Substance Abuse Assessor-26522808

Substance Abuse Assessor-26522808

Salary

$74,630.40 - $91,728.00 Annually

Location

County of San Diego, CA

Job Type

Regular - Full time

Job Number

26522808

Department

Public Defender

Division

Primary Public Defender

Opening Date

09/04/2026

Closing Date

9/14/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Job Summary

The County of San Diego Public Defenders Office is currently seeking qualified candidates for the position of Substance Abuse Assessor. If you are an experienced alcohol or drug counselor, this may be the career move that youve been waiting for.

Selected candidates will be hired at Step 1 $74,630.40 of the salary range. County employees are subject to the County Promotion Rule for Step Placement in Accordance with Compensation Ordinance 1.3.5.

June 2027 - 3.67% increase to base pay (3.00% Across-the-Board + 0.67% Market Adjustment)

Interviews will take place the week of October 12, 2026. Job offers for selected candidates will be made the week of November 2, 2026.

Eligible candidates are encouraged to apply, as this list may also be used for future vacancies at various locations in the County.

Substance Abuse Assessors perform professional level work involving the evaluation and recommendation for referral of alcohol and drug offenders to appropriate residential treatment programs; attend sessions of the Superior Court to screen offenders assigned to a program by judges; interview and assess offenders accused or convicted of criminal offenses in County jails or court holding cells, to recommend referral to an appropriate treatment program; and develop and maintain data collection systems for monitoring program effectiveness. Incumbent will be required to drive to County jails to pick-up incarcerated persons and transport them to their scheduled appointments or assigned programs.

Hiring Process and Timeline

The timeline for this recruitment is outlined below.

• Job Offer and Background Process begins 2026. Note: Current County employees may be excluded from additional background screening.
• Pre-employment Medical Screening: Approximately 3 days following successful background investigation results.
• Anticipated Start Date: Start date will be based upon successful completion of medical screening or other mutually agreed upon date.

If you are not selected for this interview process, you may have the opportunity to compete for future vacancies.

Minimum Qualifications

• A bachelors degree from an accredited U.S. college or university, or a certified foreign studies equivalency in counseling, psychology, sociology, criminal justice, or a closely related field; AND, three (3) years of full-time work experience in the field of alcohol or drug abuse, including some administrative duties, preferably in alcohol/drug counseling, or alcohol and drug abuse prevention.

Note: Additional years of experience as described above may be substituted for the education requirement on a year-for-year basis; OR, possession of a current Certified Addiction Treatment Specialist credential may substitute for one (1) year of the education/experience requirement. A masters or doctoral degree from an accredited U.S. college or university, or a certified foreign studies equivalency, may substitute for up to one (1) year of the required experience.

Additional information, please visit Substance Abuse Assessor job classification.

The Department of Human Resources removes personally identifiable information from all recruitments. This practice, called Blind Applicant Screening, hides a candidate's personal information that could influence or bias a hiring decision. Personal information includes name, phone number, address, gender, age and race. This process helps contribute to a fair and equitable selection process leading to a more diverse and inclusive workforce.

The most highly qualified candidates, based on the evaluation results, will be referred for an interview. Be sure to include your experience in meeting the minimum requirements in both the Work Experience section and the Supplemental Questionnaire section of the Application.Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of the application Work History and/or supplemental questionnaire.

Condition of Employment

As part of the County of San Diego's pre-employment processprospective candidates will undergo a background check (including fingerprinting) and a pre-employment medical screening prior to beginning County employment. Current County employees may be excluded from this process. Current County employees may be excluded from this process.

Evaluation

Qualified candidates will be placed on a nine (9) monthemployment list based on scores received during the evaluation of information contained in their employment and supplemental applications. Please ensure all information is complete and accurate as the responses you provide on the supplemental application questionnaire will be reviewed using an automated evaluation system. If you are successful in the initial screening process, your application will be reviewed individually to confirm that the information you provided is accurate and qualifying.

Accommodation

Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job, on a case-by-case basis.As an employer of over 19,000 employees, the County of San Diego is an organization committed to veteran hiring, retention, and professional development. We recognize the contributions and sacrifices made by our veterans and value the unique expertise and leadership qualities they bring to our workforce. We strive to provide veterans with the resources and tools necessary to maximize their employment opportunities, and to assist veterans with their transition into civilian life by applying the valuable skills, knowledge and training acquired in service to positions and career paths at all levels within our large organization. Click on the resource links below to learn more about how the County of San Diego supports its veterans.

Veterans Preference Policy

The County of San Diego offers preferential credits for military service to assist qualified applicants in transitioning from military to civilian careers with the County of San Diego. Please read the Veterans Preference Policy for additional information.

Military Skills Translator

Do you need assistance translating your military experience into civilian experience? This tool can help! Please read the Military Skills Translator to access the tool.

The County of San Diego and its employees embrace the vision of: a just, sustainable, and resilient future for all. Our values include: integrity, equity, access, belonging, excellence, and sustainability. Each of which are infused throughout our operations. While also embracing a mission of strengthening our communities with innovative, inclusive, and data driven services through a skilled and supported workforce. Please see the Strategic Plan for more information.

Disaster Service Worker

Under California Government Code Sections 3100 - 3109, public employees are designated as disaster service workers. The term "public employees" includes all persons employed by the state or any county, city, state agency, or public district. Disaster service workers are required to participate in such disaster service activities as may be assigned to them by their employer or by law.

The County of San Diego is committed to valuing diversity and practicing inclusion because our diverse workforce is our greatest asset and our customers are our number one priority.

Click here to see the Non-Management Benefits Summary

01

Please be sure to answer the following questions in a thorough and complete manner, as the responses you provide may be used to determine your overall score. Please note that if you are invited to a selection interview(s) by a department, your responses to the following questions may be subject to verification. DO YOU UNDERSTAND THIS INFORMATION?

• Yes
• No

02

Do you possess a bachelors degree from an accredited U.S. college or university, or a certified foreign studies equivalency in counseling, psychology, sociology, criminal justice, or a closely related field?

If "Yes," you must attach a copy of your transcript or certificate of U.S. foreign equivalency.

• Yes
• No

03

Do you have three (3) years of full-time work experience in the field of alcohol or drug abuse, including some administrative duties, preferably in alcohol/drug counseling, or alcohol and drug abuse prevention?

• Yes
• No

04

If you answered "Yes" in Question No. 3, please describe where you gained your experience in drug abuse counseling and/or prevention experience including (a) name of the agency/organization, (b) job title, and (c) dates of employment. Note: If you do not have the experience, please indicate "N/A" in the section below.

05

Do you possess a current California Certified Addiction Treatment Specialist credential?

If "Yes" you must attach a copy of your certification.

• Yes
• No

06

Do you have experience referring clients to the following residential drug and alcohol treatment programs (check all that apply):

• CRASH - Community Resources and Self-Help
• House of Metamorphosis (HOM)
• Veterans Village of San Diego (VVSD)
• Freedom Ranch
• Serenity House
• KIVA Residential Program
• Tender Loving Mercy (TLM)
• Amity Vista Ranch
• Cross Roads
• Nosotros Program
• ACT Programs
• Casa De Milagros
• New Connections
• Outpatient Mental Health clinics
• None

07

REFERRAL PROGRAM EXPERIENCE. Please describe below your experience in referring clients to alcohol and drug-related programs. Be sure to include (a) Types of Program Referrals made, (b) Your Responsibility, (c) Follow-up Methodologies, and (d) the Job Title where you gained this experience. Note: If you do not have any referral program experience, please indicate "N/A" in the section below.

08

Do you have experience in any of the following areas.

Please check all that apply.

• Reviewing police reports
• Communications/interactions with probation and/or sheriffs
• Drafting emails to justice and community partners
• Experience with DMC-ODS system?
• Experience with ASAM
• Levels of care with residential care facilities
• Treatment for Dual diagnosis clients

09

If you responded "Yes" to the question above, please indicate where you gained this experience by providing (a) name of the agency/organization, (b) job title, and (c) dates of employment. Note: If you do not have the experience, please indicate "N/A" in the section below.

10

Are you willing to assess incarcerated persons within a detention facility?

• Yes
• No

11

Are you willing to transport incarcerated persons to a residential treatment facility?

• Yes
• No

12

This position requires working onsite in an office environment. Are you willing to work in the office full time?

• Yes
• No

13

How did you first hear about this job opportunity?

• San Diego County Website
• Govermentjobs.com
• Veterans Outreach/FFSC
• Mana de San Diego
• County ERG
• Family, Neighbors, Friends
• College/Universities Career Site
• LinkedIn
• County Social Media
• Other

14

If you answered "other" to the question above, please indicate where you first heard about this job opportunity. If this does not apply, please indicate "n/a" below.

Required Question

Employer County of San Diego

Address 5500 Overland Ave., Suite 370

San Diego, California, 92123

Phone (619) 236-2191

(866) 880-9374

Website http://www.SanDiegoCounty.gov