Program Specialist III (Community Homeless Concerns Liaison) - CA Nanakuli-Waianae Leeward District

About the Department

This position is located in the Leeward District-Homeless Concerns Office.  The function of this office is to ensure that homeless children and youth receive uninterrupted access to education and related services as authorized under the McKinney-Vento Act (MVA).  This position will provide assistance to the Complex Area Superintendent in the development, implementation, and evaluation of the program operations, services, and activities to ensure compliance with the (MVA).  This position also responsible for performing a variety of liaison, coordinative and advisory work including the facilitation of communication between the school, family and community agencies; coordination of services with different community agencies and organizations; and providing technical assistance and training.

Salary Range: All new external applicants will be placed on the initial step of the salary range.  However, placement above the initial step of the salary range will be based on special characteristics and critical needs of the position, an applicant's exceptional qualifications, the availability of funds, and other relevant factors.  Such appointments require prior approval.  Hawaii State Department of Education employees will be placed on the salary range in accordance with Department regulations.

         Program Specialist III, SR-20:  $5,107.00 - $6,221.00 per month

Position Duties

1.  Assists a higher level specialist in conducting segments of major studies or special projects;
2.  Conducts analyses of programs, their operations and activities and makes recommendations of findings to a higher level specialist or program supervisor;
3.  Conducts research into changes in State and federal laws, rules and regulations, community concerns, etc.;
4.  Interprets and explains new or existing program policies and procedures, rules and regulations, program standards, etc.;
5.  Provides information to, and communicates with various committees, other agencies and community groups and organizations concerned with the agency’s program;
6.  Assists in the development of contracts and grants;
7.  Monitors and evaluates program operations and activities to insure program objectives meet State and federal requirements;
8.  Develops and implements corrective action plans to address program deficiencies;
9.  Develops training programs to implement new or revised program policies, procedures, activities, functions, etc.;
10.  Assists a higher level specialist in the preparation of the agency’s State plan;
11.  Participates in developing legislative proposals and testimonies;
12.  May speak before groups to promote or provide information or coordinate program activities and objectives;
13.  Assists in the development of budget requests;
14.  Provides technical assistance, consultation and interpretation of the program rules and procedures to agency staff, other public, private and community agencies;
15.  Develops, recommends and coordinates implementation plans for specific program areas; and
16.  Advises and explains program requirements to data processing personnel.

Minimum Qualifications

Basic Education Requirement: Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a Bachelor’s degree.

Excess work experience as described under the Specialized Experience below or any other responsible administrative, professional or analytical work experience which provided knowledge, skills and abilities comparable to those acquired in four years of successful study while completing a college or university curriculum leading to a baccalaureate degree may be substituted on a year-for-year basis.  To be acceptable, the experience must have been of such scope, level and quality as to assure the possession of comparable knowledge, skills and abilities.

The education or experience background must also demonstrate the ability to write clear and comprehensive reports and other documents; read and interpret complex written material; and solve complex problems logically and systematically.

 

Experience Requirements:  Except for the substitutions provided for in this specification, applicants must have had progressively responsible experience of the kind and quality described in the statements below and in the amounts shown in the following table or any equivalent combination of training and experience:

 

Class Title	Specialized Experience (Yrs)	Supervisory Experience (Yrs)	Total Exp (Yrs)
Program Specialist III	1-1/2	0	1-1/2

Specialized Experience:  Progressively responsible professional experience in one or a combination of the following:

 

Selective Certification Experience Requirement:  Of the Specialized Experience Requirement, applicants must possess a minimum of one (1) year of experience as described in Specialized Experience Type 2 above. Such experience may have been gained concurrently or separately in meeting the Specialized Experience requirement. 

Driver 's License Requirement:  Applicant must possess a current, valid driver's license.

Substitutions Allowed:  Possession of a Master's Degree from an accredited four-year college or university in business administration, public administration, or a field pertinent to the agency's programs may be substituted for one (1) year of the Specialized Experience (Type 1), but not for the Specialized Experience (Type 2). 

Quality of Experience:  Possession of the required number of years of experience will not in itself be accepted as proof of qualification for a position.  The applicant's overall experience must have been of such scope and level of responsibility as to conclusively demonstrate that applicant has the ability to perform the duties of the position for which applicant is being considered.

Other Qualifications

Salary:  The advertised salary is based on full-time employment and includes shortage and school year differentials, if applicable. 

Requirements:  Applicants must meet all the requirements for the position they are seeking as of the date of the application, unless otherwise specified.  Unless specifically indicated, the required education and experience may not be gained concurrently.  Calculation of experience is based on full-time, 40-hour workweeks.  Part-time experience is pro-rated.  Example:  Twelve months of experience at 20 hours/week is equivalent to six months of experience, not one year.  Also, hours worked in excess of 40 hours/week will not be credited.  Example:  Twelve months of experience at 60 hours/week is equivalent to one year of experience, not one and a half years. 

Temporary Assignment:  Claims of Temporary Assignment (TA) experience to meet the minimum qualification requirements must be verified and attached to the application using one of the options below:

1. A copy of the applicant’s TA History Report or equivalent system-generated report;

2. A signed letter from the applicant’s supervisor that includes the applicant’s name, his/her TA job title, the TA start and end dates (from mm/yy to mm/yy), his/her specific TA duties performed, and either the TA hours worked per week or total TA hours worked; or,

3. Copies of the applicant’s signed SF-10 Forms.

Documents:  Attach all relevant supporting documents to your application.  Documents that were attached to applications submitted before November 16, 2023 do not automatically attach or transfer to applications submitted on and after December 16, 2023.  All submitted documents become the property of the Hawaii State Department of Education. 

Information about Temporary Positions:  Temporary positions may be extended year to year, dependent upon funding and departmental needs.  Making yourself available for temporary positions increases your employment possibilities and may lead to permanent opportunities.  A person hired for a temporary position may also become a temporary employee upon satisfactory completion of the initial probation period of at least six months.  Once a temporary employee, you would be eligible to apply for promotion and transfer opportunities to permanent as well as other temporary positions.  You may also enjoy other rights and benefits as afforded to an employee in a permanent position, with the exception of return rights and placement rights associated with a reduction-in-force.                

Benefits

12-month civil service and SSP employees enjoy a range of competitive benefits:

• Holidays:  You may be eligible for 13 paid holidays each year; 14 holidays during an election year.
• Vacation:  Employees of Bargaining Units 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 10 and 13 earn 21 days per year.
• Sick Leave:  Employees of Bargaining Units 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 10 and 13 earn 21 days per year. Accumulated (unused) credits may be used toward computing retirement benefits.
• Health Insurance:  If eligible, the State pays a part of the premiums for each employee's enrollment in a State sponsored Medical, Drug, Vision, and Adult Dental Plan.
• Group Life Insurance:  The State provides a free life insurance policy for employees and retirees.
• Premium Conversion Plan:  Participating employees may increase their take-home pay by having the State deduct the cost of health care premiums before payroll taxes are withheld.
• Flexible Spending Accounts:  Eligible employees can reduce their federal and state income taxes and social security taxes through a tax-savings benefit program called Island Flex. This program allows employees to set aside money from their paychecks to pay for out-of-pocket health care expenses and eligible dependent care expenses on a BEFORE-TAX basis.
• Retirement Plan:  The State contributes to a retirement plan for eligible employees. Generally, employees with at least 10 years of credited service and who have reached 62 years of age or have 30 years of credited service and are 55 years old may retire and receive benefits.
• Tax Shelter Annuity (TSA):  If eligible, Department employees are able to participate in a tax shelter annuity program. The TSA plan allows eligible employees to contribute pre-tax dollars to an employee-selected investment service provider authorized to provide TSA products.
• Deferred Compensation:  The State offers employees a tax deferred (sheltered) retirement investment program. This program is an opportunity to build a retirement nest egg through voluntary payroll deductions. Several investment options are available.
• Temporary Disability Insurance:  Qualified employees may be eligible to receive benefits for a disability caused by a non-work related injury or illness under this program.
• Social Security:  As an employer, the State also contributes to an employee's social security account.
• Workers' Compensation:  If an employee is injured while on the job, benefits covering medical expenses and partial wage support may be available through workers' compensation.
• Union & Collective Bargaining:  Employees have the right to join the union for collective bargaining with the State and employee representation. Some employee unions provide discounts, insurance and other opportunities. Employees may also decide not to join a union, however, employees are required to pay union service fees unless the employee's job is excluded from collective bargaining.

The above is intended as a general summary of the benefits offered and is subject to change. This does not constitute a contract or binding agreement. Benefits vary by type of employment appointment and collective bargaining agreements.

Supplemental Questions

Required Question

Agency Information

EmployerHawaii State Department of EducationAddress P.O. Box 2360

Honolulu, Hawaii, 96804 Website https://www.hawaiipublicschools.org