Job Details

Bilingual Board Of Supervisors' Field Representative

Join the First Supervisorial District of Sonoma County as a Bilingual Board of Supervisors' Field Representative. Starting salary up to $57.79/hour ($120,614/year) and a competitive total compensation package, AND a fluent bilingual premium!

This position requires residing in the First Supervisorial District of Sonoma County and the most competitive applicants will live in the Sonoma Valley area. To determine whether you reside within the First Supervisorial District, visit the Supervisorial District Lookup page. The address listed in the General Information section of your application will be used to determine whether you have met this requirement.

The County of Sonoma is seeking a skilled professional to serve as a Bilingual Board of Supervisors' Field Representative for the First Supervisorial District. This is an exciting opportunity to work for a Supervisor and establish a career in public policy. As a Board of Supervisors' Field Representative, you will perform a wide variety of tasks and constituent liaison work in support of the District, to include:

• Managing input from the community and moving forward projects and community-driven initiatives
• Recommending, researching, and supporting the development of programs and policy initiatives
• Conducting research to support and enhance the First District
• Liaising for constituents to resolve issues with the county, federal, and state partners
• Providing referrals to local resources
• Receiving and responding to constituent inquires - written and/or verbally in Spanish and English
• Developing content for newsletters, websites, and social media
• Monitoring social media for constituent messages requesting assistance
• Attending events and representing the Supervisor in Sonoma Valley
• Assisting in uplifting community events with the First District team
• Facilitating public meetings with the Municipal Advisory Committees and Sonoma Valley Community Advisory Commission

The anticipated work schedule for this position is eight (8) hours per day, Monday-Friday; however, there will be some evening and weekend work required. A flexible work schedule responding to District needs is expected.

An employee in this job classification is appointed by the Board Supervisor and is retained at the pleasure of that Supervisor. This class is exempt from the Civil Service Rules of the County of Sonoma as stated in Section 5 of Ordinance No. 305-A, as amended.

The ideal candidate will be an innovative and creative skilled professional with a familiarity of the First Supervisorial District community and the concerns and needs of its residents, and will also possess many of the following:

• Superb communication skills in English and Spanish
• Knowledge of key Sonoma County and community issues such as wildland fires, homelessness, water/ground water, Sonoma Development Center, Hanna Center, and/or Highway 37
• Availability and willingness to research and respond appropriately to the public's concerns promptly via phone, email, and regular mail
• An empathetic and tactful professional demeanor, comfortable discussing issues with diverse individuals and groups with divergent points of view
• Political awareness and interest
• The ability to function independently in many settings
• Sound judgment to determine when to seek approval on decisions and when to proceed with independent decision-making
• Strong organizational skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite specifically Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Proficiency in utilizing social media platforms
• Familiarity with the function and administrative structure of public agencies, including the role of the Board of Supervisors, and local and state political issues and conditions
• The willingness and ability to travel to and from the County's Executive Offices in Santa Rosa and other locations
• Demonstrated ability to adhere to confidentiality for sensitive topics
• The ability to be empathetic and a good listener and work under stressful conditions, at times

Applicants are required to submit a completed application AND submit the following two (2) documents: 1. Current resume 2. Cover letter explaining your interest in the position Please attach these documents to your application. If the documents are not submitted by the close of the recruitment, your application may be deemed incomplete.

The Board of Supervisors enacts legislation to serve and protect Sonoma County residents, establishes general policies, and sets priorities for the operation of county government. They are the governing body that provides municipal services to the unincorporated areas of the county such as fire protection and law enforcement, land use regulations, road maintenance, parks, and lighting and water utilities. In addition, the Board of Supervisors oversees the functions and activities of the many branches of county government that provide county-wide services including health and welfare programs, elections, and public protection programs.

Working at the County of Sonoma offers expansive opportunities for growth and development, the ability to be a part of a challenging and rewarding work environment, and the satisfaction of knowing you're working to better our communities. You can also look forward to flexible work arrangements and excellent benefits including:

• Hybrid Telework - A schedule that meets the needs of our staff, department operations, and the communities we serve may be available depending on the assignment
• Salary Advancement - A salary increase after 1,040 hours (6 months when working full-time) for good work performance; eligibility for a salary increase for good performance every year thereafter, until reaching the top of the salary range
• Bilingual Premium Pay - An additional $1.50/hour on top of the hourly pay rate for fluent bilingual positions
• Paid Time Off - Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals, 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year
• Staff Development/Wellness - Annual benefit allowances of up to $2,000 and ongoing education/training opportunities
• County Paid Health Premium Contributions - 100% premium contribution for the majority of employee-only and employee + family health plan options
• Post-Retirement Health Reimbursement Arrangement - County contributions to help fund post-retirement health insurance/benefits
• Retirement - A pension fully integrated with Social Security
• Incentive Retirement Savings Plan (IRSP) and 457 Voluntary Deferred Compensation - 3% of salary County contribution to a 401(a), in addition to the County matching up to 1% of base salary in 401(a), based upon employee contribution
• Paid Parental Leave - May be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) after 12 months of County employment
• Additional Benefits: Excellent dental, vision, disability, life insurance, employee assistance program, professional development, and more
• Student Loan Debt Relief - County employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education

Salary is negotiable within the established range. Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can be found in the Salary Resolution (SalRes) and our Employee Benefits Directory.

This recruitment is being conducted to fill a fluent, bilingual Board of Supervisors' Field Representative (English/Spanish). Bilingual positions require English and Spanish skills at the fluent (reading, writing, and conversational) level. Applicants who wish to be considered for a bilingual position must indicate their level of skill in the required supplemental questionnaire. An examination will be conducted prior to employment in a bilingual position to confirm the level of skill in this area. Bilingual premium pay is $1.50/hour for fluent skill sets. The employment list established from this recruitment may also fill other full-time, part-time, and extra-help fluent bilingual English/Spanish positions that may occur during the active status of the employment list. Qualified County employees who wish to be considered for future positions should consider applying to this recruitment.

Minimum Qualifications: Education and Experience: Any combination of educational course work, training, or work experience that would provide an opportunity to acquire the knowledge and abilities listed is required. Normally this would include a degree in public administration, business administration, political science, public relations, or a related field, or comparable experience that would be equivalent to a related degree; and two years of experience in public administration, public relations/liaison, community outreach, or related area. The position advertised on this announcement does not require possession of a valid California Driver's License.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Working knowledge of principles and practices of public administration; organization, function and administrative structure of public agencies, including the role of an elected Board; the Ralph M. Brown Act, Government Code 5495