job announcement by the final filing date. A completed Supplemental Questionnaire is required at the time of applying.

2. Application Evaluation: Depending on the number of applications received, an Application Evaluation Board may be arranged to evaluate and select the best-qualified candidates for invitation to the next phase of the examination.

3. Training and Experience Evaluation: Consists of an evaluation of each candidates relevant education, training and/or experience as presented on the application and supplemental questionnaire. (Weighted 100%)

The Human Resources Department may change the examination steps noted above in accordance with the Personnel Management Regulations and accepted selection practices.

CONVICTION HISTORY

After you receive a conditional job offer, you will be fingerprinted, and your fingerprints will be sent to the California Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The resulting report of your conviction history (if any) will be used to determine whether the nature of your conviction conflicts with the specific duties and responsibilities of the job for which you have received a conditional job offer. If a conflict exists, you will be asked to present any evidence of rehabilitation that may mitigate the conflict, except when federal or state regulations bar employment in specific circumstances. Having a conviction history does not automatically preclude you from a job with Contra Costa County. If you accept a conditional job offer, the Human Resources department will contact you to schedule a fingerprinting appointment.

DISASTER SERVICE WORKER

All Contra Costa County employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law. Employment with the County requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Worker-related training as assigned, and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

It is the policy of Contra Costa County to consider all applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, ancestry, medical condition, genetic information, military or veteran status, or other protected category under the law.

For recruitment-specific questions, please contact Matthew Damm at matthew.damm@hrd.cccounty.us. For any technical issues, please contact the Government Jobs applicant support team for assistance at + 1 855-524-5627.

To find more information on Benefits offered by Contra Costa County, please go to https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/1343/Employee-Benefits

01

The purpose of the questionnaire is to provide applicants the opportunity to elaborate on their experience, education, and training for the Social Service Appeals Officer position and to assist Human Resources staff in assessing each applicants qualifications. Your responses to the questionnaire will be used to better understand your relevant experience, education, and training to determine which applicants will be invited to participate in the next step of the recruitment process. Do not answer any of the questions by indicating "see attached application" or "see resume."

• I understand

02

Do you possess a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major in business administration, public administration, social sciences, behavioral sciences, or a closely related field?

• Yes
• No

03

If you selected "Yes" to the previous question, provide the following information: - Name of the accredited college or university - Degree earned - Major or field of study - Date the degree was awarded If your degree is in a closely related field, explain how your major relates to business administration, public administration, social sciences, behavioral sciences, public social services, categorical aid programs, appeals, or the duties of the position. If you selected "No," enter "N/A."

04

If you do not possess a Bachelor's degree in business administration, public administration, social sciences, behavioral sciences, or a closely related field, select the option that best describes your completed education.

• I possess a Bachelor's degree or higher in another field
• I have completed at least 90 semester units or 135 quarter units from an accredited college or university
• I have completed at least 60 semester units or 90 quarter units from an accredited college or university
• I have completed fewer than 60 semester units or 90 quarter units from an accredited college or university
• I have not completed college-level coursework
• Not applicable; I possess a Bachelor's degree in business administration, public administration, social sciences, behavioral sciences, or a closely related field

05

How much full-time experience, or its equivalent, do you have in a public social service agency in a classification equivalent to Contra Costa County Eligibility Work Supervisor, Social Service Program Analyst, or Social Work Supervisor, with responsibilities for providing supervision, training, or program analysis to eligibility workers or social workers in categorical aid or public social service programs?

• I do not have any experience as described above
• I have less than one year of experience as described above
• I have at least one year, but less than two years as described above
• I have at least two years, but less than three years as described above
• I have at least three years, but less than four years as described above
• I have at least four years, but less than five years as described above
• I have five or more years of experience as described above

06

How much full-time experience, or its equivalent, do you have representing a public social service agency on categorical aid and/or service program appeals?

• I do not have any experience as described above
• I have less than one year of experience as described above
• I have at least one year, but less than two years as described above
• I have at least two years, but less than three years as described above
• I have at least three years, but less than four years as described above
• I have at least four years, but less than five years as described above
• I have five or more years of experience as described above

07

How much full-time experience, or its equivalent, do you have in an In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program in a classification equivalent to Contra Costa County Social Worker?

• I do not have any experience as described above
• I have less than one year of experience as described above
• I have at least one year, but less than two years as described above
• I have at least two years, but less than three years as described above
• I have at least three years, but less than four years as described above
• I have at least four years, but less than five years as described above
• I have five or more years of experience as described above

08

Do you possess an IHSS Academy certificate issued by the State of California Department of Social Services?

• Yes
• No

09

Please describe your qualifying experience in one or more of the following areas: 1. Experience in a public social service agency in a classification equivalent to Contra Costa County Eligibility Work Supervisor, Social Service Program Analyst, or Social Work Supervisor, with responsibilities for providing supervision, training, or program analysis to eligibility workers or social workers in categorical aid or public social service programs; and/or 2. Experience representing a public social service agency on categorical aid and/or service program appeals; and/or 3. Experience in an In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program in a classification equivalent to Contra Costa County Social Worker. For each position, include: - Employer's name - Job title - Dates of employment, including month and year - Average number of hours worked per week - The public social service program area involved - Your specific duties and level of responsibility - Examples of the qualifying work you personally performed If you are qualifying based on IHSS experience, include the date your IHSS Academy certificate was issued. If you do not possess this type of experience, enter "N/A."

10

Are you using additional qualifying experience to substitute for any portion of the required education or required academic major?

• No, I possess a Bachelor's degree in business administration, public administration, social sciences, behavioral sciences, or a closely related field
• Yes, I am using one additional year of qualifying experience to substitute for one year of the required education
• Yes, I am using two additional years of qualifying experience to substitute for two years of the required education
• Yes, I possess a Bachelor's degree in another field and am using one additional year of qualifying experience to substitute for the required academic major
• I do not meet the education requirement or an available substitution

11

How much experience do you have reviewing, investigating, or resolving complex appeals, complaints, grievances, or disputed actions involving public social service, categorical aid, or service programs?

• I do not have this type of experience
• I have less than three years of experience
• I have at least three years, but less than seven years of experience
• I have at least seven years, but less than ten years of experience
• I have ten or more years of experience

12

How much experience do you have representing a public social service agency in administrative hearings, appeals, inter-county disputes, grievance matters, or other formal proceedings involving public assistance or social service programs?

• I do not have this type of experience
• I have less than three years of experience
• I have at least three years, but less than seven years of experience
• I have at least seven years, but less than ten years of experience
• I have ten or more years of experience

13

How much experience do you have researching, interpreting, and applying complex laws, regulations, policies, or procedures related to categorical aid, public assistance, social service programs, client rights, or administrative hearing processes?

• I do not have this type of experience
• I have less than three years of experience
• I have at least three years, but less than seven years of experience
• I have at least seven years, but less than ten years of experience
• I have ten or more years of experience

14

How much experience do you have preparing written hearing position statements, formal decisions, letters of compliance, complaint responses, corrective action instructions, reports, or other formal written determinations involving public social service programs?

• I do not have this type of experience
• I have less than three years of experience
• I have at least three years, but less than seven years of experience
• I have at least seven years, but less than ten years of experience
• I have ten or more years of experience

15

How much experience do you have conducting evidentiary hearings, grievance hearings, complaint investigations, civil rights investigations, witness examinations, or fact-finding interviews related to public social service programs?

• I do not have this type of experience
• I have less than three years of experience
• I have at least three years, but less than seven years of experience
• I have at least seven years, but less than ten years of experience
• I have ten or more years of experience

16

By checking this box, I am confirming that all statements made in this supplemental questionnaire and on the application are accurate and true; and I understand that misstatements or omissions of material facts will result in being rejected from this recruitment process, or released from future employment with Contra Costa County.

• I agree

Required Question

Employer County of Contra Costa