Social Services Program Specialist

Social Services Program Specialist

Salary

$55,577.60 - $60,424.00 Annually

Location

Austin, TX

Job Type

Full Time

Remote Employment

Flexible/Hybrid

Job Number

26-10692

Department

Co. Agricultural Ext Serv

Opening Date

06/25/2026

Closing Date

7/16/2026 11:59 PM Central

• Description
• Benefits

Job Summary

Are you passionate about empowering youth, developing future leaders, and creating meaningful community impact? Travis County Health and Human Services, in partnership with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, is seeking a Social Services Program Specialist to support and expand innovative youth development programming through the 4-H Capital initiative.

In this role, you will lead program implementation efforts that provide engaging experiences focused on STEM, Animal Science, leadership development, and positive youth engagement. The position combines program leadership, staff development, grant administration, and community partnership-building to ensure high-quality services for youth across Travis County. Working closely with AmeriCorps Volunteers, instructional staff, community partners, and county leadership, the SSPA will help cultivate enriching learning environments that inspire curiosity, build life skills, and support positive outcomes for young people.

Distinguishing Characteristics:

This is the second in a series of three social services program-related job classifications within the Social Services job family. This classification is dedicated to work in a specific social services program or programs and is responsible for performing consultative, technical and administrative work in the planning development, implementation and monitoring of a social services program. This classification is distinguished from the Social Services Program Specialist Associate and is responsible for planning, developing, implementing and monitoring a program and serving as technical program expert and consultant. This classification may require a flexible work schedule in order to meet the needs of the department.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Ensuring high-quality youth development experiences and alignment with organizational goals.
• Provide leadership, including facilitating coaching and professional development sessions for AmeriCorps Volunteers.
• Lead grant writing, grant management, and compliance efforts, including budget oversight, procurement of supplies, reporting, and ensuring adherence to funding requirements and organizational policies.
• Train, mentor, and supervise AmeriCorps Volunteers in behavior management strategies, youth engagement practices, and Animal Science curriculum delivery to support effective after-school instruction.
• Provide ongoing coaching and mentorship to instructors in STEM facilitation, classroom management, and professional growth to strengthen program quality and instructional effectiveness.
• Conduct regular site visits to after-school program locations to provide technical assistance, monitor program implementation, and support instructional staff.
• Coordinate and execute program events, field trips, enrichment opportunities, and staff team-building activities for 4-H CAPITAL students and personnel.
• Maintain accurate records, prepare program documentation, and contribute to evaluation and reporting efforts to demonstrate program outcomes and continuous improvement.
• Monitors, reviews and evaluates information on service delivery system methods, program outcomes and activities in order to identify gaps in resources.
• Plans, develops and conducts program related educational events.
• May function as lead over subordinate program and other staff.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements

Education and Experience:

Bachelors degree in Social or Behavioral Sciences or a directly related field AND four (4) years experience in social services or a directly field;

OR,

Any combination of education and experience that has been achieved and is equivalent to the stated education and experience and required knowledge, skills, and abilities sufficient to successfully perform the duties and responsibilities of this job.

Licenses, Registrations, Certifications, or Special Requirements:

Valid Texas Drivers License.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of:

• Policies, practices and procedures within area of assignment.
• Federal, State and Local program laws and requirements.
• Advocacy groups, social service providers and community outreach organizations.
• Computer equipment to include word processing, spreadsheets, databases and a variety of software packages.

Skill in:

• Program planning, developing and monitoring.
• Conducting education and training sessions and public speaking presentations.
• Problem-solving and decision-making.
• Both verbal and written communication.

Ability to:

• Analyze, research and evaluate findings.
• Prepare administrative and statistical reports.
• Serve as technical consultant and liaison.
• Work independently.
• Manage time well and meet timelines.
• Communicate effectively.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with departmental clientele, representatives of outside agencies, other County employees and officials, community outreach and other organizations, clinical service providers, and the general public.

Work Environment & Other Information

Physical requirements include the ability to lift/carry up to 25 pounds occasionally, visual acuity, speech and hearing, hand and eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate a computer and office equipment. Subject to standing, sitting, walking, climbing stairs, bending, stooping, crouching, kneeling, pushing, pulling, reaching, twisting, balancing, repetitive motion, driving, client/customer contact, and squatting to perform the essential functions.

Travis County employees play an important role in business continuity. As such, employees can be assigned to business continuity efforts outside of normal job functions.

This job description is intended to be generic in nature. It is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The essential duties, functions and responsibilities and overtime eligibility may vary based on the specific tasks assigned to the position.

Work Hours: Monday - Friday 8 am - 5 pm

Department: Co. Agricultural Ext Serv

Location: 1600 Post Road, Austin, TX

Criminal, Driving, Education, and Employment Background Checks Required.

For updates or questions about this posting, contact: HHS_HR@traviscountytx.gov

Benefits

Employment at Travis County comes with a full array of benefits. We offer comprehensive health insurance, a no-cost, on-site Health and Wellness clinic, longevity pay, paid vacations, sick time and personal holidays, not to mention an industry competitive salary structure and a friendly, stable work environment.

FY2026 Travis County Benefit Guide

In this valuable Travis County Benefits Guide you will find benefit summaries, eligibility requirements, costs, contact numbers and addresses as well as other general information on the benefits available to Travis County Employees and Retirees.

Credit Union

Employees may join the Travis County Credit Union which offers low-interest loans, savings plans through payroll deduction, safe deposit boxes and other benefits.

Deferred Compensation

Employees may enroll in a tax- free sheltered investment plan through payroll deduction.

Direct Deposit

Employees may sign up for direct bank deposit.

Employee Assistance Program

Travis County provides a confidential counseling and referral service free of charge to county employees and their family.

Employee Organizations

Membership in the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Union is available through payroll deduction.

Employee Health & Wellness Clinic

Employees may access the clinic for a variety of wellness program and health care services with no co-pay, no deductible and no co-insurance costs.

Holidays

An average of eleven paid holidays are designated by the Travis County Commissioners Court at the beginning of each fiscal year.

Insurance

Employees may select from four plans: an Exclusive Physician Organization (EPO), Choice Plus Preferred Physician Organization (PPO), Consumer Choice or a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) with a Health Savings Account (HSA). All four options include a Pharmacy Plan. Travis County's current policy is to pay 100% of the employee's health insurance premium for the Consumer Choice and HDHP. Employees will pay a premium for both the EPO and PPO. Other insurance benefits include $50,000 Basic Life and AD&D paid by the County.

The following benefits are employee paid:

• Dental
• Vision
• Supplemental Life, AD&D
• Dependent Life
• Short Term Disability
• Long Term Disability
• Long Term Care

New employees are covered on the first day of the month following 28 calendar days of employment.

Longevity

Longevity pay is paid for each year completed after three years of continuous service. Peace Officers in a law enforcement activity, whose job requires state peace officer certification, receive pay after one year of certification.

On the regular payday on or after the employees fourth and subsequent adjusted service dates, he or she receives a single payment for the previous year.

Parking

A limited number of assigned parking spaces are available to employees in the Courthouse Complex.

Personal Holidays

Regular, full-time employees are eligible for up to three paid personal holidays each calendar year. Part-time employees shall be granted personal holidays on a prorated basis. New employees earn personal holidays for the calendar year in which he/she begins employment, based on the month in which employment begins:

January - March

3 personal holidays

April - June

2 personal holidays

July - September

1 personal holiday

October - December

None

New employees are eligible to take personal holidays after 90 days of employment.

Retirement

Travis County is a member of the Texas County & District Retirement System with mandatory participation by certain classes of employees. Seven percent (7%) of the gross salary is deducted each pay period. An employee is fully vested after eight years of service. Benefits are prorated for part-time employees.

Sick Leave

Regular employees earn sick leave at a rate of eight hours per month with unlimited accrual during employment. Part-time employees earn sick leave on a pro-rated basis.

Parental Leave

Each Full-time Paid Parental Leave Eligible (PPL) Employee is entitled to a total of 320 hours of Paid Parental Leave in a 12 month period. Paid Parental Leave for Part-time PPL Eligible Employees is prorated based on the number of hours that they are regularly scheduled to work.

Tuition Refund

Certain classes of full-time employees may receive reimbursement for fees associated with pre-approved, job related course work completed satisfactorily.

Vacation

Based on years of county service, regular, full-time employees earn vacation time at the following rates:

0 to 5 years

4.0 hours per pay period

6 to 10 years

4.5 hours per pay period

11 to 15 years

5.0 hours per pay period

16 to 20 years

5.5 hours per pay period

21 plus years

6.0 hours per pay period

Part-time employees earn vacation leave on a pro-rated basis.

Workers Compensation

The county provides all employees workers compensation coverage with benefits in accordance with state statute, if the employee sustains an injury out of, or in the course of work.

Employer Travis County

Address 700 Lavaca Street

Austin, Texas, 78701

Website https://www.traviscountytx.gov/human-resources/jobs